West Mercia Police chief moves to reassure public
Wednesday 10th August 2011, 10:29AM BST.
West Mercia Police chief constable David Shaw
Shropshire’s senior police officer spoke out today in a bid to reassure communities following a fourth night of widespread disorder on the streets of England as the riots intensified in the West Midlands and North West.
Newly-appointed West Mercia Police chief constable David Shaw said patrols would be stepped up in the main towns served by the force in response to the deepening crisis.
He said while there were “no indications” riots would spread to Shropshire or Telford & Wrekin, officers were ready to deal “robustly” with anyone intent on causing damage to local communities.
He said: “In light of the disturbances in other parts of the country, West Mercia Police has been preparing to respond to any incidents that may arise across the force area.
“I have to stress that there are no indications that any disorder will take place and we hope and expect that the streets of our towns and villages will look and feel completely normal.
“However, it is clearly important that while there are no indications to suggest that there will be disorder we continue to plan for any eventuality.
“I can assure the public that officers will be responding speedily, efficiently and robustly with anyone intent on causing damage to our communities.
“We have extra patrols on the streets of our main towns across West Mercia.
“I know that we can count on the support of the public and I would particularly ask young people to resist any temptation to be involved in any unlawful activities which would damage the communities in which they live, the livelihoods of people in this area and their own futures.
“Parents can help us by making sure they know where their children are.”
Detective Superintendent Martin Lakeman from West Mercia Police said: “I would like to take this opportunity to thank members of the public who contacted us to inform us of groups of youths gathering or suspicious incidents which resulted in us swiftly deploying officers and removing the threat with positive action.
“This approach will continue this evening with high visibility patrols across West Mercia providing reassurance.”
Across Shropshire, members of the public were calling police with reports of youths hanging around.
Police spokeswoman Rachel Anstee said officers spoke to a group of more than a dozen youths in Bank Steps, Bridgnorth, after a member of the public reported them hanging around at about 9.30pm yesterday.
She said: “Someone reported a group of approximately 15 youths in Bridgnorth and we went along and spoke to them. There were no offences taking place.”
Chairman of the West Mercia Police Authority Sheila Blagg added: “The chief constable has our absolute support in directing West Mercia officers to act decisively when protecting the safety of people and property.”
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I have been watching the riots on BBC World News over here.
The situation is just crazy. People were complaining that the Police did nothing in London. What did they expect them to do? They were hopelessly outnumbered and totally unprepared for what took place. Add to that the fact that their hands are tied, and you have a recipe for disaster.
They faced a mob, hell-bent on violence and destruction, and all they can do is BE THERE.
In situations like this, I firmly believe they should be given the power to do WHATEVER it takes to restore order. If a few mindless cretins get their heads cracked open, well, tough luck.
Rubber bullets would help, and it may serve to deter more of them. At the moment they have a free hand, and they know it.
Why not use water cannons with an added, non removable dye, then they could be identified at a later date.
More empty posturing from Cameron on TV. He condemns the riots and says anyone convicted will face the full power of the law. I’ll bet they were quaking in the boots at that.
Anyone convicted of taking part in this mayhem, should face a minimum sentence of 12 years inside, no parole. Instead, they will probably get a slap on the wrist and 6 months.
Finally, bring in the army, and give them a free hand, after all, the government never hesitates to deploy them to foreign countries at the drop of a hat, how about letting them work for the UK in the UK for a change.
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HERE HERE!!!!
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could not of said it better
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British Soldiers do work for the UK. It is the elected British Goverenment that tasks the Armed Forces. I strongly suggest you consider changing your final statement as I have served for my country and lost several friends doing the same.
I do however agree that stronger force is needed in dealing with the looting and rioting. There has to be a deterent stopping this and there has to be a suitably strong punishment.
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John R, no disrespect intended, but the true interpretation of my last sentence is in the reading. The stress is on the word “in”.
I too have had relatives and friends in the forces and am very grateful for the task they carry out.
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Colin.D. Prime Minister!
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YES!!! YES!!YES.
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Cameron “talks a good game” but I doubt anything will change once the riots have stopped.
We run the risk of this sort of thing happening again unless we tackle the root cause.
All of us will pay for this in the form of higher insurance premiums.His plan to cut police numbers is utterly stupid,this sort of thing reminds us why we need police,we could face a situation where police are unable to cope with a mass riot then what?
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Well the way I see it is these people are not actually rioting for any apparent reason its just a bunch of “Hyped up irresponable youths and thugs.”
They have been allowed to run riot for too long and maybe it is about time the goverment instead just allowing if to slide by just pushing it to one slide should start enforcing thier power.
We pay council tax, tax and national insurance yet with all that money the goverment can not afford to put more policing place.
They would rather give it to people imergrating, alongside giving them houses etc, maybe its about time this country started looking after thier own instead of everyone else.
Or fighting everyone elses war, personally instead of fighting in Afgan and Iraq the troops should be here looking after our streets.
And for those that are out there rioting think why are there so many of our troops out in the place fighting to PROTECT our country when all you inconsiderate idiots can do is run around destroying it.
