Once again; we are not going anywhere. Not by car anyway. This must make the public happy, because according to media stories I read, the public do not like policeman in cars. They want policemen on foot. Unless they have an emergency. Then they want us in cars. Preferably very quickly, or again, they are not happy.
While my bosses are busy trying to meet their new target for making the public happy, my team has been out on foot answering calls from yet more unhappy people. People who have had snow balls thrown at them by children who then run away.
Would you call the police about this?
Inspector Gadget’s Rule About Snowball Crime:
“The amount of pleasure gained by urchins throwing snowballs at strangers is directly proportionate to the amount of anger displayed in public by those strangers”
Its not that we don’t really care if an urchin throws a snowball at you and you call the police. The point is that these days, the urchin doesn’t really care if you call the police. Despite all the horror stories you read about an increase in police powers, there really is nothing we can do in modern Britain about snowball throwing urchins. Maybe that’s a good thing. I don’t know.
Sometimes, a good ‘snowballing’ can get severely out of hand. Especially in Northern Ireland.
Nowt wrong with throwing snowballs – I personally think those that call the police about it need to grow a spine…
I hear what you’re saying – but, as with all things, there’s always a few exceptions to the rule.
I remember last year seeing a gang of kids (about twenty of them) in their early teens, pelting snowballs at two pensioners waiting at the bus stop – however we try to paint it as good, childlike fun, that’s just not nice and it’s pretty downright cowardly.
My “for fucks sake, they’re eighty, leave them alone!” just got me pelted as well, before I’d even tried the “what if they were your grandparents, getting pelted by kids?!” line!
The little bastards could have used each other for target practice – that’s what we always did.
Oooh ooh – first!
… and a sense of humour. I mean, for crying out loud, don’t they realise there’s more important stuff going on in the world other than a little kiddy hijinx?
There’s an offence of wasting police time – I think we should make more use of it, if it wasn’t wasting police time to try to prosecute idiots for it in the first place. Meh.
Nothing wrong with snowballs at all. Being snowballed is part of being out doors during snowy weather. Stones wrapped in packed ice and directed hard at windows of houses and cars I do object to and would call the police if it went on after the kids being told to stop and getting a mouthful of abuse.
Snowballing is ok, but as Alix wrote, some twats, take it too far.
Hey IG, I like the new ‘soft top’ car…..
The snowballing thing is interesting. On the one hand, you’re right, people do need to grow up; assuming it was just snow, it’s hardly the end of the world as we know it and often it really is just a bit of harmless fun.
On the other hand, time was that if said urchin threw a snowball when they really shouldn’t have, and was chased down the street and given a clip round the ear (note to excessively liberal folks: I did not say beaten to death with a baseball bat – and yes, there is a huge difference), the policeman, if the urchin had *dared* to call him to complain, would probably have given him another thick ear to match the first one.
The problem of the public expecting the police to do everything is one that has been created by the police and by the state. We, the public, are prohibited from giving some yobbo a thick ear because firstly “that’s against the law” and anyway the yobbo “might have a knife”, so, we’re told, if they’ve done something wrong, call the police (who can’t possibly turn up quickly enough – said yobbo will have gone long ago). Likewise if we do give a yobbo a thick ear for (say) dropping litter, swearing at an old lady, kicking a cat or any of the other minor but spiteful misdeeds with which they fill their unrewarding little lives, they are the first to call the police and (as Gadget has observed before) demand that the police “do [us] for assult or somefink”.
Essentially, our expectation, rightly or wrongly, is that helping ourselves will get us into trouble with the police, while calling the police will achieve very little for the sort of mindless (and relatively minor) anti-social behaviour that actually really upsets people. We *know* you can’t do anything about the snowball-throwing kids, even when what they were doing wasn’t just about having fun, but we also think that we’re not allowed to protect ourselves any more.
Spot on. This is the real problem – I’m not for one minute saying that little gits pelting the elderly with snowballs should be ignored, what I AM saying is that there are too many calls to innocent snowball fights.
I’m not sure where the blame lies, if it lies in any one particular area more than another, but one thing is for sure – society is becoming increasingly unable to wipe its own arse.
I make no apology for the colourful metaphor – I believe it’s a combination of many things, ranging from the litigation culture we have spreading like cancer through the land to the impotent criminal justice system hellbent (rightly or wrongly) on disproportionately punishing those that take the law into their own hands.
Society is increasingly becoming disempowered, personal responsibility is becoming a thing of the past – people just walk on by, either thinking, “It’s not my job!” or “He might have a knife!” instead of remembering that each and every member of society has a civic and moral duty to uphold the law and/or assist others upholding it. The only difference with the police is that we’re paid to do it full time and have a few extra powers to help out.
