from plastic policemen to flatpack policemen the AA grumpy column
Posted: Thu Jan 01, 2009 11:43 am
hello and welcome back to the AA grumpy column ranting in to 2009
thank god its over and we can get back to normal.
although i did make my peace as i do every year with the guvnor at midnight mass
anyway heres tonights new year new story.
In what is either an expensive joke or an indication of the lack of funding of essential services, Norfolk Police have drafted cardboard cutout police officers into service in Great Yarmouth.
The flat-pack PCs, dressed in high visibility jackets, have been deployed at shopping centres in the weird belief that they will “cut crime and keep crowds under control, according to local police.
The 6ft 6in images have been on duty in Boots, Peacocks, Marks & Spencer and Debenhams in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, over the Christmas period and will continue to be a presence in the town into the new year.
A Norfolk Police spokeswoman said: “They definitely catch the eye which we think has helped calm down the festive crowds.
She said some shoppers have been posing for photos with the cardboard officers. They have even proved a hit with women who like the strong, silent type.
Community Support Officer Jason Osben, of South Yarmouth Safer Neighbourhood Team, had the task of deploying the officers “on patrol and helping introduce them to the town.
“If stores wanted a permanent PC on duty they would have to pay so this is a good free way of having a police presence in the town.
Patrick Taylor, store manager of Debenhams said, “Of course, if someone is a seasoned shoplifter a cardboard cutout is not going to make a blind bit of difference.
“But I have seen other cutouts when I have been out and about in town and it makes the police presence seem very impressive.
Mark Wallace of the TaxPayers’ Alliance said the public deserved better.
He said: “Taxpayers pay a lot of hard-earned money for proper policing not cardboard cutouts. No cardboard cutout has ever arrested a criminal or deterred a shoplifter and the public deserve better. At best, it’s an expensive joke and at worst it’s a waste of money.
AAG
i have seen one of these flatpack p.c,s at morrisons in staveley chesterfield he was making sure that no one drove off without paying for their petrol.
it is a waste of money and another labour policing policy on the cheap like the plastic policemen we see patroling the streets of the uk.
we need real policemen on the beat more police recruited not some netto type policing.
at least he could be good for catching cardboard criminals.
AAG
Cardboard Cutout Police Officers “Patrol†Stores : The British National Party
thank god its over and we can get back to normal.
although i did make my peace as i do every year with the guvnor at midnight mass
anyway heres tonights new year new story.
In what is either an expensive joke or an indication of the lack of funding of essential services, Norfolk Police have drafted cardboard cutout police officers into service in Great Yarmouth.
The flat-pack PCs, dressed in high visibility jackets, have been deployed at shopping centres in the weird belief that they will “cut crime and keep crowds under control, according to local police.
The 6ft 6in images have been on duty in Boots, Peacocks, Marks & Spencer and Debenhams in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, over the Christmas period and will continue to be a presence in the town into the new year.
A Norfolk Police spokeswoman said: “They definitely catch the eye which we think has helped calm down the festive crowds.
She said some shoppers have been posing for photos with the cardboard officers. They have even proved a hit with women who like the strong, silent type.
Community Support Officer Jason Osben, of South Yarmouth Safer Neighbourhood Team, had the task of deploying the officers “on patrol and helping introduce them to the town.
“If stores wanted a permanent PC on duty they would have to pay so this is a good free way of having a police presence in the town.
Patrick Taylor, store manager of Debenhams said, “Of course, if someone is a seasoned shoplifter a cardboard cutout is not going to make a blind bit of difference.
“But I have seen other cutouts when I have been out and about in town and it makes the police presence seem very impressive.
Mark Wallace of the TaxPayers’ Alliance said the public deserved better.
He said: “Taxpayers pay a lot of hard-earned money for proper policing not cardboard cutouts. No cardboard cutout has ever arrested a criminal or deterred a shoplifter and the public deserve better. At best, it’s an expensive joke and at worst it’s a waste of money.
AAG
i have seen one of these flatpack p.c,s at morrisons in staveley chesterfield he was making sure that no one drove off without paying for their petrol.
it is a waste of money and another labour policing policy on the cheap like the plastic policemen we see patroling the streets of the uk.
we need real policemen on the beat more police recruited not some netto type policing.
at least he could be good for catching cardboard criminals.
AAG
Cardboard Cutout Police Officers “Patrol†Stores : The British National Party
