Reply to: Commit any crime you like, they probably won't get you

[DoctorStrangelove]

it was the muzzle flash

Yeah, that .75 recoilless is a right bitch in that regard.

[DimPrawn]

Or if you wish somebody Merry Christmas.

FFS, now you are going to have to add happy Diwali, Hanukkah, Ramadan, etc, or else the filth will come a knocking!

[DoctorStrangelove]

It's been downhill all the way since they stopped hanging people for stealing handkerchiefs.

[vetran]

But you were talking about the Met and 1829 just now.

they do change the reporting standards every other year so its hard to compare.

Comparing to Victorian times is not exactly reasonable, Now comparing to the trend over a number of years (not centuries) and to other similar countries makes sense. Are we more lawless than the French/Germans etc. and are we increasing the gap positively between their crime figures & ours. Are we taking the sensible initiatives other countries are using?

[vetran]

Three crimes in my area.
Two for anti-social behaviour. Well, if that hadn't sworn so loudly as their lycra burned, no one would have charged them.
And one for arson. Who knew that lycra could spontaneously combust?

it was the muzzle flash

[Old Greg]

British Police history

As you can see from this link, the national police force had barely been established by the start of Queen Victoria's reign in 1876. Her reign was marked by lowering crime rates, increased standards of living and extensive social and health programs to help the poor. It was in many ways the start of the modern era.

But you were talking about the Met and 1829 just now.

[TwoWolves]

When do you reckon the Victorian era started?

British Police history

As you can see from this link, the national police force had barely been established by the start of Queen Victoria's reign in 1876. Her reign was marked by lowering crime rates, increased standards of living and extensive social and health programs to help the poor. It was in many ways the start of the modern era.

[Old Greg]

The metropolitan police were only formed in 1829 so comparing to the Victorian era isn't meaningful. Quantative analysis of crime rates are compromised by political interference so estimates vary a lot from source to source, I think you need to look at the number of unsolved crimes to get a real picture. Domestic crime is a very hard one to solve in any society.

Crime levels have been decreasing since the police service was created but it looks to me that this trend has been broken, this should be enough to worry about.

When do you reckon the Victorian era started?

[DoctorStrangelove]

The metropolitan police were only formed in 1829 so comparing to the Victorian era isn't meaningful.

Quite.

<pedant mode> Since George IV was King at the time. </pedant mode>

[NigelJK]

Mine showed between 5 and 10 for most local places, but 220+ for the local primary school. Mostly shoplifting(?) and 'antisocial behaviour'

[WTFH]

Three crimes in my area.
Two for anti-social behaviour. Well, if that hadn't sworn so loudly as their lycra burned, no one would have charged them.
And one for arson. Who knew that lycra could spontaneously combust?

[TwoWolves]

It needs some historical perspective. Is law and order better or worse now than in Victorian times? Consider also whether in the recent past there was a crisis in domestic violence and child sexual abuse that was largely ignored by the police, the courts and the media. It is very hard to tell whether there is more or less lawlessness these days or whether the nature of lawlessness has changed. Your mention of order is important. A fight in the streets is more an affront to order than an assault in a family home, but is it more serious?

The metropolitan police were only formed in 1829 so comparing to the Victorian era isn't meaningful. Quantative analysis of crime rates are compromised by political interference so estimates vary a lot from source to source, I think you need to look at the number of unsolved crimes to get a real picture. Domestic crime is a very hard one to solve in any society.

Crime levels have been decreasing since the police service was created but it looks to me that this trend has been broken, this should be enough to worry about.

[Old Greg]

Unless it's hate-speech - you'll get your house raided for that.

Or if you wish somebody Merry Christmas.

[Jog On]

Unless it's hate-speech - you'll get your house raided for that.

[Old Greg]

Joking aside...

There is a crisis in law and order in this country and the media are looking the other way. The courts are too lenient, the prisons full and the police buried in paperwork and demoralised. Fortunately most of the crime is non-violent, we are a long way from being South Africa but we are walking that road.

I send my daughters to Krav Maga classes.

It needs some historical perspective. Is law and order better or worse now than in Victorian times? Consider also whether in the recent past there was a crisis in domestic violence and child sexual abuse that was largely ignored by the police, the courts and the media. It is very hard to tell whether there is more or less lawlessness these days or whether the nature of lawlessness has changed. Your mention of order is important. A fight in the streets is more an affront to order than an assault in a family home, but is it more serious?