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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Police commissioner urges public to challenge criminal behaviour | Police commissioner urges public to challenge criminal behaviour |
| (25 days later) | |
| A police and crime commissioner has called for the public to intervene more when they witness crimes being committed. | A police and crime commissioner has called for the public to intervene more when they witness crimes being committed. |
| Hertfordshire's PCC, David Lloyd, said a fall in citizens' arrests left society at risk and added too many people failed to intervene because they thought it was "only the job of the police". | Hertfordshire's PCC, David Lloyd, said a fall in citizens' arrests left society at risk and added too many people failed to intervene because they thought it was "only the job of the police". |
| In his first annual lecture at the University of Hertfordshire, Lloyd said cases like the murder of Gary Newlove, who was beaten to death when he went to confront a gang of youths who were vandalising his car, should not be seen as a reason not to intervene. | In his first annual lecture at the University of Hertfordshire, Lloyd said cases like the murder of Gary Newlove, who was beaten to death when he went to confront a gang of youths who were vandalising his car, should not be seen as a reason not to intervene. |
| The commissioner also backed the rights of homeowners to protect their properties and families if they were threatened by criminals. | The commissioner also backed the rights of homeowners to protect their properties and families if they were threatened by criminals. |
| Discussing the tragic death of Newlove in 2007, he said: "How should we respond to incidents of this type? Is this a justification for us never to intervene in any situation for fear that the same fate may befall us? I would argue no. | Discussing the tragic death of Newlove in 2007, he said: "How should we respond to incidents of this type? Is this a justification for us never to intervene in any situation for fear that the same fate may befall us? I would argue no. |
| "We often bemoan the health and safety culture that supposedly restricts us from clearing snow for fear of being sued or for endless signs stating the blindingly obvious. Surely, we do not want to apply that overly cautious and restrictive health and safety culture to the way that we live our own lives. Couldn't we consider intervening more or just speaking out and challenging bad and criminal behaviour?" | "We often bemoan the health and safety culture that supposedly restricts us from clearing snow for fear of being sued or for endless signs stating the blindingly obvious. Surely, we do not want to apply that overly cautious and restrictive health and safety culture to the way that we live our own lives. Couldn't we consider intervening more or just speaking out and challenging bad and criminal behaviour?" |
| Lloyd said evidence showed that citizens' arrests have declined by half over the past 10 years, fuelled by fear of the consequences and a lack of police support. | Lloyd said evidence showed that citizens' arrests have declined by half over the past 10 years, fuelled by fear of the consequences and a lack of police support. |
| The commissioner went on: "I am not saying that everyone should intervene in every instance. | The commissioner went on: "I am not saying that everyone should intervene in every instance. |
| "People should have regard for their own safety and should not put themselves into positions of high risk, but I fear that too many of us have reverted to a default response of not intervening, thinking that it is only the job of the police. Even worse, there is a tendency to turn a blind eye and not even bother to report things to the police." | "People should have regard for their own safety and should not put themselves into positions of high risk, but I fear that too many of us have reverted to a default response of not intervening, thinking that it is only the job of the police. Even worse, there is a tendency to turn a blind eye and not even bother to report things to the police." |
| The commissioner said a rise in special constables, Neighbourhood Watch and other volunteers represented a shift from the "passive to the active" in tackling crime. | The commissioner said a rise in special constables, Neighbourhood Watch and other volunteers represented a shift from the "passive to the active" in tackling crime. |
| Lloyd said there should be a "presumption that the rights of the intruder are reduced once they enter someone's property". | Lloyd said there should be a "presumption that the rights of the intruder are reduced once they enter someone's property". |
| He added: "This is not a call for vigilantism but just that someone who takes the premeditated step to burgle someone's house or steal someone's car needs to accept that the owner can rightly take steps to protect their property and to protect themselves and their family." | He added: "This is not a call for vigilantism but just that someone who takes the premeditated step to burgle someone's house or steal someone's car needs to accept that the owner can rightly take steps to protect their property and to protect themselves and their family." |
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