As has already been pointed out, the causes for this trend are legion and would warrant a blog in their own right.
Litigation culture has certainly made this type of weather even more of a pain to deal with. Time was, you’d clear your paths – now, you don’t, you wait for the council to do it, in case you are sued if someone slips…
Best stay in under New Labour.
Unless you want to go and fight one of their wars.
As a Canadian, I can certainly vouch for the theory presented on snowball related offences. We’ve seen a sharp decline ever since we created a section of the criminal code strictly to deal with them. Just kidding, a commonwealth country dealing with crime? We just put them under a court order not to be in possession of snow, or snowball related paraphernalia and then act outraged when it happens again.
Had a quality sec.47 a few years back. A woman stopped her car after it was clattered by a snowball and confronted the yoof responsible. He had another in his hand and asked “do you want another?”. She replied “you wouldn’t dare” at which point she got a face full of snow and a black eye.
It’s wrong to find it funny I know but it sort of sums up the naiveity of a lot of folks.
But then the snow does make it easier to track and catch some of the more stupid burglars… “How did you know it was me?”
Many years ago (1982) my team tracked a burglar in the snow by his trail of blood-he and a couple of my Pcs walked for about an hour before he was arrested.The heater in my car was on full!!!
Did you wind the window down by half and inch at the end to say “well done”?
Another lot of snowballing is going to send our ACPO ‘board’ into a frenzy. My farce is in a flat-spin to sort out some sort of coherent anti-social behaviour management** due to the imminent arrival of HMIC to examine how we deal with the daily threat to the peace and quiet of our public.
** I trust there isn’t anyone naive enough out there to believe such ‘management’ would be something practical like getting officers out on the streets. It’s actually about the development of spreadsheets that staff can fill in to show what they have done about the asb. Of course, they’ve got to be in the station to fill-in said spreadsheets, instead of being out on the streets.
It’s a shame about this additional bureaucracy. My Farce also has a big drive on at the moment, that includes a great screen-saver, encourging us all to suggest ways of reducing bureaucracy. Perhaps I should give the ACC a ring and suggest to her what could be done with their ideas around ‘auditing’ asb.
*Comment is nothing to do with the post, snow quite heavily there gadget..
Just wondering when will your webstore be open again? Wanted to buy the t-shirt and mug..
Yeah me to. Are they more waterproof than my snowball attracting ” high quality ” national uniform ( and non insulating ) fleece and blouson. Frozen,wet,fed up and late off again!!! Miserable of ruralshire!
I have no issue with a genuine snowball. Well, I probably would at the time but really it’s simply part of snow.
However, have you any idea what happens to a snowball if it’s repeatedly firmed and packed? It turns into an ICE-ball, and you may as well throw rocks, as they have a similar effect. Those, and the ones packed with stones, I have a rooted objection to.
However, given a chance I would probably join in the “snow fun” by rubbing the little darling’s face in a snowdrift for 3-4 minutes.
Only problemis that the little darlings just use snow as yet another weapon, endlessly hurling it at vulnerable peoples windows, pelting the bloke in the take-away and generally beinga pain in the arse. We’re not talking little scamps knocking the bobbys helmet off with a well aimed shot.
My personal record of time elapsed between “call coming in” and “call coming in asking where police are” is *seven seconds.*
I have to wonder if that person also complains about police being in their cars all the time.
What was that for? T29 perchance?
It’s snowing in Metland! I just hope my van can cope! I do love my van.
A bit of light relief:
http://www.boingboing.net/2010/01/05/police-car-chase-wit.html
Cadbury
Here in the Colonies our response to being pelted with snowballs varies. One off duty detective in Our Nation’s Capital, Washington D.C., pulled his gun and tried to start a fight with the snowball throwers. Here’s the link: http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/12/21/crimesider/entry6005292.shtml
Note that in Washington DC the only people allowed to carry guns are the police and the politicians. Other, more civilized places let anyone who feels the need pack their gat. In Fort Pierre, South Dakota most cowboys are heeled and the police keep their pistols in the holster. Snowballs are either ignored or responded to in kind.
Seeing the tall helmets that your Bobbies wear, I have to admit that I’d have been very hard pressed not to throw a snowball at the hat and try to knock it off.
Best of luck to you across the pond.
Today, I’ve had passing motorists shouting at my officers on foot patrol, for no reason other than their journeys were hampered by the weather ” This is a disgrace”. To which the more laconic reply was “Is your journey really necessary?”.
All I’ve dealt with is RTCs and complaints all shift.
Not one call about snowballs!
So the snow is our fault as well? Blimey!
*boggle*
Some people are too stupid to be out on their own…
Well they need someone to blame.
