Dick heads in Swildons

[Stupot]

If it's not Wallops...............

EVIDENCE ME THINKS 


Stu.

 

[graham]

Not conclusive, but it'll help... 

 

[MJONES]

If it's not Wallops...............

EVIDENCE ME THINKS 


Stu.

Maybe

 

[wallop]

Hopefully these people will never enter a cave again. The guy who was leading them
knew where he was going, and what he was doing, and must have known the rules?
This bit i can't understand! If you spend time exploring a cave and getting to know it, then you must enjoy
caving, and if you enjoy caving, why damage it, or let other people damage it.

The rubbish in the cave will all be taken away, and the smell of smoke will clear, but there is a bitter taste
for most of us i think.

 

[AndyF]

My guess is that this was some sort of "stag-night" adventure event. If so there is the possibility it was a "led" trip.....

 

[cap n chris]

We shall just have to try and find out....

 

[mike barnes]

There has been further damage underground but cause it's moved to Wales, I've started another thread under general caving. Check it out, cause the sooner these people are hung up by the balls, the better

 

[cap n chris]

the sooner these people are hung up by the balls, the better

Don't you think you're being a bit lenient, Mike?... You're not one of those namby-pamby liberals, are you?

 

[cap n chris]

Update: Friday 16th February 2007

Contacted today by Wells CID to inform me that the case is now closed since there was "No evidence to prosecute". No further action is to be taken.

Hey ho.

 

[andymorgan]

Well at least the police actually took it seriously, and informed you (CSCC) of the outcome.

 

[Dep]

The police take every reported incident seriously - they're performance oriented.
Doesn't mean you're any more likelyto get a result.
Crimes like this are nice as the police can be seen to 'take it seriously' knowing full well there isn't enough to justify any sort of investigation as there is nothing to go on.
So it can be signed off on the books as a done job.

When some toe-rag recently decided to randomly slash car-tyres (including one of mine) on his walk home, he did several thousand pounds worth of damage as he made his way though the streets where I live. The police were inundated with reports, and diligently sent us all letters, communications, support contacts etc etc... but no prosecutions have been made.

Break-ins at a local site 'ancient monument with a cave' drew a similar result. Forensic evidence was taken and matched to indviduals, as too was a till receipt! But no action was taken.

Bottom line: unless the police actually catch someone red-handed, slashing tyres, breaking into locked sites or smoking dope in Swildons' they can't do anything about it.

You could consider jumping on someone, making a citizen's arrest and waiting for the police to arrive, but...

 

[Les W]

You could consider jumping on someone, making a citizen's arrest and waiting for the police to arrive, but...

I wouldn't. Without a serious continuity of evidence, you will find yourself on a kidnapping and unlawful detention charge quite quickly. 

 

[james]

I always carry a jack handle in my car.  If the police cannot catch a type slasher, they are hardly likey to find me

 

[Dep]

You could consider jumping on someone, making a citizen's arrest and waiting for the police to arrive, but...

I wouldn't. Without a serious continuity of evidence, you will find yourself on a kidnapping and unlawful detention charge quite quickly. 

My point exactly!

 

[Dep]

I always carry a jack handle in my car.  If the police cannot catch a type slasher, they are hardly likely to find me

Whilst I semi-agree with you that that would be a morally acceptable response this would put you into a different crime league - whilst the police might not be concerned with investigating slashed tyres they will try a lot harder with crimes relating to violence against a person (however much they deserved it)

But don't get me wrong, if you think you can get away with it then go for it - if broken bones and/or stitches were a common hazard of anti-social behaviour then I believe there would be less of it.

But I think we are straying off topic and onto something better covered in 'crime and punishment'.

I would say that if you caught someone smoking a joint in Swildons and decided to make a citizens arrest two things would happen. First it is unlikely the person concerned will come quietly - why should they it's open farmland, anything can happen!!
But if you pulled it off - and sat in stony (no pun intended) silence by the roadside waiting for the police to send a car out into the boonies you would get no thanks from the police, and the evidence train just isn't strong enough for a prosecution - it will be your word against theirs. Even if they had drugs on them cannabis is only a class C, and therefore a misdemeanour (in small quantities) rather than a criminal offence.

I am not sure that the self-righteous glow of satisfaction one might feel having made the citizen's arrest would make up for the hassle, inconvenience and possible future repercussions.

Personally I have no problem with people partying anywhere; booze, drugs, it's all personal choice and individual rights. Obviously if someone incapacitates themself in the process I am not going to be too sympathetic!
But making a mess - that is unacceptable. And smoking underground is a bit of a no-no too, this as also been discussed elsewhere.

 

[cap n chris]

IIRC you cannot make a citizens arrest for anything other than a criminal offence which normally carries at least an eighteen month prison sentence.

 

[Dep]

I didn't know that - but it does not surprise me. There's a fine line between citizen's arrest and unlawful detention.