Police knocking criminals off mopeds

It does seem somewhat amazing because they are putting that criminal's life at risk. Whilst I would not condone the actions of the criminal, police cannot for instance shoot a criminal unless there is a threat to someone's life. I wonder how this has got past the chief constable.

Isn't this punishment BEFORE trial?

Shouldn't we oppose this it creates a scary precident?

It's not a punishment before trial. It's apprehending an offender.

If they dont have the staff / funding to apprehend people SAFELY then this is NOT the solution.

Police have a duty of care towards those they are apprehending as well as to the public

As I understand things, they have permission to knock into the moped during a pursuit if they deem it safer for the public, police and criminal to do that rather than let them continue speeding through the streets, and perhaps causing even worse mayhem.

Sounds sensible to me.

Brilliant, anything that helps put a halt to moped crime sounds good to me. If the criminals are worried about being hurt perhaps they should find something else to do.

How long before someone is killed many of these are very young kids who are USED by the drug dealers and have little choice, they are caught in a cycle and it is a form of slavery I would have thought there was a better way
We do seem to be getting far less civilised and going backwards in some areas and ridiculously over the top in others

Lassoo them? Joking of course! Although I agree there has to be a way to stop this wave of crime I'm not sure knocking the perpetrators off their mopeds is the way to do it - surely someone will eventually be killed - it could even be an innocent bystander and the consequences that would cause could be dreadful.

About time,maybe they will think twice before committing moped crime in future.

They don’t just knock them off in any old fashion. There has been training so that the risk is minimal. So far in over 250 knock offs these little thugs have either manage to scramble up and make off, leaving the scooter (usually stolen) behind or just suffered minor cuts and bruises.

These are not children being used by drug gangs, but mini thugs who are self employed. They carry knives and have killed. They don’t care who they hurt and as far as I’m concerned I’m pleased the police have introduced this. I watched that Tonight programme and was really shocked by the level of violence they are prepared to use to steal just a mobile phone. I bet the relatives of those they have killed are not saying ‘this is not the solution’.

There has been a 30% reduction in this kind of crime since the police hit back so it is effective too.

If its the safest option, then I'm all do it.

Anything that keeps this pondlife off the streets is ok by me.

I agree with Anja I'm for it as well, these thugs don't care who they hurt.

The video clips on the news were done very slowly and made the yobs look very undignified and the only thing badly hurt was their pride. A good idea and a good boost to police morale.

Can they use stingers as they can with cars?
These puncture the tyres so the vehicle is disabled.

The newspaper article I read about this said the police can use 'stingers'.

I am a little uneasy about this tactic although Police have obviously been trained to do it in the safest way. The other side of me thinks that if they don’t comit the crime then no body would get hurt anyway.

Yes, they do use stingers too. They were shown at the start of last night’s news report. The Police appear to be trying all they can, DD1 lives in an area where they have been plagued by moped thieves, it hasn’t been so bad for the last few months.

They use stingers as well, but have to pre-guess the direction the perpetrator is taking and get in front of the moped in order to do this and it takes more than one police vehicle. Not often possible.

I feel uneasy about the knocking off tactic too. But I feel even more uneasy about violent moped muggings. Some victims have been stabbed. I don't think the principle of forfeiting some of your 'rights' (e.g. of non-risky apprehension by police) when you've committed a crime is unreasonable.

No one is taking up the fact that some of these moped riders are children and have no choice but to do what the drug gang leader tells them to or they or their family are hurt or killed

17 people have been killed by taser guns in 15 years

It is a very difficult balance between protecting the public and not committing murder in the process of doing so. And these are split-second decisions.

Agree 100% with Anja. And if these criminals should be "children" then best if they are apprehended and, hopefully, taken out of the situation they are in.