Is there still law in this country?

[Blue Walter]

Today I went into a shop to buy my paper and on my way round I saw this bloke on his knees sweeping stuff off the shelves into a bag. He was making quit a racket and I thought it all looked a bit odd, especially when I noticed the manageress and the young assistant giving him disapproving looks. I queued up to pay for my paper this bloke just brushed past me and out the door, this time giving the staff disapproving looks. I said to the assistant, a young lad, "is that what it seems like" and he said yes he comes in from time to time and steals stuff. I asked him if they do anything about it and he said they can't. Even though they have got him on CCTV the police won't do anything until he steals something of value or the value of what he steals starts to add up. Apparently this is a daily happening with others that come in the shop and does the same thing, sometimes just the odd bit or like this bloke today. They have got cameras all round the store but these people do not even try to hide their identity.

I can't believe that the law in this country has become so tolerant. You see the police making fools of themselves dancing at the Notting Hill and the Gay Pride carnivals. Bowing to the woke brigade by taking the knee at Black lives matter demonstrations and making tea for the Just Stop Oil herberts who block roads. Yet they can't stop people strolling into shops and taking what they want even though there is CCTV evidence of what they do. What appears to be more serious than that is going 5 miles an hour over the speed limit or letting your tyre go over the bus lane line.

[Pompey55]

BW it’s not the fault of the police my daughters partner is in the police and the issue with shoplifting is often not the lack of police action but that certain major retailers chose not to persue the matter through the courts but prefer just to ban people offending from their stores
It is a total fallacy that police will not take action if called to the shop it’s that many shops would rather write it off rather than tie up staff in court to testify in a case and paying their wages to do so

[eltorrro]

It's not their fault..you have to blame the snowflake brigade that forces through the ridiculous laws that allow these people to do that with impunity. The police are powerless, as are the shopkeepers as are the judges..and the perpetrators know it, that's why they get away with it.

I'm sure it only happens in the UK???

[Blue Walter]

BW it’s not the fault of the police my daughters partner is in the police and the issue with shoplifting is often not the lack of police action but that certain major retailers chose not to persue the matter through the courts but prefer just to ban people offending from their stores
It is a total fallacy that police will not take action if called to the shop it’s that many shops would rather write it off rather than tie up staff in court to testify in a case and paying their wages to do so

I realise the police have a difficult job and their resources are stretched to the limit. That is confirmed with the number of police forces that have declared that they will not now respond to mental health cases that do not endanger life. However, the manageress of this shop told me they don't bother with calling the police anymore because of the lack of response. She said they won't do anything anyway unless the stolen goods have a higher value. I saw this bloke openly fill his bag up, and he must have known it was all on camera, but he just carried on with an air of impunity.

[NSRailings]

BW it’s not the fault of the police my daughters partner is in the police and the issue with shoplifting is often not the lack of police action but that certain major retailers chose not to persue the matter through the courts but prefer just to ban people offending from their stores
It is a total fallacy that police will not take action if called to the shop it’s that many shops would rather write it off rather than tie up staff in court to testify in a case and paying their wages to do so

I realise the police have a difficult job and their resources are stretched to the limit. That is confirmed with the number of police forces that have declared that they will not now respond to mental health cases that do not endanger life. However, the manageress of this shop told me they don't bother with calling the police anymore because of the lack of response. She said they won't do anything anyway unless the stolen goods have a higher value. I saw this bloke openly fill his bag up, and he must have known it was all on camera, but he just carried on with an air of impunity.

I guess they haven't banned him because they can't enforce it?

