Loony Britain: Where do police's crime priorities lie?

Would you find a gang of 15 youths hurling stones at you intimidating? Unless you are Phil Louis, Macclesfield’s answer to Rambo, you most certainly would. So, caught in that situation what would you do? No use phoning the police, your call would be directed to the Community Action Team’s answer phone. We know Cheshire Police do not accept such calls as emergencies. So now what?

Forty-nine-year old Falklands War veteran Stephen Fosbrooke found himself in exactly that situation. When he attempted to move abusive yobs from outside his home he was stoned, taunted and told to “bring something bigger” than the screwdriver he was holding. Mr Fosbrooke went inside and returned brandishing a sword and chased the youths away. To his eternal credit he then phoned Cheshire Police and told them exactly what he had done.

You may consider Mr Fosbrooke’s actions exemplary in the face of such an unnerving ordeal but not Cheshire Police who prosecuted him for ‘possessing a bladed article in a public place’. Given the opportunity to dismiss this ludicrous miscarriage of justice, Macclesfield magistrates chose to convict Mr Fosbrooke, who now has a criminal record and 300 pounds court costs to pay. What do you suppose the gang of undisciplined yobs made of that?

Now to something completely different: When 26-year-old Timothy Moore was stopped by Macclesfield Police for failing to surrender to bail, using threatening behaviour and having court debts of over 3,000 pounds he thought it appropriate to kick and punch the arresting police officer. Moore’s solicitor explained: “He’s now in a relationship, starting to get things together and wants to be more responsible.” Regardless of Moore’s abysmal track record, Macclesfield magistrates agreed to sentence him to community punishment.

So to summarise: war veteran Stephen Fosbrooke chases away a gang of stone throwing yobs from outside his front door and ends up with a criminal conviction. While Mr Moore, who has a string of convictions, refuses to surrender to bail, uses threatening behaviour, punches and kicks a police officer is given community punishment, which he may not complete, along with fines that he may not pay.

The message couldn’t be clearer: the only legitimate response to an unprovoked attack, regardless how outnumbered you may be, is to take it and phone Cheshire Police the following morning for an incident number. If, on the other hand, you are inclined to bouts of gratuitous violence expect to be pardoned again and again and again and again…

Is it any wonder we are plagued with violent yobs and disrespectful louts? The whole criminal justice system is a farce. If you would like to show your support for Stephen Fosbrooke write to me care of the Express and we’ll make a stand.

Report here



(And don't forget your ration of Wicked Thoughts for today)