to think that Labour's stance on moped ramming is stupid

[longfingernails]

The Metropolitan Police have been knocking over moped muggers with their cars, and releasing the footage as a deterrent. It's a fantastic idea which has cut moped crime dramatically.

Predictably, the Shadow Home Secretary has said 'it shouldn't be legal for anyone'.

Why is Labour's instinct always to side with the scumbag criminals over the victims, the police and the decent people?

I’m annual leave. Enjoy copper

I'm quite a lefty in my views and even I think this is a good idea as long as it's done with no risk to others. I don't agree with Diane Abbott and although I blame the increase in crime firmly at the Tories door as a result of cuts and austerity and a complete decimation of the social support system, I still think nudging criminals off their mopeds is acceptable.

Oh I'm 🤢

No leave for me till March. Last set of nights there were 2 of us.

And 2 handovers.

Should have been 1 and 10!

Was in fact 1 and 2 and we both had handover prisoners. And people wonder where the police are!! ☹️

copper you will need it when it comes round.

Levels are shocking. Really appalling. And to be honest, I don’t have it bad where I am so I can’t even fully appreciate how bad it is.

To those who are against the Met’s moped policy,
what’s better:

a) A moped riding criminal suffering some cuts and bruises having been pushed off their bike in a controlled manner (with a small risk that they may suffer some more serious injuries)

b) the moped criminal is allowed to stab, mug and throw acid on with dozens innocent people
with impunity.

I just don’t get why people value one criminal’s safety over many innocent members of the public.... it’s utter insanity!

We had lots of moped thieves in our area, the police could do very little to catch them.

They would mount the pavement on their moped, parents with kids and even pregnant women and mums with babies in slings had their bags and phones snatched by people speeding onto the pavement - it would be so easy for a child to get seriously injured. Then they would speed off, perhaps down footpaths in the park at great speed.

I was scared when walking with my kids - not of having my phone snatched, but of being hit by one of these mopeds.

The Police couldn't catch them. They stole the moped, used it for an afternoon of mugging, then abandoned it- so nothing to trace. They covered their faces. The police weren't allowed to chase them in cars. I once looked out my window and saw a female officer valiantly trying to run after a moped gang, they sped away. They stole stuff really quickly, so they made a good amount from it, with miniscule chance of being caught.

I completely support this policy. If the thief stops, the police will apprehended them the normal way. If they speed off, rather than engaging in a dangerous high speed chase, the police will knock them off their bike in a controlled way and then apprehend them. What is the alternative, just let them get away? These moped muggings are really dangerous, it's not about phones and wallets, it's abouot preventing them knocking over a child/ causing a serious accident.

I just don’t get why people value one criminal’s safety over many innocent members of the public.... it’s utter insanity!

Two things here: the "criminal" is not a criminal until he is issued a "criminal" conviction.
Innocent members of the public are often injured in police pursuit activities, we have identified that these mopeds operate in built up busy areas, therefore the risk to innocent folks is higher as visibility and road conditions are lower.

This is before you factor in the room for human error, lack of experience and training and individual temperament of the officer driving.

@doubleshotespresso - moped crime has decreased by almost 40% - this is working.

Did you read my post on how police pursuits are monitored?

There is an ongoing continuous dynamic risk assessment for all police pursuits.

Why do people comment if they know nothing of how these things work?

Do you think police just chase folk for fun with no consideration for public safety??

copper I agree. I had a chase with a Subaru Impreza which I stood down myself without the control room telling me to as I wasn’t happy with the safety of it. I probably had red mist but my training kicked in.

We did catch him though.

In case you hadn't guessed I'm a pc. Trained in initial phase pursuits. Trained in tactical contact.

This is a safe swift way of bringing an end to what could become a dangerous pursuit. It's legal. It lawful. It works.

Would you like us to leave the precious criminal on the bike to rob, mug, and attack with impunity because they are on 2 wheels? If the public tell me they'd prefer for us not to catch them I'm happy to stop chasing them. Really. I'm too old for this shit anyway.

Nicky we had one a week ago. Radio cut-out so we called it.

2 days later he was shot in the leg/groin. Drug dealers eh! Summary justice.

I will do what the public want. If they dont want me to chase anyone I'm quite ok with that. It's me that's st greatest risk from a pursuit anyway. I'm happy to give it up if that's what the majority would like.

Nope. Ram the fuckers. They thought that they could escape being arrested by removing their helmets and riding away. Fuck that and them. Delighted that the police have changed their approach.

Oh dear lol.

Two things here: the "criminal" is not a criminal until he is issued a "criminal" conviction

I wondered if someone would be pedantic enough to write this.... Yes, I know they aren’t technically a criminal until convicted, but what’s your point?... that the Police shouldn’t make any attempt to forcibly append a criminal suspect because they’ve not yet been convicted of that crime? Shall we wait for them to turn themselves, saying “it’s a cop, guv’na” as they do so?

I expect you were also appalled armed police shot dead the Westminster terrorist last year after he stabbed a policeman as he ran towards them with a knife.. as he hadn’t been convicted of the crime!

@doubleshotespresso - moped crime has decreased by almost 40% - this is working.

I don't see evidence of that at all in our area at all I'm sorry far from it. But then the police station most local to us was closed this year and numbers are way below the base level required, they have told us so. Nauseating and frightening though this is, I am still vehemently against this and the message it sends out. Police are already lacking in respect -this just serves to exacerbate this fact.

“it’s a fair cop, guv’na”

I don't see evidence of that at all in our area at all I'm sorry far from it.

So you compile moped crime statistics in your spare time? What has the % change been then?

Police are already lacking in respect

If anything this increases my respect!

It's not surprising that the shadow Home Secretary made such stupid comments, it comes naturally to her.
I remember some time ago she was saying how great comprhensive schools were, then sent her son to a private school.

So you compile moped crime statistics in your spare time? What has the % change been then? hmm

No I am kinda busy for that. But going on the frequency I see this there has been little change and zero evidence of any police willing to chase them, as was the case all through the summer -so far it is still a daily occurrence. So I'd say a fair estimate would be fu** all % change.

See this is the thing about human rights. They're for all. Even robbers and murderers and paedos. You don't "opt out" of them because you don't stop being human even when you act like a scrote. While I didn't feel devastated by the footage or have much sympathy for the people involved, it's the start of a slippery slope. We don't like these people so we think the police should be able to use force that can kill or paralyse them. Who will we be ok with them using this kind of force on next? Other kinds of criminals? People we disagree with? People who aren't supportive of the current establishment? Where does it end?

It will stop when the first fatality occurs. Might be a moped rider, might be police, might be a passerby, but it will stop then. The police are not licensed to kill.

I support the police 100%. In face, just run them over please. Don't want to get hurt? Don't commit crime.

I live in the borough of Camden which had one of the highest rates of moped mugging. It has dropped by 90% since the Police got active. This is from local papers and emails from our local Police to the community