Who goes first?

****

We were sat in a long traffic queue on the road from Sowerby Bridge up the Calder Valley. Coming towards us sirens blaring and lights flashing is an ambulance.

Looking in my rear view mirror, I see more flashing lights and a different siren - it's a cop car charging up the valley.

Who should get priority I wonder as the two vehicles rush towards eachother?

Am I alone in being quite angry at the ambulance pulling onto the pavement letting the police car through?

....

So why won't our police take advice?

***

I was struck by the incredible arrogance of Sir Hugh Orde:

"What I suggested to the home secretary is a more sensible approach, maybe to look across far wider styles of policing and - more usefully - at European styles; they, like us, are bound by the European Convention.

"My sense is, when we've done that, we will find the British model is probably the top."

 Rapidly followed by the ranks - lining up to say that, of course, the police weren't too "timid" and that standing watching while the looting goes on is normal police tactics. And, more to the point, I suspect the British public rather agree with Bill Bratten - and with his disciple, Middlesbrough mayor, Ray Mallon, who said of the riots:

We must not be caught flat-footed again and must master the weapons of our enemies. We won’t do that with water cannon and rubber bullets. But we must give frontline professionals freedom to police effectively, without fear or favour to anyone, or section, of the community.

They cannot do that with a pair of handcuffs marked “political correctness” around their wrists. They need to know we expect them to police proactively.

Because we have seen the depolicing of our streets. Day by day we ­surrendered territory to wreckers. We let them win little victories and must now fight a battle. We can, and must, win back the streets.

Personally, I'm unsure as to whether US-style policing is either a good thing or effective. But I do think we should listen to the man who, almost single-handedly, transformed the approach to law enforcement in two of America's toughest cities. Not to do so would be the height of arrogance and complacency - an indication, in my view, that Sir Hugh Orde is not suited at all to be Britain's 'top cop'.

....

Statements from Doctors that make me want to scream: No 1

****

From the obituary of Dr Anne McPherson comes a quote of hers:

"We have got into a terrible mess about keeping people alive when they shouldn't be."

When did people get so arrogant that they believe they've a right to judge whether someone should or shouldn't be alive - especially a doctor.

....

More arrogance - this time from West Yorkshire Police

****

I am grateful to JuliaM for this piece about the targeting of kerb crawlers in Bradford.

A woman has told how she was left “stunned” when her boss was contacted by vice squad officers after her car was seen in Bradford’s red light area.

Anne-Marie Carroll, 45, who is a member of the Bradford Catholic Players, was on her way to the group’s rehearsal rooms in Rebecca Street, driving alone in a company car, which was noted by officers investigating kerb crawling.

A letter was then sent by the Bradford District Vice Team to the Carroll Cleaning Company in Halifax, where she works as a sales director.

Now as far as I know driving slowly around streets looking for a parking space - or just for the hell of it - isn't illegal. So what on earth do the cops think they're doing? However, even if this is a legitimate tactic, the most breathtakingly arrogant part of the story is that the police refuse to apologise to Mrs Carroll for the offence and upset they caused her!

“We make no apology for the robust way in that we tackle the issue of kerb crawling in Bradford."

Now the 'red light' part of Bradford is an area filled with old warehouses, small offices and such - including the Bradford Catholic Players' rehearsal rooms as well as small churches, a mosque, the Irish Club and various pubs. There are a thousand legitimate reasons for someone to be driving slowly along the streets there - they're dimly lit and a parking space can be hard to come by (especially one where you won't get your window put through). I wonder how many embarrassing rows, misunderstandings and divorces West Yorkshire Police have contributed to with their targeting of the wholly innocent?

....