I had the unfortunate experience of arriving at a traffic accident yesterday which had happened a few minutes before - I followed the ambulance to the scene. It appeared someone had been run over by a taxi. No other vehicles appeared to be involved. I passed the incident and went about my business. After 15 minutes I returned down the same stretch of road, which had been closed off so a quick detour through the estate was required. What surprised me was that at this one incident there were 8 (yes eight) patrol cars, two police vans, one traffic car, an 'incident' car and the ambulance. As I went home another 2 traffic cars were just arriving - just needed the force helicopter and a dog van for a full set!
Is this normal or complete overkill?
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Was it just an accident?
Could the victim have been fleeing from a robbery (as robber or victim)? Was the victim/driver an illegal immigrant?
Was the driver involved still at the scene, or perhaps driving a dangerous vehicle, or driving dangerously?
Any number of things could have happened before/after the accident to make it far more than "just an accident".
A mate of mine stopped a car in Chiswick. Car had one light out. One thing led to another and on searching a house connected with the driver they found 14 illegal immigrants, large amounts of cash, and ammunition....
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It seems excessive whatever the cause. However, with six million people on the public payroll, it's good to see the taxpayer getting something in return.
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Without the full facts its difficult to say. Often the call going into the police can be misleading, garbled or just wrong. Anything from a cat has been run over to a car mounting the pavement and hitting loads of people-the public can often over react.
And then the police are on a hiding to nothing-don't send enough units and its a big problem, people complain.
Sometimes if it is a quiet day, or it just so happens lots of units are in the area, they all turn up to offer a hand if need be.
Maybe the ambulance needed a police escort due the the serious injuries?
Anyway, hopefully the injuries were too bad.
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'A mate of mine stopped a car in Chiswick. Car had one light out. One thing led to another and on searching a house connected with the driver they found 14 illegal immigrants, large amounts of cash, and ammunition....'
If the police want to increase their conviction tally, they should descend on Bury St Edmunds where half the cars have got dodgy lights. I'd never considered that we could be the criminal centre of Europe!
It's funny how the police suddenly arrive at minor incidents like wasps at a picnic. Some years ago a speeding driver hit my old man's car on a country lane despite the fact that he had already taken to the grass verge and stopped. The police arrived in droves but Dad was aghast to witness the policemen showing far more interest in chatting up the policewomen than sorting out the loony who'd hit him!
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A certain pop star agreed to be arrested at home on a given time and date amd it took 4 cars and their officers to carry out this simple job!
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Someone was run over in my local town a couple of years back. Police closed the road for some time and were swarming all over the place.
Turns out that the victim was murdered with the car used as a weapon.
The driver is now doing serious time.
I would say let the police get on with it. They often get a lot of stick eiterway - as a previous poster has mentioned.
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Spooky post. Just 10 minutes ago I bought a bulb for a headlight that had blown.
where do I work?
You guessed it, Bury St Edmunds!!
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Spooky post. Just 10 minutes ago I bought a bulb for a headlight that had blown. where do I work? You guessed it, Bury St Edmunds!!
I've tipped them off - the police will be waiting for you when you get home!
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Don't they now get points for pitching up? And the more serious the more points.
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And dont forget it only took two Policemen to seize the scales from the Butcher which were dangerous to health as they were calibrated in Lbs & Ounces.
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Armchair Warriors. That was the saying in the war.
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The police ARE on the ball in Bury St Edmunds. A week ago a friend left home, having de-iced the windscreen, only to find in a few hundred yards it misted up on the inside. He slowed to 20 to sort himself out and was stopped for driving slowly - the assumption is that they assumed he had been drinking.
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...yet they never notice anyone using a mobile while at the wheel (usually SUV drivers round here) or vehicles with dodgy lights.
Having a ball - yes; on the ball - I don't think so!
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Agreed. I see lots of phone users in Bury. Even in Southgate street, which locals will know is not 100 yds from the nick.
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Having just nipped into town and seeing 3 out of 12 cars with a front light missing - it dawned on me why the police don't do anything about dodgy illumination. They go back to the bunker mid-afternoon to fill in their forms and have a cup of tea, then go off duty - so they're never out and about after lighting up time.
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True either busy pen pushing or colecting overtime operating camera vans etc.
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"collecting overtime operating camera vans etc."
Wonder if that will change now it's not quite so self-funding? If so, it should demolish the 'safety' argument...
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What surprised me was that at this one incident there were 8 (yes eight) patrol cars, two police vans, one traffic car, an 'incident' car and the ambulance. As I went home another 2 traffic cars were just arriving >> Is this normal or complete overkill?
Possible fatal accident?
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