Topic ID 278
The editorial in today's Mercury rightly questions police priorities and their relationship with the general public. It sometimes seems that not enough energy is put into dealing with a small number of lawless youths, who are no doubt known to police, who are responsible for terrorising parts of the town and Hartham Common. At the same time, we should also focus attention on those parents who refuse or unable to fulfill their roles.
Reply ID 1611
Bring back the cane and slipper i say. Made me appreciate right from wrong.
Reply ID 1621
Sunday 3rd October. 2pm I drive through the town. I see a bunch of youths kicking and breaking bins and signs as they walk though the town. I drive up Ware road, then Gallows Hill, and I find the police, in a van, parked outside their own driveway, catching motorists speeding passed a school, when the school is not open, collecting overtime on their fat arses, while they choose to ignore real crime.
Reply ID 1625
When the police do decide to respond to an incident in town, they really do go for it, though. I remember once outside the Ram in Fore Street there was a bit of a scuffle between two mouthy p*ssed blokes, both too drunk to do any damage to each other. One police car turned up. Followed shortly by another. Then another. And another. All in all I counted about 9 officers present to deal with the "problem". Similar thing happened when I lived on Wellington Street - police were called to an incident on the rat-run where a argument between two drivers looked like turning into a fight. 4 police cars turned up this time, by which time one of the drivers had gone anyway. Didn't stop the dibbles sticking around for ages blocking the road, though.
Reply ID 1895
You would be amazed how active they turn once overtime and emergency response fees get involved! [:D]
Reply ID 1905
I don't know much about the policing around here, but on a smaller note: I grew up in a very small town where everyone knew one another, or at least someone in the family. You couldn't get away with much without someone threatening to tell your (fill in the blank: mother, father, uncle, teacher, etc.) about it. I consider Hertford a smallish-town and am really surprised to see adults just walk past the young kids who are, for example, smoking pot by the Bull Plain bridge in the middle of the day, throwing signs (i.e. from the front of pubs) as well as grocery trolleys into the river in front of Bircherley Green while loudly pronouncing their drunken state at 2:30 pm. All the while adults around them pretend they don't exist. There is no fear. Don't know what the solution is. Just posting an observation from my good vantage point on Folly Island.
Reply ID 1906
The problem is that in these days you just don't know if one of those young kids is carrying a knife. I like to think of myself as community spirited but I would consider the risks before I ever get involved. I have a young son. If he is with me I would tend not to get involved at all. I saw a bottle thrown at a man outside Hertford North train station because he asked a youth to stop smoking on the train (and yes I would have got involved if that had escalated), I've also been baited by kids while walking in Hertford on a Saturday evening out with friends. 'Kids' have little fear.
Reply ID 1920
I really think, with rare exceptions, that kids behaviour is down to how they are raised by their parents. If they are taught the importance of respect and consideration - and more importantly *shown* respect and consideration, then they will see this as normal behaviour. If they are raised by parents who behave badly, then they'll end up throwing signs in the river. I'm sure the people on this forum who have kids can support this. I have witnessed a mother calling her young son (about 4 years old) a "little f*cker" while on a picnic on Hartham Common - honestly, what chance has a kid like that got when he is treated with such disrespect by his own parents?
Reply ID 1925
Re: Elizabeth's posting: I think the problem here in the UK is that our laws are so cack-handed. In the US, the likelihood is that if you're arrested it will be a REAL penalty eg big fine, harsh community service or, very possibly, jail (and possibly for along time). Hence, while over there you have a problem with serious violence thanks to guns being so available, on a more mundane level, people are often more civilised and respectful towards each other. Here though, they don't want to jail anyone because it costs too much money, while offenders routinely ignore fines and CSO's. And if you challenge anyone committing an offence you run the risk of it escalating into violence and then getting nicked yourself, because we are so PC and 'inclusive' that we actually cherish the rights of delinquents and offenders above those of the community. There are many things about American society which aren't right for Britain, but it seems to me that American tough crime policies are something we should take seriously......