[Blue Walter]

BW it’s not the fault of the police my daughters partner is in the police and the issue with shoplifting is often not the lack of police action but that certain major retailers chose not to persue the matter through the courts but prefer just to ban people offending from their stores
It is a total fallacy that police will not take action if called to the shop it’s that many shops would rather write it off rather than tie up staff in court to testify in a case and paying their wages to do so

I realise the police have a difficult job and their resources are stretched to the limit. That is confirmed with the number of police forces that have declared that they will not now respond to mental health cases that do not endanger life. However, the manageress of this shop told me they don't bother with calling the police anymore because of the lack of response. She said they won't do anything anyway unless the stolen goods have a higher value. I saw this bloke openly fill his bag up, and he must have known it was all on camera, but he just carried on with an air of impunity.

I guess they haven't banned him because they can't enforce it?

Apparently they have cameras placed so they can see who is coming into the shop and, if they see someone they know has history, they can lock the door. I did suggest all the things that obviously come to mind but the bottom line is that without police action they cannot do anything. I can see a time when shops like this will employ a bouncer or more people taking the law in their own hands. I think society has gone to pot with all the things we are hearing and seeing now.

[StMonkton]

If we hadn’t reduced police numbers so drastically perhaps they would have the resources to attend to such matters.

Shoplifting is still against the law. It is nothing to do with ‘woke’.

Motoring fines like the ones you mentioned are enforced and collected by machines.

[BlueinPLtwenty]

Near where we live on the Devon Cornwall border, a local Farmer would leave fruit & veg on a stall outside their driveway. An honesty box would collect cash from a purchaser. Surprise surprise produce was being stolen. The farmer put a CCTV Camera up and was able to have footage of the action of stealing. They took it to the Police who informed them that because there was no notice advising that the cameras were there, the Police could do nothing! The farmer removed his stall and no longer sells fruit & veg. It makes you wonder who is running this country. However we have had experience in Italy when my Wife had her purse stolen, it was just as bad, but that is another story.

[Pompey55]

Your right about numbers in many cases cars are now single crewed when previously they had 2 officers this also makes it difficult to respond to certain situations unless a second car is nearby
And some shops already employ security staff at the door on a rota basis so that shoplifters don’t know when to try and when it’s not safe to do so
It’s becoming ridiculous when did we need security on the doors of everywhere?

[Betelgeuse]

If we hadn’t reduced police numbers so drastically perhaps they would have the resources to attend to such matters.

Shoplifting is still against the law. It is nothing to do with ‘woke’.

Motoring fines like the ones you mentioned are enforced and collected by machines.

Haven't you seen how they do all the things mentioned by BW above? They're as woke as f**k. It's pathetic. Too many university degree higher ranking officers. Good old fashioned bobbies is what's needed.

[Blue Walter]

If we hadn’t reduced police numbers so drastically perhaps they would have the resources to attend to such matters.

Shoplifting is still against the law. It is nothing to do with ‘woke’.

Motoring fines like the ones you mentioned are enforced and collected by machines.

Yes, police numbers are obviously impacting on the way the police can react to incidents. I am also aware that motoring offences are a different category, I was merely pointing out a conundrum that we seem to have reached whereby this particular incident is treated less seriously than a motoring offence.

Wokeness is affecting much of our lives one way or the other including the police force. For instance 40% of county police commissioners are women. This statistic is aimed at showing 'diversity' but it does mean that very often the best and most qualified candidate doesn't hold that position. That is detrimental to police forces that see diversity as more important than talent, which is a situation repeatedly showing in other positions around the country in all sorts of situations. I know someone that left the police force because a female was put in charge of his section which, very soon, showed it was the wrong choice. This has no bearing on yesterday's incident, of course, but something has to be done because the country is sinking into anarchy and we need to get back to thinking more rational and logically.

Nevertheless, as things stand, going 5 miles an hour faster than the permitted speed limit is treated as more seriously and more punishable than walking into a shop and taking what you want without paying for it.

[phat_chris]

It is not as simple as police numbers unfortunately. Beyond that, the courts are so woefully under-funded that there is a serious case backlog. Beyond the courts, the prisons are full and the facilities for community service are lacking in staffing. Knowing this, the police seem to take the view that it isn't worth them processing petty crimes, and the perpetrators know they won't be punished so they act with impunity.

