Police Chases

[ericadawn16]

My favorite classes in school would require us to think and debate certain topics. One topic that I remember clearly was:

Would you want police to chase after your stolen car?

Everyone in the class, except for me and one other girl, thought this was a great idea. She and I said no. A car can be replaced but once cars are moving at high speeds, then anything could happen and we didn't want innocent people to get hurt.

However, there are now some areas that don't allow police chases at all.

Comments

[surreal-44.livejournal.com]

What if the police allow the criminal to just go free and then he car jacks the next person? Or kidnaps the next person? Or what if the the guy moves up in the criminal world and begins dealing drugs?

Those are a lot of what-ifs, but they are necessary. Like the guys who fled from police, and when the cops finally chased them down, they found a body in the trunk. They had killed the man, stolen his car, and were running with it.

Approximately 360 people die a year from police chases. It's a high number, and the average toll for police officers is one dead officer every six weeks due to pursuits.

It's a tragic number, but at the same time, who could be turned loose upon the streets if they aren't stopped? When a person flees from the police, it's generally a sign that there are much bigger issues going on than an attempt to evade a speeding ticket.

Should an officer not pursue a suspected drunk driver and just let them roam the streets? Or should they try to stop them? What if the person who has the car is a murderer? A wife-beater? A child abuser? Someone who sells drugs to ten-year-olds?

How would you justify that in the name of a false sense of safety?

I'm just saying...it sounds noble and brilliant to say that police chases are dangerous, but when you look beyond the so-called "non-violent" reasons for pursuits and look to see who is being chased, it's a much different picture.

:-D But feel how you want to feel. ;-)

[gonzo21.livejournal.com]

They don't usually chase stolen cars in the UK, high speed persuits are very very rare. They figured the cost to lives wasn't worth the risk. So instead what they do is low profile persuits, and they generally pick up the criminals once they've gotten bored of the joy ride.

Plus they figured a lot of the time people were stealing the cars specifically to have the thrill of the police chase. So by not doing the high speed persuit, they actually cut the numbers of cars being stolen.

[marie-j-granger.livejournal.com]

I don't know you, but as an American Anglophile, I appreciate this point of view. It makes more sense to me than our cowboy approach. But then, with the security/traffic cameras you have in London (other places too?), that would be more feasible there than in many places here.

Also, is your icon a Spooks/MI:5 reference? If so, is it okay if I friend you? *random*

[gonzo21.livejournal.com]

Yeah, from what I understand the police usually have a patrol car waiting outside the offenders houses when they get home having dumped the car. Apart from anything else, the kids who steal cars and go joy riding seem to be pretty well known to the police anyway. Same offenders, over and over. (And because a lot of them are under 18, there's not much the law can do about it.)

They also use helicopters a lot. The standard practice is the patrol cars will follow a mile or so behind, while the chopper keeps up with them. Which helps keep injuries and fatalities to a minimum.

Which is an option here I guess because we have comparatively little of this sort of crime in the UK.

And nope, the icon I made oh... years ago, when MI5 released these silly Amber and Red alert status notifications, like the system the US has for threats to homeland security. And it was all over the news for a few days. Until the rest of the country decided it was all really rather daft.

They still try to tell us every now and then that the threat level has been raised from OMG MASSIVE! to THE TERRORISTS ARE UNDER YOUR BED! but we mostly ignore it. I think living for so many years with Irish terrorism has made the UK public generally quite unflappable. Despite how much our government tries to scare us.

Ramble ramble. glad you like it though. Thank you.

And yes, of course it is okay! :) I'm always happy to meet new people who are still active on LJ.

[marie-j-granger.livejournal.com]

That makes a lot of sense. Safer too.

Hee, yeah. Mock the Week adored making fun of it. Do you ever watch that or Spooks? What are your favorite BBC or ITV shows?

Me too. LJ has gotten quiet.

[gonzo21.livejournal.com]

Yep, I adore Mock The Week. Though truth be told I haven't enjoyed it quite as much since Frankie Boyle left. (And promptly went on to commit career suicide.)

Favourite BBC shows... Doctor Who is probably the one thing on UK tv that I watch most religiously. Never quite managed to get into Spooks. Though many of my friends adore it.

