Policing in the Keighley Constituency
Posted by Ann Cryer, MP for Keighley, at 15:47, Thu 26 June 2008:
I am asking constituents to contact me with your views on policing. I am a member of the Home Affairs Select Committee which is currently holding an inquiry into policing. I would like to hear from victims of crime, police officers and the public in general on whether they think the police have the right people in the right places focusing on the right things.
The Committee’s inquiry is looking at the expectations of the police and the resources they have to meet those expectations, particularly in light of heightened concerns about terrorism, gun and knife crime, identity fraud; the role of PCs and PCSOs; public involvement in policing and the use of technology in reducing and solving crime.
The inquiry is looking at policing across England and Wales, but Committee Members will draw on their experiences as constituency MPs. Any comments I receive will give me a better understanding of what the public in the Keighley constituency expect of the police.
If you would like to submit comments please do so by emailing saundersma@parliament.uk or by writing to me - Ann Cryer MP at Bob Cryer House, 35 Devonshire Street, Keighley, BD21 2BH by 15 July 2008.
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Posted by Andrew Gale, 12:05, Tue 1 July 2008: (Is this post abusive?) #
Dear Ann Cryer MP.
Through personal experience, I believe the Police in Keighley can use their time and resources more wisely, not in what looks good on paper but more effective policing. In domestic incidents: I believe all sides should be questioned and heard before they make an inappropriate arrest. I myself was badly injured by members of my own family, the situation was calm and the calling of the Police was made in pure spite. Even worse the Police arrested me without hearing my account of the events. This meant that I had no support from Victim Support, and let a vicious attack on myself go unpunished.
The Police and I knew that the arrest and subsequent charges were not likely to be accepted by the Crown Prosecution Service. (CPS) An independent witness statement confirmed my statement; I was pinned down during all through the incident. I would have welcomed a hearing in the Courts but have the stain of being arrested and charged without the benefit of clearing my name in Court. I have not been convicted of any offence but have been added to the Police’s computer register, which I feel criminalise me and means I have to seek a Visa if I want to go outside the EU and disclose it with employers etc.
Surely in cases like my own; one should be questioned before an arrest and charges not brought if unlikely to be accepted by the CPS, saving money and time of the over stretched Police. I feel I have been unjustly criminalised and never had my say in Court. I do believe the Police take too much notice of witness statements and not enough of the evidence; I was the only one with severe injuries which would suggest I was attacked. One could ask why I was the only one initially arrested.
Two of my family members were also arrested the next day on GBH upon myself; again the charges were unlikely to go to Court. Why bother with the pretence, expense and Police time when the outcome was what was expected.
I believe arrests and charges are used to look good in statistics, though have little meaning if not put in the right context. I have been told by a retired Police Officer friend of mine that I could have been arrested because it was early Friday night. The officers would have to fill in paper work rather than go out on busy night, which some Police officers may prefer.
Mr Andrew Gale