Interesting chat with a policeman

[00111001]

So we had the police round last night. I've not been naughty (well, I haven't been caught anyway), the MIL was raped last week, and they wanted a statement from the wife.

I asked him what the chances of the person being caught is - he said if the person has a record and they have DNA from the scene then it's pretty good. If not, no chance. Pretty much what I was expecting there...

Then he said that 95% of the arrest he's made (in his 11 years on the force) go nowhere. Hardly any convictions, even when there's plenty of evidence to support it. I said "Surely that's frustrating?" he said "Not really. It was a bit at first, but now I'm used to it. We're just evidence gatherers." I was pretty surprised to hear a policeman say this - I know it's true, but still a surprising. Also, the low rate of convictions was a shocker!

I got the impression from him that you can do whatever you want - you may get arrested, but you're unlikely to be charged!