Re the attempted murder of a police officer in Leeds earlier today;
A West Yorkshire police Chief officer is quoted as saying words to the
effect that, `thankfully, this sort of crime is rare in Leeds`. I
suppose the murder of British police officers in West Yorkshire (which
includes the city of Leeds) IS `rare` compared to some countries, so
rare in fact that I can remember them:
Inspector Barry John Taylor,Died 1970, aged 30. Shot dead when he confronted a suspect armed with a shotgun.
Sgt Michael Hawcroft,1981,stabbed to death by a suspect he chased and was trying to arrest.
Sergeant John Speed, 1984, shot dead as he confronted a man who had just shot a colleague.
Police Constable Ian Broadhurst Xmas 2003, shot dead in Leeds trying to arrest a suspect who suddenly produced a gun.
Police Constable Sharon Beshenivsky, died 18 November 2005, aged 38,
shot dead when confronted by three men on arrival at the scene of a
robbery.
So I suppose that chief officer could argue that he
was statistically correct in his statement. Now call me a dinosaur but
statistics, doubtless spouted as a sad sweetner to reassure the public,
would never have left my lips if I was talking about the recent
attempted murder of one of MY officers. I read his words and it made
most of my bodily fluids boil - and I've been out of the job for 12
years. Judas H Priest, this in the same sentence where he was talking about
the attempted murder of one of his officers! Save the bloody stats crap
for another time, because this was not the time, not for her family, not for
her friends, not for her colleagues and not for the rest of us who will be
associated with the police until we cross the clearing into Fiddlers
Green. Crass.
I found this letter on line, within 2 minutes of typing this rant. It explains everything.
15 comments:
One is far too many.
There always seems to be a need for anyone making a statement to introduce statistical facts to pad out the statement. I think it is the modern need to say anything even when silence would be better. When all said and done 47% of all statistics are made up. The other 53% are wrong. Probably.
Two officers were shot at in Camberwell on Monday, fortunately they were not injured. No real mention on even the local news, but that does not surprise me. Before I left I worked in the Central Command Complex. The average member of the public would be surprised at the amount of times (unarmed) patrolling officers encountered armed suspects in the course of their duties and still tackled them. It was a virtually daily occurrence, it still did not make the press however.
Retired
"..would never have left my lips if I was talking about the recent attempted murder of one of MY officers."
It's just that he forgot, and rolled out the meaningless, never-believed pre-prepared statement for the proles that all senior officers are trained to give to the media:
http://thylacosmilus.blogspot.co.uk/2010/04/phrase-thats-surprisingly-ubiquitous.html
At least, I hope that's all it is...
We live in a changing World, Hogday. Widespread availability of a new generation of miniature, potent stun guns, may prompt the revised announcement:
`thankfully, the current requirement to venture outside is rare`.
I recall on my r/t course hearing a commentary at a shooting where Bravo 1 had a couple of 9mm holes in it. An insp came up with, "MP, I think they might be blanks". Short pause. "MP from Bravo 1. If the inspector wants to stand on our area car we'll take bets".
Sighs......
So trite and bland that it's naff. Can't they see that? It's the stuff 'The Mail' is made of.
Roger that, Sarge.
Tony, I too think its spouted to make the chief feel better about the spouter. A form of sycophancy. But it makes them look like a charicature from a satirical comedy sketch
Curious. If the spokesperson possesses the statistics to be able to quote the rarity of this specific crime how come its unavailable to the FOI request. Unless the spokesperson was speaking off the cuff or anecdotally. But they would never do that... would they?
What a trite, impersonal thing to say as the employer of a murdered employee. I distinctly recall being told by a senior officer that we were all part of a big family. A contemptible remark then as now.
On the colonial side of the pond Police Chiefs are appointed for the political reliability. They've been known to cite stats in an equally inane and retarded way.
I long ago came to the conclusion that liberalism is a form of insanity and is progressive in nature. The longer it is untreated, the worse it gets.
"Rare" is a good nonspecific term. Whenever I suggest that police foot patrols in my area are "rare" I am bombarded with stats to prove otherwise.
Then again, on paper the Met's volunteer service has a higher headcount than most county forces have paid officers so, again, all things are relative.
No police officer should get shot in a country where guns are illegal. The authorities must (should?) know where the guns are coming from. Mark Duggan's gun ends up 20 yards away from where he is supposed not to have been in possession of it? Don't make I laugh. I suppose it was just a weird coincidence.
Heh! As we say here in the former colonies, when guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns. Why should crooks are if the gun they have is illegal? The only people that benefit from outlawing guns are the outlaws themselves. It greatly lowers the risk of their "profession." Police see no benefit either.
Blue, amazing insight, Sir! That's exactly what his defence counsel said! Incredible I know, but this shit happens and I'm sure any court would see it that way.
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