The Tory way of governance

whitewave - I read the interview with the senior police officer, having read/heard the shorthand which suggested he was saying offenders who "simply" looked at images of children didn't pose a direct threat to children
What was clear from the interview was the senior officer stated the police are overwhelmed by the number of investigations into historical/current sexual abuse of children. He talked about the need to prioritise where to put limited resources. He did not say that men/women looking at such images didn't pose a thread, what I heard was he said they didn't (necessarily) need to be imprisoned. There would need to be a comprehensive risk assessment. He acknowledged that many individuals who start by looking at images of children being sexually abused, go on to abuse live children.

Another Tory policy in crisis.

www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/theresa-may-welfare-cuts-million-children-poverty-institute-fiscal-studies-uk-government-a7606236.html

Going to rise by 900,000 by 2022. Doesn't matter what definition of poverty you use, it's a despicable policy.

I agree there is plenty of room for improvement but my perception is that there is a vast change and one of the reasons - and one of the proofs - is that there are now more women in senior positions. Head of the Met even!
The priority given to domestic abuse will vary between forces - and the priorities are set by (elected) police and crime commissioners. So we can complain to them. Just dropped a line to Writetothem.com to ask if they can add PCCs to their useful website.
If you want a reminder of how much policing has changed, watch the first series of Life on Mars if you can track it down.
One thing I did notice, when the school where I was a governor had dealings with Thames Valley - police used to go around in pairs. Even if they were having a meeting with a headteacher and chair of govs. Whereas the community policing people (can't remember their job title) were out on their own on their push bikes. On one occasion there was a scary fight outside the school and while teachers moved towards the fray to help, the chap on the bike retreated up the road.
Or if you want a laugh (and if you were a fan of Shameless and enjoy a fairly rough and ready kind of humour) watch No Offence on Channel 4 catch up. Best female cop series since Cagney and Lacey (we did love C and L back in the 20th C didn't we folks. Saturday nights were never the same...)

Paedophile!

The police have also requested that peadophiles be group into risk and no risk, because they don't have e man power to deal with it. Apparently just looking at a child being abused doesn't count as risk. Never mind a child has had to suffer in the first place.

Jess, i did not blame overceducatedcpolice, you have chosen one from my post to leap on. I did not blame cuts on over educated police , I did say there are problems caused by the cut backs, I also said there are faults within the forces too.

Domestic abuse has been down graded yet three women a week are murdered by abusive partners.

I did say police are far less visible on the streets because they are sat behind computers.

As for the police are less corrupt, not in my opinion, untill they are stopped from investigating themselves nothing will change . A force which has to be investigated is investigated by another force

Anniebach The world has changed. Nearly 50% of young people now go to university. The use of data and other IT based technologies are now essential for modern policing.
In the bad old days the police were horrendously corrupt! (yes I know, not all of them, but an awful lot of them)
Policing has improved beyond recognition and huge advances have been made in the treatment of victims of abuse.
Tory austerity has been biting into the police service. Traffic cops that actually catch offenders are becoming an endangered species.
Blaming cuts on over-educated police who don't want to walk is, frankly, implausible.

My area requires improvement

My area is in the 'good' category, apparently.

Durham was probably licked into shape by local petitions!

Hi Beam. Now it seems some forces are in crisis, Durham has topped the list of successful forces .

As ever AB, you have a sensible grounded approach to life. The press have to justify their "vampire" existence, so love to whip up storms.

I have said somewhere else on GN scottie that those who support the Conservatives are those for whom the system works and who believe that if it doesn't work for others it is entirely their own fault. Obviously you will not want to see the issues in the NHS, education, police, etc., - that is until they actually affect you.

There needs to be changes in the force . Less time on computers more time on the beat. Now officers go to university then into the force , too educated to walk pavements. Heard a woman going on this morning that PSO's prevent crime by warning the public via computer, not everyone has a computer.

Police can retire after thirty years service so detectives are leaving the force when in early fifties , they have a good pension and then take another job. Doctors don't retire in their early fifties why do CID need to .

I am fed up of hearing of this crisis and that crisis .seems it's the in word, yes there are problems caused by cut backs in the force , but not all the problems are down to cut backs.

I still think the media "big it up" because they like sensationalism. Ever since I can remember (whatever lot is in power) there have been stories like this. It just gets tedious imo, especially as I find the NHs, Education and Police excellent whenever I need them.

I think it was rather more than that scottie. If you go to Today on-line at 07:15 and 08:10 you can hear more. Their summary says:
Policing in England and Wales is in a “potentially perilous state” according to the police standards watchdog. Zoe Billingham is Her Majesty's inspector of constabulary and Mike Barton is the National Police Chiefs Council lead for crime operations.

Also, sweeping the chaos this government has caused in the NHS under the carpet would be fine if it were true that the problems have gone away. Not all the problems lie at the feet of this government but at 07:30 on the same link there is a piece relating to:
The chief inspector of hospitals in England has said that the NHS stands on a ‘burning platform’ and that the traditional care model was ‘no longer capable’ of delivering the needs of today's population. Professor Sir Mike Richards is chief inspector of hospitals in England for the Care Quality Commission.

Not enough detectives, AB. I want to now what has happened to the NHS Crisis - has it vanished with the Spring. If you look for a crisis you will find one.

Police in crisis ? What is the crisis ?

I remember my Grandad ( Staunch Labour supporter) saying the same thing ww about the Wilson Government! It's a common phrase used by disaffected voters.

Crises in the police to add to the other crises.

I am beginning to wonder if the Tories are capable of running a brewery.

Oh good Jen. I do hope that something succeeds. T May seems to think she could over-rule the courts with the power of waffle today. There have been some good and knowledgeable speakers in this area in the past and the first is cross party too. I still can't believe what that awful man said about people at home taking pills and dismissing the problems of anxiety. It is difficult to accept that in this day and age mental illness is dismissed in that way. I know he apologised but he wouldn't have said it if he didn't believe it - just plain nasty.

It is hard enough to work out the changes from DLA to PIP with Attendance Allowance staying in place without being prejudiced against those who have a mental issue rather than a physical one.

kittysjones.wordpress.com/2017/03/01/two-edms-have-been-tabled-to-stop-cuts-to-disability-support-with-cross-party-support/

Trying to stop the Tory cuts to disability benefits.

But you speak with such authority Graces!

That is very unkind Chewbacca - what if they really are?

Jalima ...what a ridiculous situation that was ( paid leave.)