Wasteful police are chumps at the pumps (From Daily Echo)

Whilst these 'thousands' of pounds are indeed wasteful, they are a result of human error, something which thankfullly the Police are still subject too! Lets not forget the legal system in its entirity (CPS, courts etc) 'waste' thousands on a daily basis bringing pointless prosecutions, and since the Police had their discretion removed they are also forced to waste time and resources (thousands of hours!) meeting irrelevant targets. Once you give this story some perspective its sensationalist stance is somewhat diminished I believe.

Bit of a tenuous link but I entirely agree with you. This interfering controlling nanny state government seeks to control every single aspect of our lives through the use of "targets". Giving the police innocent looking "targets" forces them to prioritise one type of crime over another. Bit disconcerting when you are lying bleeding in the street only for the police to ask whether the crime was racially motivated - and if it wasn't you will be deprioritised behind someone who thought they were, even if they weren't injured).
Next time you see someone like Ed Balls, Harriet Harman or Jacqui Smyth talking just imagine that these unexceptional people think they know more about how to run your own life (and deserve the right to do it) than you do. Nothing to do with thick plods who can't read the word "diesel" on a car filler cap but there we go.

Giving the police innocent looking "targets" forces them to prioritise one type of crime over another.

Quite. cf. Investors In People, performance related bonuses and anything else that outlines a few aspects of the job-in-question as being more important than overall competence

The same officers have to access difficult and involved crime cases yet they are unable to refill their motor vehicles with the correct fuel. Would you trust this type of unreliable employee no matter what kind of job he was in?

Should have said:
The same officers have to assess difficult and involved crime cases yet they are unable to refill their motor vehicles. Would you trust this type of unreliable employee no matter what kind of job he or she was in?

Forest Resident wrote:
Whilst these 'thousands' of pounds are indeed wasteful, they are a result of human error, something which thankfullly the Police are still subject too! Lets not forget the legal system in its entirity (CPS, courts etc) 'waste' thousands on a daily basis bringing pointless prosecutions, and since the Police had their discretion removed they are also forced to waste time and resources (thousands of hours!) meeting irrelevant targets. Once you give this story some perspective its sensationalist stance is somewhat diminished I believe.

true, it's still bloomin annoying though! considering that we pay their wages they could be more careful!

I thought they all flew?

Freedom of information act... This is where the majority of 'old news' stories are going to come from. Great journalism (sarcastic pat on the back)!!!

"We pay your wages". If you came up to me and said that that then I would give you 10p back and tell you your fortune.

The essence of this reply is... Who cares, s**t happens, its a drop in the ocean. Think more of the dole bluggers who dont want to work, thet are costing more money to tax payer (gets off his soapbox).

mrs_g wrote:

Forest Resident wrote: Whilst these 'thousands' of pounds are indeed wasteful, they are a result of human error, something which thankfullly the Police are still subject too! Lets not forget the legal system in its entirity (CPS, courts etc) 'waste' thousands on a daily basis bringing pointless prosecutions, and since the Police had their discretion removed they are also forced to waste time and resources (thousands of hours!) meeting irrelevant targets. Once you give this story some perspective its sensationalist stance is somewhat diminished I believe.

true, it's still bloomin annoying though! considering that we pay their wages they could be more careful!

Police officers pay tax as well, you seem to forget that Mrs G!

SotonLad wrote:

mrs_g wrote:

Forest Resident wrote: Whilst these 'thousands' of pounds are indeed wasteful, they are a result of human error, something which thankfullly the Police are still subject too! Lets not forget the legal system in its entirity (CPS, courts etc) 'waste' thousands on a daily basis bringing pointless prosecutions, and since the Police had their discretion removed they are also forced to waste time and resources (thousands of hours!) meeting irrelevant targets. Once you give this story some perspective its sensationalist stance is somewhat diminished I believe.

true, it's still bloomin annoying though! considering that we pay their wages they could be more careful!

Police officers pay tax as well, you seem to forget that Mrs G!

Yes, but the tax they pay comes on money from........
the tax payer.

hulla baloo wrote:

SotonLad wrote:

mrs_g wrote:

Forest Resident wrote: Whilst these 'thousands' of pounds are indeed wasteful, they are a result of human error, something which thankfullly the Police are still subject too! Lets not forget the legal system in its entirity (CPS, courts etc) 'waste' thousands on a daily basis bringing pointless prosecutions, and since the Police had their discretion removed they are also forced to waste time and resources (thousands of hours!) meeting irrelevant targets. Once you give this story some perspective its sensationalist stance is somewhat diminished I believe.

true, it's still bloomin annoying though! considering that we pay their wages they could be more careful!

Police officers pay tax as well, you seem to forget that Mrs G!

Yes, but the tax they pay comes on money from........ the tax payer.

Ok Hulla-Baloo, we get it, you dont like the police

These stupid coppers should pay for the damage out of their own wages. Hampshire Police must be among the most stupidest in the country.

I agree, Denzil. Sure, it's a mistake we're all technically susceptible to, being human and fallible, but if I ever end up dumb enough to put the wrong fuel in my car, guess who picks up the bill? I do. Thing is, the flipside of being fallible and susceptible to making mistakes is, you're also responsible for the consequences of those mistakes