Shopkeeper who asked PC for help as he chased thieves is told: 'You had better call the police'

 

 

By Jaya Narain

Last updated at 6:10 PM on 05th April 2010

 

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When two thieves stole bottles of spirits from his store and made off on foot, shopkeeper Graham Taylor gave chase.

As he saw them disappearing into a graveyard he spotted a police officer sitting in a patrol car and immediately sought his help.

But he was left angry and bemused when the officer told him: ‘You had better call the police.‘

 

Angry: Shopkeeper Graham Taylor asked a passing PC for help as he trailed two alleged thieves - but was told to call the police

 

And when he did call the police, the officers who were assigned to deal with the theft missed the radio call because they were celebrating at a colleague’s retirement party.

Force bosses have now launched an investigation into the fiasco after Mr Taylor complained.

The farce began when Mr Taylor, 50, chased two youths from his newsagents in Hessle, East Yorkshire after they allegedly stole a bottle of whisky and a bottle of Baileys liquor.

He followed the pair on foot before running back, locking up his store and jumping in his car as the teenagers made off into a nearby cemetery.

As he circled the perimeter of the graveyard, Mr Taylor spotted an officer sitting in a marked patrol car and went over to ask for his assistance.

‘I couldn't believe what he said when I asked for help,’ Mr Taylor said. ‘First he asked if I had reported it to the police, then asked if I had rang the police.

‘He was the police, was I not reporting it there and then? Why do I need to ring the police to tell them when I told a police officer.’

Mr Taylor said he then called 999 and was assured that a patrol had been dispatched to try to arrest the thieves.

 

Thefts: Mr Taylor followed two youths he claims took two bottles of spirits from his corner shop

 

But it later transpired the officers in question missed the radio call as they were celebrating a colleague's retirement party inside the police station.

Mr Taylor claims he went to the police station and found a car adorned with brightly-coloured balloons and he could hear shouts and cheers coming from inside the building.

He said he rang the buzzer to attract the attention of an officer and was greeted by a PCSO.

Mr Taylor asked what was being done about the alleged theft from his shop but the officer had no idea what he was talking about.

He said: ‘The whole thing just became more and more farcical as we went on, it was like a scene from Carry on Constable.

‘I have been raised to respect the police and the work they do. It is a really hard job and I appreciate that, but I was miserably let down when I needed them.’

The shopkeeper has since made an official complaint to Humberside Police and said he has been told by an inspector that ‘mistakes have been made‘.

A Humberside Police spokesman confirmed an investigation was being conducted by the Professional Standards Branch.

She said: ‘It is disappointing to hear that Mr Taylor feels he was given a poor service from Humberside Police.

‘Professional Standards are conducting an internal inquiry to see what has happened so it would be inappropriate to comment further until the conclusion.’

Police are still seeking two suspects in connection with the thefts.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1263734/Shopkeeper-asked-policeman-help-chased-thieves-told-You-better-police.html#ixzz0kFkWQ8AD

So the question is: How do we align the interests of citizens with the interests of the police? In other words, how can we ensure good "customer satisfaction"?

 

There are many ways a society could do this. I advocate privatizing all security services, but some people consider that too extreme. But here's an idea we could all be able to agree on: set up a pool of money that can be used to reward officers for preventing or stopping crimes-in-progress. The victims of crime are allowed to decide which officers get the rewards. In this way, the police have a financial incentive to provide the best quality service while treating citizens with the utmost respect.

 

There can still be a base salary, but you want some portion of their pay to be directly tied to their effectiveness. You could also set up an algorithm that adjusts base pay relative to a benchmark for violent crime - so the salary goes up as violent crime is reduced. It wouldn't be hard to do, but implementing this might be politically difficult.

Saffire that's madness! Policing on commission?

lol well what most western democracies currently have is a quota system that isn't focused on prevention of violent crime & theft, but on petty victimless 'crimes'. And it's understandable that cops would rather arrest a drunk guy than a furious knife-wielding fellow.

 

It's sort of anthropologically interesting to me. Because the reality is, police don't actually have to help you at all. The only reason they do it is because society expects them to. It's primarily a cultural thing...

^The problem is, you'd then get cops arresting people left, right and centre for no reason at all just so they could bump up their pay!:lol:

^Exactly why it would be madness.

 

Imagine all the people on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights who stumble around town centres drunk, police officers would be rounding them up like sheep as 'drunk and disorderly' criminals.

 

As well as that, for larger crimes and more commission, police could easily get a stooge criminal who's ready to do a bit of time or community service, and a civilian with a clean record, get them to do a fake crime, orchestrate some magnificent situation in which the cop catches the staged criminal, and gets a bucketload of money and pays them a cut of it.

^Exactly why it would be madness.

 

Imagine all the people on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights who stumble around town centres drunk, police officers would be rounding them up like sheep as 'drunk and disorderly' criminals.

 

 

Just think how many police would be needed for that!:stunned:

Well they'd make a killing on commission, so I'm sure they'd all want to work those nights.

 

But I don't even mean people who are genuinely dis-rupting the peace, just embarassing pissheads struggling to get home.

It's not commission or quota. I don't think you understood what I posted.

 

I said the rewards would be given out by the victims/potential victims of violent crime. Drunk people don't have victims.

 

What you're describing is a mindless system similar to what we already have.

 

As well as that, for larger crimes and more commission, police could easily get a stooge criminal who's ready to do a bit of time or community service, and a civilian with a clean record, get them to do a fake crime, orchestrate some magnificent situation in which the cop catches the staged criminal, and gets a bucketload of money and pays them a cut of it.

 

This is a crime. You don't think there would be people on the lookout for fraud if there's a financial incentive to prevent it?

 

Sometimes I feel like I'm talking to brick walls. Statists just assume that everybody is retarded.

You have me there, I didn't totally listen to what you said, mainly because it's usually a load of shit. Sorry for bothering you.

I like the original Nathan better.

Check the join dates.

Is your cock bigger as well?

I don't know, but most likely.