Should the British army take some control of crime/security in the London area?

[pettswoodmumof3]

What do you all think? There seems to be a precedent in other countries of military involvement when crime reaches a certain level.
I have always been quite relaxed about crime statistics but it seems so many people are having a bad experience now and are scared and something needs to change. Just heard another horror story of two 16 year old girls being stop and fake searched by a gang in Blackheath village of all places. So many pointless knife deaths. Some Londonders I have spoken to say they think the criminals know they have the upper hand and that the police just don't have the time to show up quickly for offences like car theft. Do we really want to be the murder capital of the world? My kids are early teens and I have to admit I am starting to worry too (and I am definitely not a paranoid person).

No - we should

a) fund the police properly,
b) give them the equipment they need.
c) get the courts to give sentences that really deter,

For c) someone in a country close to be stole a bicycle, because they use an angle grinder to cut off the lock that put them into a higher sentencing band - they were given the option of 6 months on gaol or the equivalent of UKP 4,000 fine. Now I understand why petty theft here is so uncommon.

should have been "country close to me"

My brother is in a infantry regiment based in london, not the guards, but when the terriost attacks happend in paris, they was put on stand by to be on the streets of london within an hour

No, but police, prisons, the whole justice system in fact all needs more funding. There aren't enough police and not enough spaces in prison. More work on rehabilitation required too, as harsher sentences have been found to be ineffective in comparison despite what this government tries to tell us.

No, thank you. It's as good an idea as asking my dentist to cut my hair. They're not trained for that.

If society collapses enough for us to need to shoot looters then fine, bring in the army. Until then, absolutely not: soldiers are not police officers. We do not live under military rule.

Absolutely not. Is that the kind of country you want to live in?

Don't be ridiculous

No. Its not our job (im in the Army). We're not trained for civil policing. Thats what the Police are for, and they should be funded properly.

Soldiering and policing are very different jobs, with very different focuses, desired outcomes, mindsets, and skillsets, I would have thought.

No.
Soldiers and police officers are entirely different roles.

What would your average soldier know about gathering evidence, investigating, interviewing and remaining within the law while doing so?

Crime in London is not that high
Yes, it has risen as police numbers have fallen. Police funding should rise but so should social work and probation

But it remains a very safe, large city.

I'm not seeking to offend anyone, or reopen old wounds, but wasn't part of the problem in the Irish 'Troubles', that the military were sent in to do policing?

No they are an army, they are not a police force.

Also which other countries do you think put army on the street to tackle crime?

I think Mexico and the Philippines have tried it at points when narco gangs have been a massive problem. Maybe Brazil? Didn't work though. And I'm not sure those are countries that should be role models

And London is miles and miles away from being the murder captial of the world.

Don't be hysterical.
You can look up murder rates with a quick Google.

No

The goverment should be correctly funding the police.

You can’t keep cutting police money and wonder why more crime happens....

No, for all the reasons above. They are not police officers.

3 men killed near us the night before last - something needs to be done.

Other countries do, but in Britain the tradition is strongly against using the military as police. It's part of the founding principles of policing in this country, that it's a civilian force. The military reasonably has a role in counter-terrorism security, but should not be taking over everyday police work.

Increased police funding, coupled with investment in proper youth services are the answer imho

Oh no! While I believe the military could do a fantastic job if maintaining order, and the Royal Military Police could do much if the remainder of police work, I dont think it's the answer.
We should be funding the entire criminal justice system properly, from policing, to courts, prisons and other forms of sentencing, rehabilitation, mentoring and everything else in between and beyond.

Increased police funding, coupled with investment in proper youth services are the answer imho

Agreed.

I very much understand where your suggestion comes from though OP - it does feel out of control and scary right now. I’m getting out before my eldest is in secondary school - this is not the life I want for my children.

Ex-soldiers were going to replenish the teaching profession, as well..

Why is the army the go-to every time stuff goes wrong within another sector due to relentless underfunding?

What otter said.

More funding for schools AND youth services AND police would be more effective.

I live in London. Don’t be so bloody ridiculous.
We need harsher prisons and prison sentences. More police funding. Show people they are not above the law. People commit crimes because they don’t expect to be caught, and if they are the sentences are too lenient.
Immediate prison sentence for anyone caught carrying a knife.