All the locals have obviously had enough of panic buying of milk and bread( which one old lady told me she was taking home to put in the freezer ‘just in case’. In case of what? Leave it outside, it’ll freeze quicker: -9C here at the mo.).
All I’ve dealt with is domestics ( enforced days off together -you just can’t beat them) and calls of kids throwing snowballs. That will teach me!
JuliaM – Don’t worry, I always put my staff out in pairs – their always in good company then
Allowing for the fact that some of the little bastards MAY be malicious in their snow balling (Mens Rea), the whole thing is indicative of the present Western publics attitude of seeing EVERYTHING as a “personal attack”.
Some web sites, I can not get, (or they do not HAVE as here), the “Italics” to work. The amount of times I have recieved w”warnings” from uppity modes for “SHOUTING”, and being told that “You are TOO ANGRY”.
WHAT the fuck has happened to the BALLS of Western people in the lat ten years or so?
They are scared of their own shadow, and want US to turn out every time someone threatens their very existence, by raising their voice to be heard over the duke box.
HEL! If these lily livered twats ever went for a drink in a Glasgow, or Liverpool dock Road pub, they would probably think the damn world was about to end.
Many time on foot patrol have I had a snow ball fight with some local lads – they love it (especially when they get us in the face but there we go it’s all good fun!)
You’d think being an emergency service each station would have two, or at least one 4×4 vehicle so we can continue to answer 999 calls in this weather. We have to borrow or hire from other people.
Wrong.
Crazy. Funny it’s just the same in our local ambuilance service which have to borrow 4×4 from St John Ambulance in the snow.
SHB 4×4 hire are making a mint off us here in Up’tnorthlandshire ambulance service…. By my rekoning we’ve already spent enough to buy one brand new land rover discovery with all the bells and whistles and to run it for a year! go figure….
As a slight aside; I recall a few weeks ago Gadget posted a pic of a BTP land rover Discovery and very nice it was too. I live five doors away from our local member of ACPO, anyone care to hazzard a guess what’s sat on his driveway right now, and has been since 5pm when he got home, and will still be there at 9am tomorrow morning???
I also happen to know that the Up’tnorthlandshire force.. sorry.. service.. are renting 4x4s like they’re going out of fashion… Hmmmm…..
In case you missed it: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/01/05/mouse_nest/
Love the Bootnote.
Easy, all ZANU Labour have to do is ban snowballs.
Snowballs banned = No snowball crime
just like;
Guns banned = No gun crime
Knives banned = No knife crime…….simples
My boss told me this recently, and I wish it was a lie but it isn’t,
Boss ‘job X why didn’t you submit documents A,B,C,D’
Bob ‘ well it has been sorted team X arrested the person and it has been dealt with’
Boss ‘ yes but were are ABCD (unnecessary papers)
Bob ‘ yeah but X has been arrested so there is no need for ABCD’
Boss ‘I don’t care about the arrest. I’m not interested it is ABCD that count that is all they (bean counters) are interested in’
Bob ‘what do you want me to do then’
Boss ‘put ABCD in retrospectively dated before the arrest’
There are 3 million unemployed tens of thousands of criminals on community service-can someone explain why the roads in the UK are choked with snow?
Well, according to the Scottish Government, community service offenders are being used to clear snow from paths and roads up here. Have to say, I haven’t seen any, but it seems like a good idea to me.
We had more of the bloody white stuff this morning, with more forecast for overnight, so I look forward to a lonely morning at work tomorrow, taking the calls from those who can’t make it (or will be very, very late). It’s no fun living this close to work!
the law of snowballs can apply to a lot of minor ASB, come to think of it.
If someone has been or is being injured by snowballs/ice balls,or perhaps something damaged,then of course call us.(unless they are part of the fight in which case just leave them to it) If not, please don’t. If you know who it was, tell us, if you don’t, by all means still let us know it has happened but please don’t expect a blue and two response when we can barely drive out of the station let alone get to real emergencies.
Its all about perspective, I think. Ignoring stuff does make a lot of it go away, or at least avoid a repeat, if the provocation doesn’t evoke the desired attention they will move on, a lot of the time……
I’m not sure whether you all heard this yesterday, but I had to laugh when the BBC reported that GMP were asking their public to stop calling ’999′ about people throwing snowballs, as they had better things to do!
It was priceless and would make an excellent Mastercard advert!
Hope you get your 4×4′s I.G.
