“do what the police do ride in pairs .safety in numbers..”

“Seriously, another cyclist story? Is there some BEP web editor with a fetish or something?

Actually, I wish I hadn't said that. eww.”

“What was he doing cycling on the path? If I drove on the path it would be different.”

“We need to consider what it is about our society that produces gangs of kids prepared to carry out acts mugging.

It seems to me that most youth desire respect from their peers.
The problem is that respect is often confused with fear and intimidation. These people are basically trying to show bravado in front of their mates to get 'respect'. The problem is that it isn't respect, it's fear
and intimidation.

We need to educate so that these kids know the difference.
Respect is earnt. Having people fear you is not the same at all.

I hope you can see what I'm getting at. Maybe someone else can describe this more eloquently than I can.”

“Moan moan moan moan moan moan.

MOAN.

Are you seriously suggesting that ALL paths and roads and alleyways etc etc should be policed at ALL times of the day, Fat? And where do you suppose all the money to pay for the extra police will come from? You'd moan just as much about a tax increase.

BE REALISTIC.”

“The expression was 'usual moronic comment' which in my view it was. Simply saying what you did oversimplifies the issue.

I think I do my bit for society every working day of my life but I shall let you be the judge of that.

My working week consists of 48 hours including Saturdays and Sundays on a rolling shift.

Typical Fridays and Saturdays involve talking to people whose idea of a good night out is to get as drunk as possible at the numerous pubs and clubs around the counties and then expect help when they get involved in a fight with bouncers or other drinkers.

Nine times out of ten they call on the emergency services because, although they had enough money to get drunk, they do not, according to them, have any credit on their mobile phones.

A great number of them also do not have the sense they were born with to move away from the trouble and insist on hurling abuse at their aggressor.

This goes on until the early hours of Saturday and Sunday mornings.

The other days of the week are taken up with calls from people who invite strangers back to their home and then want them removed because they are drunk, causing damage or just won't leave.

Then there are the domestic problems which have often happened before but the aggrieved has refused to press charges.

Oh, I forgot the persistent caller who calls on the emergency line throughout the day and night sometimes as many as thirty times.

Of course, there are the genuine calls that go some way to make up for the rest.

I sum up my job with the comment "talking to the hapless, the hopeless and helpless"

The point of telling you this is:

Whilst the Police have such limited resources it is not possible for them to be everywhere at the same time. Whilst the drunks are out mainly at night, there are other incidents that put them in other places.

Each call has to be taken at face value, the Government says this not those at the coal face. So yes, the pensioner with the cannabis may seem a waste of Police resources but neither you nor I know what prompted the call to the Police in the first instance.

There are only a finite number of Police Officers available and if they are committed then other incidents have to wait.

I am very critical and outspoken of the system and I don't like the situation any more than you do but I have to try and make the system work.

So you see, I am talking from a position of knowledge albeit slightly jaundiced.”

“Golly Chanty, if you don't wish to read somebody's opinion other than your own, don't scroll down to the comments.

You should put all your efforts instead into this plan you have to 'change society.' Let me know how that goes. Until then, I'm happy to pay taxes for services like policing. As a taxpayer, I have the right to be critical of these services. And don't you think the kind of aggression that makes people call strangers morons might be exactly the part of society that needs changing?”

“Usual moronic comment to be expected,

I am sure that 'H Fat' would dearly love to have most of his wages, assuming he has a job, go towards paying for the level of policing that he expects.

Its society that needs to change.”

“I reckon the police were too busy (going after harmless asthmatic pensioners with cannabis) to be keeping the streets safe in broad daylight?”