How to tell the difference between UK, aus and US cops

[Scotty477]

I've refrained from posting in this thread up until now.

My 'real' job, when I'm not gigging, is a police officer. I'm 16 years in the job - mainly working the streets of Glasgow.

Hopefully no one will hold this against me  

The main cause for complaint from the public is certainly youth disorder. This is a mild term for the hurt, fear and general distaste that young people get involved in and is used by the Home Office.

I've been heavily involved over the years in actively engaging youths on the streets (who are causing mayhem) and to be quite honest it's been like hitting your head against a brick wall.

The minorty - and it is a minority - section of youths that get involved in disorder, like assault, theft, carrying weapons etc have no respect for anything or anyone.

There is no deterrant in their schools or family circle that will cause them to stop what they're doing. Even if I arrest one (or more) it means nothing to them and generally speaking they will be released shortly after.

Only if the crime is of a grave nature, i.e murder, rape, robbery etc will they be detained for court. There are exceptions but they only kick in if the youth has numerous previous incidents relating to crime.

I say the above in relation to my previous experiences on the street, but recently a new method has been utilised to combat this type of crime, and you may wonder why it hasn't been used before now ....

Normally speaking the police go it alone in the fight against crime. That's the way it's always been really. Now however we have been trying a different approach - when it comes to youth crime and disorder.

Instead of just arresting or reporting a youth for something and having no further involvement we now team up with housing officers and do a follow up visit to the homes of those involved.

It's explained to the parents of the youths that they are engaging in anti-social activities and a continuation of this may (read will) result in their eviction from council housing.

This may sound simple but the results, so far, have been astounding. In the areas where this has been used it has reduced youth disorder to a fraction of previous levels.

Suddenly parents take notice and deal with their kids. The threat of eviction seems to galvanise a sense of parental responsibility that we thought long lost (if it ever existed at all).

Hopefully the rest of the country will take notice of this and adopt it as a workable and sustainable strategy to combat youth disorder.

Hopefully .....

[Kilby]

Machinehead :

I didn't bother quoting.

You are right that it's a minority of the 'youth population' that casues the trouble, though unfortunitely that percentage seems to be increasing.

The parents of these weasels are the ones who where causing trouble 15 years ago (and usually still are causing trouble for that matter)

I walways wonders why courts bothered fining these (for want of a better term) people when the courts then said that the fine was to be paid @ £2 per week.

If the threat of losing their house forces these so called parents to do something then it has be be better than what we have now.

I have nothing against the vast majority of police officer (there is always bad one in every walk of life), but I do object to all these politicians, social workers and oloigists making excuses for criminals

[MDV]

I think the threat of council house eviction is shear genius.

I'm glad someone thought of it.

A nice solid sword of damoclese to hang over the scum that doesnt clog prisons up any more than they are and forces the parents to deal with their kids, or they suffer too.

Brilliant.

[Johnny Mac]

Great idea Machine Head! I did hear something on the news on long those lines but didn't realise it was already in practise 'up the road'.