Jury clears 7/7 trio

So the £100m show trial ends after that great British institution known as as a jury proves once again that it is the final protection we have against what might kindly be described as 'over zealous' authorities.

How long before we are told that in the interests of National Security we need closed terrorist trials held without juries??

I pay your wages...

said the homeless sex offender at the police station reception desk whilst trying to sign the sex offenders register...

CCTV

The UK has more cameras per square mile than any other country, or so we are told.

The UK has probably the best police force in the world, or so we are told.

Consider this then. Why were the IPCC initially told that there were no CCTV cameras on the area were Mr Tomlinson died during the G20 protests?

Now that they have found the cameras can we expect them to be faulty, or perhaps they would have been if no amateur footage had been taken.

It's perhaps not the 'Stockwell' sized incidents that paint the fullest picture.

BBC ambush

I have just seen the BBC ambush a bloke from the British Association of Drivers.

They were 'selling' a new scheme in Manchester where the Police send a Community Support Officer to sit in a car with a CCTV camera on the top. They use it's telephoto lens to video drivers from a distance who are 'using mobile phones, eating or who are driving carelessly'.

Any drivers filmed are then sent a letter and sometimes a fine.

Back in the studio the two presenters sit opposite a man there to speak out on behalf of motorists (but only mumbles something about drivers being fined for eating a mint) and a man whose daughter was killed by a 'hit and run driver'.

"But surely ANYTHING that stops careless driving is a good thing' says the presenter.

Well if I had been in the studio I would have pointed out that these careless drivers are merely filmed driving badly, and if any of them go on to kill anyones daughter the letter and the fine will arrive far too late to help in actual fact.

It annoys me to see bad driving and there are times when I wish there was a Constable around to see it, but we don't need less than useful measures and a marketing campaign that ropes in the BBC Breakfast News team.

Filming from a distance (the fact the cameras have an ability to 'zoom' great distances was mentioned) serves to catch people out unawares which whilst good at generating revenue does little to deter or prevent crime.

I suppose what we need is a public who think about the issues for themselves rather than a public who seem to be happy to have headlines washing over them presented in one dimensional terms that appeal to their emotions more than anything else.

Today's definition of disappointment...

Is...

Seeing a suspected robber see the CPS 'refuse charges' because the victim was unable to point him out on the ID parade.

I can't help but think that StoppaRed self defence markers ought to be the robbery squad's best friend.

DNA

Imagine that you commit a horrible crime several years ago. Then a relative is arrested on an unrelated charge and has his DNA recorded. Now imagine a test that suggests a family member was responsible for the original crime and the police ask every member of the drivers family for a DNA sample.

Will it point to the previous prime suspect or someone else...?

A very British way of doing things

A chap has a warrant issued by a court for his arrest. He hands himself in on Maunday Thursday, late in the morning.

Now the Courts are finishing at noon and if the chap insists on being arrested he will have to stay locked up until Saturday morning.

So he is told to go away and hand himself back after the Bank Holiday.

I wonder how many other countries could be as fair as that?

Anti Burglary advice

So the Government announce a new scheme to help prevent burglaries by offering advice and assistence and 'cracking down' on repeat offenders.

All very good, but it wasn't very long along that they announced new setencing guidelines that meant that burlgars with drink or drug addictions effectively avoid prison.

Perhaps they know that such a policy will lead to an increase in burglaries hence the investment in window locks.