Reply ID 1928
Regarding Mike's last post you may find this interesting; but please note I can only say so much. There is a regular offender in town who all the retailers (esp those in Town Watch) know and look out for. He has been picked up by police for so many offences we have lost track of what pigeon hole he can be put in. He was arrested again today but I know, and we all know that he will be back on the streets again tomorrow. If you want to walk past the Shire Hall any time during the day you will get used to seeing the same faces standing outside as each week passes. These are regular offenders but what punishment do they get? Slap on the wrist? Go away, do it again, see you next month. Fortunately as I say, most of us in the town know these faces but for the people who they have offended against it is no consolation to find them back on the streets. I don't wish to sound reactionary but locking these people up at least keeps them out of societies way for a time.
Reply ID 1929
I suspect I know the face you're referring to. A suitable case for an ASBO I think.
Reply ID 1934
Big fines? Not scary. And I don't think they would pay........or even be able to. I rather like the sound of the military style boot camps.
Reply ID 1948
Thanks for the insight on the local penal system, Mike. How to handle juevenile deliquents is a problem no matter where you are, I suppose.
Reply ID 1950
>I rather like the sound of the military style boot camps. Nah, I reckon we should have Peter Ruffles patrolling the town centre, in full mayoral robes (including chain), dishing out clips round the ear to all ne'er-do-wells. That should do the trick [:)]
Reply ID 1959
lack of a parental clip round the ear is probably the problem. or am i just a grumpy old git?
Reply ID 2145
Maybe Blunkett's new initiative -- call your local PC on his/her mobile --- will help us out?? Or am I being a tad optimistic??? [:D]
Reply ID 2150
Errrr.......this is cost cutting in the extreme. I imagine he considered off-shoring the control centre to Bhutan or Bangalore but then realised there were even further savings to be made by doing away with it all together. Directory enquiries will be next. 118 500 will be scrapped and BT will issue a book containing the personal mobile numbers of the individual operators. Or better still, do away with the operators and have a big book containing the phone numbers of the businesses. Now, THERE'S and idea!
Reply ID 2201
I like the idea of the new non-emergency police number though -- for semi-emergency situations that don't warrent 999. Provided of course someone actually answers the phone when and if I have to use it![B)] BTW it's 0845 3300222
Reply ID 2227
Theres always one guy who is drunk around the town. He shows up everywhere!!!!!! Where does he get his money??
Reply ID 2235
I earn it just like everyone else!
Reply ID 2261
Check out page 15 of this weeks mercury to see how the law treats people who break the law in hertford...A couple out in town in the early hours smash a shop window and steal a picture frame..they were caught on cctv and also the man took a picture of his girlfriend smashing the window...what was the sentance ..a caution!!!!for smashing a window and burglary..no wonder so many windows get smashed!
Reply ID 2266
I read this report too. I'd like to hear the justification for this ridiculous leniency. A cynic might suggest that the police couldn't be bothered with a prosecution. I'm sure the shops insurers must be equally aghast. I'd suggest the local constabulary owe the public an explanation.
Reply ID 2290
I read the article as well. I was hoping "a caution" was something much more harsh than it sounds to this foreigner (as in, you know, "a caution of 15 to life" ...[;)]). Guess not.
Reply ID 2292
AS you know I have to be a little vague on this but; a previous person caught literally red handed smashing a window offered the owner to pay for a replacement. Punishment given was for more damages than amount offered so '9 out of 10 for effort'. Personally knowing that quite a few window breakers are being caught these days, I would prefer that they are made to pay the full amount of replacement window, including staff call out costs and increase in insurance premiums. I like many, cannot understand why such smash and grab burglars get away with a caution - not even payment of compensation. After so many break-ins the insurance premium goes sky high, so much in fact that certain premises in town may have to consider staff cuts if another wndow goes because the insurance company will not pay our nay more.