A quick read of the new Crie Bill makes sense. Your phone is nicked and you track it, why should police then wait for a warrant to search? The only proviso is that the police are still racist and have dishonest elements. There are similar concerns regarding off the road vehicles – who determines it to be a nuisance? There are regular offenders with no respect for the countryside and environment, but whilst off roading is not an offence per se (a thought!). Child grooming reporting is also fraught with difficulties; as a teacher I had doubts about one girl who always looked tired – but she was bright and got great grades and attendance was excellent – no other indications. Should I have formally reported my suspicions, I did mention it to the HoH but only in a passing comment? Would a formal report have caused unnecessary trauma for no reason or …. These are dilemmas that teachers can do without. Child abusers are by nature aggressive and often violent. Whenever there is a horrific case of child abuse the press are quick to accuse professionals of incompetence but rarely praise the dedication those same people show. In my teaching career I had two instances where girls confided that they had been raped – both were not straight forward cases and despite being able to pass on to someone else to deal with the experience was exhausting on each occasion. So please do not let the balance between common sense and dedication be come ruled by the gutter press.
Changing the law on shoplifting is again common sense but where will the extra police come from? Maybe just like the security vans that collect and deliver cash to shops, maybe there should be mobile security officers with training to a lower level than police, but with powers of arrest and detention. A family member was arrested for blatant shoplifting and the police were brilliant, time in the cells and a fine line between threat and sympathy worked wonders. But then good people have guilt and a feeling of humiliation – others seem to care not a jot.
So in general I am in favour of the law change, but it must be matched by rehabilitation where appropriate. Street crime and anti-social behaviour are a problem with causes beyond the crimes themselves. A society that deals only with the acts of crime is a failing society.