Stop destroying everyones livly hood and jump back into your bin maybe one day you’ll understand your childishness is doing nothing but putting this country to shame.
Regards,
Thomas!!!
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well said colin!
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If the police wanted to…….. they could clear the streets within hours. The trouble is, the likely methods used would have a longer lasting negative impact on us hence the police containing instead of a no nonsense zero tolerance approach. If the police start firing tear gas, using water cannons, plastic bullets or god forbid lethal force, then there will be MASSIVE escalation. Whilst in al situations, there will be an end result – what will that result be?
Should we use the army? Absolutely 100% no. Internal security is for the police and our boys in blue will deal with these incidents of civil disorder. People may not like the fact the police are not baton-charging and ‘clubbing’ a few of these brutes. Whilst the police may appear to be inactive, they are doing the right thing.
On a personal note, I’m sick and tired of youths and other idiots blaming the police, the government or any other organisation. If the rioters are are looking for the guilty, they need only look into a mirror. I was brought up in longsite, Manchester and I never got involved in all this nonsense. I was not tempted to trundle down to Miss Side in 1981 to ‘assist’ some of my fellow schoolmates in ransacking the place.
To all the police forces affected, thumbs up from me.
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Toneh, if you were brought up in Longsight, how come you can’t spell it? And who is Miss Side, and why was she ransacked?
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I was born in Longsight, have lived in Moss Side, Gorton and surroundig areas,i feel this Tony person is just a blagger. Can’t spell the name of the places.
Maybe Miss Side was a beauty Queen for Longsight!!!
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This country is a ‘JOKE’ and needs to sort these yobs out we are too soft on them when they comitt a crime let them pay for it instead of getting a slapped wrist and sent away. im for bringing back national service and let them put something back into the country they have taken from. I have seen all these ideas in the press we are going to stop their benefits, evict them from housing this wont happen as nothing ever does. i agree with the comments let the police do what they need to to stop them. These yobs are laughing at the justice in this country. David Cameron is a complete joke and needs to get tough, and bring some troops back and patrole and look after our streets instead of someone elses.
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if people feel strong about this then please sign the e-petition to MAKE the government debate the taking away of benefits from anyone convicted of rioting
sign up here
http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/7337
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I think that the troops should be on our “British” streets,the police are outnumbered,I am all for our British police and what they are doing to safe gaurd the public.
I say that those how do this on the streets of Britain! should be made to clean up the streets,and also should be made to work unpaid until they have rebuild what they have destroyed…
If the POLICE and the ARMY work together on the streets of Britain,then this may end overnight?
and these people what do this are {LAZY AND MENTAL}and do not want to work!!
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thank u to the heroic police
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Heroic??
Scared to get involved in many cases and left people to their fate at the hands of looters.
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This brain-dead comment is barely worth a reply, but I would dearly like to know what this half-wit would have done, had he been there.
My guess? Smashed the world marathon record, going in the opposite direction.
BELT UP.
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“Port Hill Boy”, The police were not “scared”. They are governed by Home Office rules with regard to what they can do and not do. And what were you doing while the “scared” officers were on the frontline? Sitting in front of the TV with a cup of tea I suppose. Colin D I totally agree with you.
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Troops on the streets, summary punishment, capital punishment brought back…it’s ironic that the people who are calling for these , which would make our country seem more like Syria or Zimbabwe, are the very ones who make such a play on their love of Britain and what it stands for.
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The youths that did this were greedy, low life scum and the opportunity was there for them to burgle and commit criminal damage. Their excuse? They were doing it “for the cause, innit!”. They don’t even know what “the cause” was. Most blame their own actions as the fault of the police and government.
At no point do they recognise that they ruined peoples lives and businesses and that lives were at stake. These “youf” the lowest form of human trash and deserve nothing.
Unfortunately, the police will always be scapegoats, even though they did their job to the best of their ability.
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#7 Flossie the problem is that people have short memories or invariably wear rose tinted specs.
When we had National Service we sometimes turned out even more professional thugs and with guns still fairly easy to get hold of and own I don’t remember Hells Angels, Teddy Boys, Mods and Rockers then later Skinheads being a very friendly peaceable lot.
The papers used to whip a frenzy about Bank Holiday fights at the end of August in the 1960s.
There always has been and always will be an element of undesirables,louts,thugs or whatever you choose to call them in society.
I hate the way the religious lot go on about the loss of a moral society being to blame.
Take a look at the old Pathe Newsreels. Every synopsis of a year there is inequality, poverty,anger,rioting. I really believe that people are way more knowledgable and tolerant today than when I was a child. For example, homosexuality was a crime and women were laughed at for driving a car. Unmarried mothers scorned and had their babies taken from them. Child abuse ignored, domestic abuse tolerated when it shouldn’t have been.
We had these inbalances in society with very wealthy and very poor people which to a degree we have tried to address but it has now slid back with new millionaires from the huge profits made from property and the ridiculous incomes to be made in the entertainment world.
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