Barlow's brief

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Crime is all about perception apparently

Vic Barlow
25/10/2006

AFTER numerous violent attacks by armed raiders Cheshire Police are concerned that local jewellers are unhappy with 'perceived' police response.

In fact senior officers are so concerned they are holding a seminar to help change this 'perception'. Macclesfield Borough Council has also jumped on board with a new strategy to alleviate residents 'perception' of crime.

You see, what witnesses observed when armed raiders attacked a Wilmslow jewellers was not a crime but the 'perception' of a crime and you can't arrest 'perceived' criminals.

Similarly, when a man returned home to find the patio doors torn down and his house ransacked his 999 call was rejected, and quite right too.

Cheshire Police do not attend 'perceived' burglaries.

The two Tytherington shop assistants who 'perceived' they had been held up at gunpoint obviously need to attend one of these seminars. You can't expect real police officers to hurtle around the borough saving hysterical girls from 'perceived' gunmen.

Between them Macclesfield Borough Council and Cheshire Police aim to alter public 'perception' and have gone so far as to issue local jewellers with a 'self-help' strategy.

Just what sort of 'self-help' they have in mind has not yet been disclosed but I feel sure it will not require the attendance of a police officer.

So, please, no more nonsense, and certainly no more 999 calls. Cheshire Police assure me they have empty patrol cars stationed in every location ready to deal with any further incidents of 'perceived' crime.

  • THE views expressed on this page are those of Vic Barlow and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Express.

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Most recent 2 of 2 user comments

   Vic Barlow seems surprised to learn that Cheshire Police refuse to respond to 999 calls in cases of burglary or armed robbery. Surely he realises that the 999 number has been re-allocated for members of the public to use if they suspect that a speed camera is not working properly - calls are then dealt with by a highly trained Instant Response Squad!
Raven, Wilmslow
31/10/2006 at 16:38
   I fully understand that modern day police work is a tremendously hard task. However Mr Barlow has hit the nail on the head again. What is the Cheshire Constabulary thinking! A seminar? Goodness gracious, that will really put the fear of god in Macclesfield's criminal element. If this is the best response that the senior officers can come up with, it maybe time for them to think about a career change. I am sure the community would prefer the Constabulary to use its resources more proactively in the pursuit of criminals not swilling down cups of tea in a seminar. Come on Cheshire Police, let's give old Vic Barlow one thing less to whinge about.
Chris Davenport, Macclesfield
26/10/2006 at 06:58
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