AIBU to think police should protect you, not look for prosecutions after a crime is committed?

[justcallmemary]

I own a small business with 17 staff. Two weeks ago, I had to let a young member of staff go after a full disciplinary process. She went absolutely crackers and threatened to stab a member of staff who she blamed for getting her into trouble by telling me about an incident (incidentally she only worked 8 hours a week and lives at her parents so this isn't end of her world stuff). My other staff who know her fairly well said that the threat was potentially credible and I had no choice but to call the police. They took hours to attend and take statements and then told me they would be going to see her that day. 3 and a half days later I got a call to say "they had left a message with her mum". Another 7 days later, I got a call to say they had been to see her and she hadn't meant it. That was the full involvement of the police. The member of staff has not gone anywhere on her own since, hasn't been sleeping and generally has been fairly well frightened by the experience. I have put a police complaint in but have been told that the officer has acted on the information presented to her correctly and no actual violence has been committed. I asked the complaints officer if she would be happy with it if it had happened to her - no comment. I am fairly sure I am acting rationally but I am starting to question myself.

I'm another one feeling a bit confused. What alternative action do you think the police can take against people who have committed offences? Surely all the police can do is follow criminal law and prosecute if there is an offence? If the victim of crime won't support the prosecution what else can the police do?

I don't think you can complain about the time the police took to respond to the original call, no one was in immediate danger. It wouldn't be considered an urgent call.

It can be very hard to contact people in any situation, they may well have tried on the day and for several days afterwards.

They left a message and eventually spoke to her, I don't see that there is much more they could do.

These responses are interesting because on MN people are frequently told to contact the police for this and far more minor incidents too. That's the end of the advice "call 101" ime, the experience you had is standard and I am not sure what else can be expected?