Interesting chat with a policeman

[bigpaul]

(11 May 2012, 15:01)00111001 Wrote: 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!

sorry to hear that Binary..very sorry indeed! cant say i am surprised at the low conviction rate..although i didnt think it was as low as 5%! for a long time Plod has been a crime SOLVER rather than a crime PREVENTER, stands to reason when they all swan around in cars instead of pounding the beat, not by the sound of it like they solve many crimes either, and as for the low sentences when anyone does get convicted is just laughable! glad i got out of the city when i did.