We Are Teesside

Robert, Hartlepool

There are two major problems with the current system for dealing with Anti-social behaviour:

1, The Police are gaming the system. It is increasingly difficult to report a crime. In fact in the last two weeks I've tried to report a crime to the front desk at Hartlepool Police station only to be told by the civilian clerk that she wouldn't record the crime because she didn't think a conviction would follow. When questioning her knowledge of the law she replied she wasn't a lawyer, but still maintained her stance. This has happened four times this year, I have a degree in law, I know what a crime is.

Police deal with a fight in Thornaby.

2, Whilst the gaols are full, the sentences are derisory and only given when someone has become habitual in their criminal behaviour. Many criminals don't get a sentence at all 'till they've committed enough crimes to be a career criminal, then they are given sentences which are so short as to fail to even inconvenience them. To add to this they then release them early.

It is little wonder people are reluctant to report the escalating crime when they are either ignored or nothing is done to deter the criminals. The Police then dishonestly report the crime figures, aware that they are ignoring an ever increasing problem. The government then rely on these dishonestly obtained figures to claim a drop in crime, whilst complaining it is the public's perception that is the problem.

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