Not so PC

I've followed with great interest recently the cases in the British press of householders protecting their properties and their families against thugs or thieves - only to find themselves warned or arrested because the police considered that they may have stepped over the line by using more than "reasonable force"

Not that many years ago, I was attacked at my front door by, quite frankly, a couple of nutters who had been convinced by a drunken mate of theirs that I was the cause of his spectacular downfall. Truth was, his wife had left him, and the country, and his not inconsiderable income had gone because he'd, to be blunt, p***ed it up against a pub wall. I'd refused to support the lifestyle to which he would have liked to become accustomed. I may be soft, but I ain't stupid.

So he hired a couple of thugs. So, "Nothing personal mate, you don't us, but we have a job to do" they said. The resulting altercation left one of them with a broken wrist, the other with a rather sore head, and both of them staggering after a rapidly disappearing get-away car, before the police arrived.

Guess their mate failed to inform them that I might be slight and skinny, but I was brought up in a very rough area.

The reaction of The Great British Constabulary? That I was a wimp. I should have 'finished the job'. I should have held 'what's left of them' until they arrived. That as a married father of young children, I should have 'broken their bloody necks', and I should be 'ashamed of myself'.

It was gratifying that a few months later to be told by the police that they had discovered who was behind the attack, paid him a visit, and because their hands were tied by lack of evidence, left him "under his desk, wetting himself and crying like a baby, but otherwise unharmed, sir". And left behind an coincidently dropped name. (Chuckle!)

Which, all in all, is a satisfactory result. But it saddens me that in a few short years, Political Correctness and Performance Targets have taken over to such an extent that would nowadays be impossible. And arresting a householder for defending their own? Perish the thought.


Here's a couple of Coppers Blogs. Their funny, ironic, but make some quite serious points.

PC Bloggs - Diary of a twenty first century Police Officer


Police Inspector Blog (Inspector Gadget)


Both have published books based on their blogs - highly recommended.

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In case, by the way, you've wondered why I post in large text, it's because some Stroke Survivors have vision problems. My apologies to those who use small screens, laptops and net-books.

You'll find me around the UK Stroke association. I'll let you work out which one is me :)