Seems we have a lot of very dumb people here in New Zealand. It is a new year but they are still doing the same things with the same consequences then blaming the police.
Yes it is the police chases or fleeing drivers as they are now referred too.
For those that are not aware what has happened here it is.
Police were called to people acting suspiciously & were for once in the last few years able to show up.
On arrival not one but two stolen cars left the scene & were pursued. The chase moved onto the motorway where speeds were reported up to 200km per hour in initial reports.
The driving got so bad that as required under current procedures police pulled out of the chase, but about 45 seconds later the vehicle crashed killing the 16 year old driver.
His Family have blamed the police.
So who is to blame?
Well for one it is not the police. They were able to attend a call to suspicious activity, found crime in progress & acted.
First to blame is the drivers.
They did the crime so they do the time as they were caught.
Next is the family as what were 15 & 16 year olds doing out stealing cars at night? Bit harsh but that is a big part of the problem.
Then there is society. When we are regularly having these chases with young people at the wheel, usually after committing other cirmes, drunk or on drugs & if the police had stopped them they would of attacked the police most likely. Something is seriously wrong.
Not to mention the idiots like the representative of the trust interviewed. Just like the Green party spokesman on law & order they have no idea what they are talking about. They are part of the problem not the solution.
It is their woolly headed thinking that actually makes these kids think they have the right to run from & then attack police officers or innocent members of the public.
America's Courts and the Criminal Justice System
Then there is the poor response by the justice system here in New Zealand.
On the NZ TV Programme Crash Course they add in clips from around the world with police chases. One in particular in the most recent showing was from the US. It appeared the chase had just started when the fleeing vehicle went through a red light, hit a SUV which wrapped around a lamp post(luckily from comments not killing the innocent driver) & then the driver tried to run from police.
Now in New Zealand they would of, especially at age the driver was the other night, got a telling off for been a naughty boy & if they even actually had a licence(which they usually don't) it would be suspended.
What did they get in the US? Twenty years jail. That is the sort of deterrent needed to stop people running & like the US driver education as part of the education system.
Disbelieving suspense: suspended sentences of imprisonment and public confidence in the criminal justice system.: An article from: Australian and New Zealand Journal of Criminology
In the end it is the driver who has the most responsibility.
Police in my opinion should never abandon a chase as these guys then just use it as an excuse to drive dangerously. Most can't handle a vehicle as well as they think they can & are putting others at risk.
I feel no sympathy for the drivers or those in the fleeing vehicles but I do to any innocent hurt or killed along the way.
Imagine how a police officer feels?
If they chase someone innocent could be killed, if they don't someone innocent could be killed. If they get away then now they know the police will pull out they will do it again & each time it is more likely someone will die. No problems if it is those in the fleeing car as they made the choice.
At present the only option I see left to police is more helicopters, so vehicles can be tracked from the air. It would also assist in other crime responses such as armed robberies. The only thing is the government is looking to police like all government agencies to cut back on expenditure.
Therefore no helicopters, therefore chases to continue.
Maconochie's Gentlemen: The Story of Norfolk Island and the Roots of Modern Prison Reform
What also concerns me is the high proportion of young Maori involved in this criminal activity. As someone who has been in governance positions for Maori organizations it was quite clear that though there was an intention to help our people, it has never been fully realized.
From there has grown a desire to make a difference in our communities not just through security & give people better options.
The Prison System and Its Effects: Where From, Where To, and Why? (Criminal Justice Law Enforcemt)
But it is not just me who needs to look at this but everyone.
To quote JFK "It is not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country" or society.
For me it seems a long way off but if you have to try.
The touchy feely way doesn't work. It has failed & has resulted in a world on verge of anarchy. There has to be consequences for peoples actions.
Empathy yes! Woolly headed no! Firm but fair.
Perceptions of Justice: Issues in Indigenous and Community Empowerment
Currently the police get all the blame & it has resulted in a police service that no longer relies on gut instinct so much as by a set process. So it is no longer proactive but reactive.
In most situations they are not to blame. Yes they would always review it to see if it could of been carried out better in that particular situation given that set of circumstances.
"How could of I handled this better?" Is the first question that each officer should be asking themselves.
Legal Pluralism and the Colonial Legacy: Indigenous Experiences of Justice in Canada, Australia, and New Zealnd
But they should not be going into circumstances saying "How do I cover my arse?"
The police are not to blame, but the fleeing drivers, immediate family in many cases, society & the justice system. Not to mention poor government policy over many years & no real backing of the police(although the current Minister does her best with good vocal support) with legislation with teeth. Not for every new piece of legislation an out clause.
http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz
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