EHU
See the snowball thing is one of those, last night me, Mrs MIDSSC and the little one walked from her mothers to our house in the snow all veyr nice, we enjoyed the groups of kids who were chucking snowballs around but noted us and shouted a “hold your fire” so that we could pass with the buggy, however upon nearing our home a group of oiks pelted 3 women with them who were walking to their car, they thought it was highly amusing and i overhead them commenting on hitting the buggy where my 19 month old was fast asleep, in no uncertain terms they were informed that heads would roll if she was targetted, the message was recieved! no need to involve the police just simple communication.
Ski patrols anyone?
I’d love to do my beat on my skis. But I am not allowed to even ride a bloody bike at work. Imagine the H&S Nazis if you suggested it?. Lol
One of our local stations had an extra 13 officers turn up today, swelling those on duty to 15 rather than just the usual two. They saw the weather forecasts over the last few days and had the foresight to take their kit home knowing they would be unable to get to their usual stations. When the weather set in they reported to the local nick and just got on with it.
The only odd thing was that the admin department who had the same forecast and clearly thought about it ordered only 1 4×4 hire vehicle to cover 3 different stations – maths not their strong point clearly.
Plenty of foot patrol though and the biggest police presence the town has seen for some time – and all the calls were about snowballing – pathetic!!
PC SNOW is far more effective than PC RAIN as all the other usual crime related and real calls were non existent.
The other question is why when we tell everyone else to stay at home due to the bad weather the force sends out an email threating staff/police who fail to turn up for work that they will take annual leave or dock their pay thereby forcing them to make risky journeys.
Your post is spot on yet again and mirrors every nick in the country.
I was another nick today … they’ve got two 4x4s but no-one qualified to drive them. We’ve had loads of RPU who could do so, but no 4x4s. There are a couple of TWOCs recorded on their division that will ultimately have to be no-crimed in due course and a couple of PNC entries need cancelling … ?!
“I was another nick today … they’ve got two 4×4s but no-one qualified to drive them. “
You need to qualify to drive them..?
Is this an internal police thing, or a factor of the vehicle licensing system where you are?
Driving licence requirements are the same throughout the U.K, and in THEORY Europe (However you HAVE seen Polish truck driver antics, I presume?).
What is NOT the same is different police forces “driving authoritys” (Internal police “driving licences”).
For example, Merseyside zsed to allow grade two advanced passes to be a traffic driver. Cheshire, was grade one passes only.
I phoned the police to report a snowball fight and they just told me they were snowed under!
I couldn’t get to work today, my nearest nick for my force area is a good 10 miles away up very steep hills……yikes, I am going to get fired.
I KNOW the answer already. “Work from home, and use your bog as a cell block”.
In the old days, the little brats if caught, would get their face rubbed in the snow.
Nowadays it would be the ‘punisher’ would actually gets arrested & DNA’d; and, the arresting officer gets an hour in a warm room filling in paperwork.
[I know the last part must be correct, 'cos Mr Straw said so.]
“..and, the arresting officer gets an hour in a warm room filling in paperwork.”
then gets a dose of chilblains as all the paper towels be used to clean the powered windshields so he warms his nice wet hands in front of the warm fire????????.
Ah the joy of rest days…….
We had a 4×4 all last week on standby, they took it back Monday!! Then it snowed, ha ha ha ha.
Ah the panic that set in, glad I’m on rest days……. Back on Friday, they reakon -20……….sh1t!
Hmm. We get it three or four days after you. But aside from the German weather forcasters being more or less spot on most of the time, thanks for the advance warning.
Any thing coming from Russia, I will return the compliment.
Oh. And as to 4X4s here…. Hmmm…???
Can not remember ever seeing one in civy police colours.
Was really great here…. was like a giant snow party in the park for kids and families!
I went outside this morning at 0600 and found the snow was now up to my arm pits (I’m 5ft 10in). I put in a couple of hours work on the croft and have just come in to catch a bit of BBC News 24 with presenters standing in an inch or so of snow in the SE of England proclaiming the end of the world.
As for snowballers, one of our boys thought it amusing to snowball me down the back of the neck. I plonked him headfirst into a deep drift—which probably amounts to serious child abuse even though he thought it hilarious.
Some of you guys are in for a surprise very soon. You know the old phrase, “careful what you wish for”…… if they’ve not already arrived, then they’re on their way. You wanted 4x4s? Bet you didn’t want fully armoured, non-liveried ones. Bullet and indeed snowball proof. Tough, that’s what you’re getting. Just was well we don’t need them here. Oh, wait…… is that the sound of somebody in the PSNI “top team” patting themselves on the back???
If you can’t or won’t do anything about snowball throwing, it seems you have the full powers of the police state when it comes to sledging, or are only PCSOs so empowered? Absurd.
See:
http://www.bigbrotherwatch.org.uk/home/2010/01/in-the-week-it-has-been-ruled-unlawful.html