Police knocking criminals off mopeds

I remember when a scooter gang raided a jewellery shop in my nearest town, they were swinging axes, it was a couple of years ago before scooter crime really got going. It was a terrifying experience we all sheltered in the bank opposite.

I gather that the police are being trained to do this without causing major injuries, so I'm all in favour of it. How can the police, with their serious lack of numbers these days, cope with rising crime without having to resort to tough measures. Anything which keeps the streets safer is ok in my book. These moped thieves are an absolute menace.

At last the Police are getting tough on these moped criminals. Someone has already stated, moped crimes are down by 30% already since this way of apprehending these thugs has been brought in.
It will make the streets safer for law abiding people and I'm all for that.
I am sick of these feral youths, laughing in the faces of the Police, terrorising people and making GB like the Wild West.

I hear what you say anja but I'm very uneasy about this. Yes violent crime is increasing, police presence is disappearing. So many cuts to social welfare and education thus seriously detrimental to those who are most in need of support. Exactly where are we heading in this crazy world. 20 years ago the nation would be horrified at police using such tactics

Completely disagree Marthjolly1, you are making excuses for the behaviour of these little s***s. Plenty of people who are in need of support don't go around stealing mopeds, assaulting innocent people and being a menace to society. We've gone soft on criminals in the past couple of decades, and are reaping the results. Some of you have expressed concern for their safety, what about the safety of the general public? Individual rights should never trump the rights of society as a whole to be safe and protected from criminals. If they've done wrong, then maybe a few cuts and bruises will deter them from doing it again. Maybe we should re-introduce National Service for young criminals?

Yes we seem to care more about the perpetrators than the victims at the moment Opal
These thugs go mob handed with knives, machetes etc, 20 years ago there was more respect for others Marthajolly

It's the best news I've heard in ages! I love it and would like to see a lot more of it. I'd like to see our police taking a much more aggressive stance with the scum they have to deal with.

Opal...I agree

Use of knives, machetes, acid etc cannot be blamed on cuts to social welfare . More money in crime than employment

A lot of this is simply down to drugs. A lot of violent crime is to do with dealing or with perpetrator being stoned. If only there was a way to get at the unscrupulous drug barons - I would have no problem with knocking them off their mopeds, but they are safely sealed inside their limousines.

Seriously though, a society is only as civilised as its dealings with criminals in its midst - cut off their hands? hang 'em?

Opal Sodapop I'm not making excuses but asking how have these children turned into little sh**s with only crime and violence as their subject of achievement and sense of self worth. We are all born the same. I am so saddened that so many have little or no guidance, no parental, educational or social supervision. We live in a very, very complex world. Very many young people are models of society - they have had a good start in life with love, guidance and support which gives them the tools to flourish in life. Crime has to be punished and we all have to take the consequences of our actions, whatever they may be but are we not also responsible for for creating the society in which we live.
Sorry for the outpouring - I seem to have gove off thread a bit.

Poverty Safari by Darren McGarvey is a very good read giving a clear insight of how poverty breeds a criminal culture.

For most of human history the vast VAST majority of people have been extremely poor.

I don't think we should blame poverty for criminal behaviour.

It'll only be a matter of time before someone is killed then this " brainwave " will come to an end. I know the police must be fed up with the crime in the city but this tactic isn't the way to solve it short-staffed or not. I couldn't believe it !

If the police have their ideas about who started this way of thieving then seize the bikes and have them crushed.

How many people have died due to scooter/moped criminals?
How many people have died ( or even been seriously injured) due to the police scooter ramming tactic?

Rhetorical questions:
It is either this or just allowing the thugs to thrive whilst tearful liberals wring hands and fret about the poor thugs being injured in course of their chosen way of life.

I believe that the Police do not take this "drastic action" unless the scooter or motorcycle rider has been warned by a pursuit vehicle sounding warning sirens and flashing lights and the rider refuses to stop. The rider may have also have been witnessed riding dangerously in a pedestrian precinct etc and endangering people on foot. Therefore, if after the above warnings the rider does not comply in stopping when that request has been clearly demonstrated to them, I feel that to "knock him/her off the scooter or motorcycle is justified in those situations.

In the above, the protection of other road users and the public in general, has to take president over all other considerations I believe.

Stree,this tactic has only just come into force so hardly time for a fatality yet. Watch the outcry when it does happen !
I'm all for law and order and also force where necessary because I'm sick of the kid-glove treatment that criminals receive " in case they get hurt ".
I'm also a believer in capital punishment but alas that's something we won't ever see since it was abolished mid-60's.

It doesn't worry me if they knock a criminal off a moped in order to arrest him and I think the moped should be confiscated and crushed too.

However, what does worry me is the chase which was shown, which seemed to be above the speed limit in a built-up area and the possibility that an innocent pedestrian or a cyclist could be injured or a collision with another vehicle could result in injury to someone not involved.

I have always been horrified by police chases that one sees on TV - they are often more dangerous to the public than the original offender.

I once encountered a speeding fire engine coming towards me down a blind bend on a hill - it appeared on the wrong side of the road - how I missed it I will never know.

If you're not committing a crime you won't get knocked off your moped !

Seems fair enough to me !

Often these vehicles are stolen or have false number plates or no number plates whatsoever. With the riders in crash helmets, identification can be impossible while the person is riding the scooter or motorbike.

Therefore to pursue the rider is often the only course of action open to the police, or watch the person ride off and commit whatever crime he/she has carried out again in the future encouraged by the fact that they were not pursued.

The recent spate of acid attacks have been horrific, I believe some of the assailants were on mopeds. I can only think of the victims I'm afraid who will have to live with the consequences of such an evil act. I don't care if some thug gets knocked off a stolen moped.

I am against crushing the majority of mopeds mainly because they have been stolen and should be returned to their rightful owners.

These little s***s cannot be bothered holding down a job, it is easier and more profitable to drive up to somebody on a pavement and steal a smartphone and/or a handbag.

those who feel sorry for the s***s should live in London and see it happening.

The police must be well aware of the risk of being sued if someone is killed or injured.

They can't do right for doing wrong in these pursuit situations - they just have to weigh-up the risks, whether to leave the car/moped to run amok and escape, or attempt to stop it.

Let the police do their job. Or don't complain if you or yours become a victim.