Asis the case with the NHS, the government has severely under-funded the whole legal system and we are now seeing the results. If you are unhappy with the status quo then make your feelings known in 2024.

[Pompey1984+1]

It is not as simple as police numbers unfortunately. Beyond that, the courts are so woefully under-funded that there is a serious case backlog. Beyond the courts, the prisons are full and the facilities for community service are lacking in staffing. Knowing this, the police seem to take the view that it isn't worth them processing petty crimes, and the perpetrators know they won't be punished so they act with impunity.

Asis the case with the NHS, the government has severely under-funded the whole legal system and we are now seeing the results. If you are unhappy with the status quo then make your feelings known in 2024.

The same can be said for every single public service, all cut to the bones and beyond in many cases.

[GreenBlue]

Okay. My woke (used as a positive) perspective.

1. There are an awful lot of people living in our country who are struggling really badly. Some of them are desperate and cannot afford to feed their families. I am fortunate to have never been that desperate but if I was, I would do anything, including taking risks, to support my family.
2. I think it is sad that the likes of the Mail, Express and Telegraph have brainwashed their readers into focussing our attention on minor criminals nicking a few quid's worth of goods rather than those who have properly fked over our country for hundreds of millions. (If you are unaware of these you have your head in the sand)
3. Mocking gay policemen and women for taking part in Pride is just pathetic.
4. Shoplifting is still a crime that will be addressed by police but, as already mentioned above, police numbers have been cut to the extent they must prioritise crime x over crime y.
5. Shoplifting is not a new phenomena. It has always been rife but is eccentuted during times of extreme poverty like Victorian times and ... now.

[Blue Walter]

Okay. My woke (used as a positive) perspective.

1. There are an awful lot of people living in our country who are struggling really badly. Some of them are desperate and cannot afford to feed their families. I am fortunate to have never been that desperate but if I was, I would do anything, including taking risks, to support my family.
2. I think it is sad that the likes of the Mail, Express and Telegraph have brainwashed their readers into focussing our attention on minor criminals nicking a few quid's worth of goods rather than those who have properly fked over our country for hundreds of millions. (If you are unaware of these you have your head in the sand)
3. Mocking gay policemen and women for taking part in Pride is just pathetic.
4. Shoplifting is still a crime that will be addressed by police but, as already mentioned above, police numbers have been cut to the extent they must prioritise crime x over crime y.
5. Shoplifting is not a new phenomena. It has always been rife but is eccentuted during times of extreme poverty like Victorian times and ... now.

Yes that is a woke veiw. Of course we all aware that many people are struggling at the moment and anyone will do what it takes to feed their families. I have struggled in the past but I can honestly say that I never went shop lifting or stealing. Unlike Victorian times there is help for people who have reached the point in the form of free food that doesn't entail shop lifting. It can't be easy for people that have reached that point and I do sympathise with them. However, a lot of the people doing the shop lifting are also feeding a drug problem as well. Just like on Wednesday when my daughter saw a man shop lifting shouting at people asking them 'what you fking looking at, it aint my fault I got a fking drug problem'. The people doing the shoplifting are doing it with apparent impunity and it cannot be allowed to continue, has anyone giving a thought to the hard pressed shop owners who are providing a service.

I wasn't 'mocking' gay policemen at all. What I said is that I didn't think they looked very good prancing around at gay pride events. They are figures of authority that are there to keep the peace and they don't look very authoritive dancing at carnivals or taking the knee at political rallies. You would soon complain if the police started cheering speakers at a right wing rally.

Whichever way you look at it you cannot condone anti social behaviour. We can't turn a blind eye to ir either for whatever ever the reasons are for it. Times are hard for people now but they have certainly been harder in the past. You are quite right about shoplifting not being a new phenomena but what is new is the freedom to do it quite openly.