I like sci-fi and horror and fantasy type programmes, and there's not many of those made by UK tv. I'm quite enjoying The Fades though, which is on BBC3.

[marie-j-granger.livejournal.com]

Frankie was never my favorite, but I miss him too. How he would say things that shocked me and I felt guilty for laughing, but they were genuinely funny. Russel is my favorite and it has not been the same without him for me. I hope he comes back. I love Good News, but it's not the same.

Do you prefer Old Who or New Who or do you love them both? Did you grow up with the older stuff? Man I'm a nosy Nelly.

The Fades? Haven't heard of that one. I'll look it up.

I watch way more British TV than any sane American. I was mainlining Downton Abbey last night. The ironic thing is that the summer I was in London (2003), the only things I watched much were World Cup and Eastenders (and the latter was my flatmates' choice, not mine). Oh wait, and the BBC Pride and Prejudice. That's worthwhile.

PS: Erica, sorry for having this conversation on your journal; we can take it elsewhere if you like.

[gonzo21.livejournal.com]

There was always a fine line with Frankie Boyle, between funny and just shocking. Which I quite liked about him, because he illustrated that way that comedy is so totally subjective, and he always sort of made you question at what point something becomes funny, and how there really isn't anything that comedy can't explore.

And I've always liked that idea of personal responsibility. That if we, the individual, do not like something, or find it offensive, we can just switch off, and choose not to watch it.

And the trouble he got into for the joke about the Queen was just ridiculous.

Sadly his comedy show he went on to do after Mock, Dramadol nights, was just... too offensive I think. Viewers turned off in their droves, and that's probably the last we'll see of him on tv. I think he sort of needed the panel show format to have other people around him to keep him from going too far off base.

And no, I agree, Good News isn't the same.

As for Doctor Who, I grew up with the old stuff, and it was a very important part of my childhood. Doctor Who repeats, weekdays, 6pm BBC2, regular as clockwork.

Revisiting it years later after nu-who started, I didn't like it as much. I found a lot of the story-telling rather pedestrian, entire episodes where not much happened. So, yeah, it was one of those things I loved in childhood that I revisited as an adult, and kinda didn't enjoy too much. (Blakes 7 remains one of the bigger disappointments of adult life.)

So yeah, I much prefer the new Who.

What about you? Which do you prefer?

[marie-j-granger.livejournal.com]

I agree, Frankie walked the line and sometimes rather tripped over it.

Being across the pond, I don't know that much about the controversy, I just know they kept a tighter lid on him afterwards and that's why he ultimately left.

Never watched Tramadol Nights. Hubby watched the first one and said it was dreadful. It's a shame.

I do really like Good News, just not at the expense of him being on Mock. Although it was his Australia tour being extended that kept him off the latter part of this season as I understand it.

As for Dr. Who, I've watched very little Old Who. I like Sarah Jane and adore Curse Of Fatal Death (which I know doesn't actually count). I fell in love with nu-Who and Dr. 9. Not sure why except that you never forget your first doctor. I liked 10 very much and 11 is growing on me, but I loved 9 and Rose very much.

[gonzo21.livejournal.com]

Yeah, 9 and Rose were probably my favourite too. I liked 10 and Rose, but the vibe Billie Piper had with Eccleston was just awesome.

[marie-j-granger.livejournal.com]

I agree. I'm not sure why everyone else seems to prefer 10 over 9 so much. He was around longer, I suppose, and he's quite good looking. Oh well.

[gonzo21.livejournal.com]

See, I always thought Eccleston was more handsome than Tennant, he has a much more interesting face. But. Pretty tends to always be more popular.

They are both great actors, though I did think Eccleston was so much better at the darker scarier stuff. His tortured damaged Doctor was much more believable to me than when Tennant tried to do that.

[marie-j-granger.livejournal.com]

Eccels is more interesting looking, certainly. But as you say, Tennant is pretty. And some people thing Eccles's ears stick out too much to be attractive.

I agree that they're both very talented actors. And I also agree that Eccleston was better at the dark stuff. I liked it when he was happy, too, but that was a lot more rare. (Empty Child and Doctor Dances are my favorite episodes.)

[gonzo21.livejournal.com]

Yes, Empty Child and Doctor Dances were spectacular. I've watched so many episodes from that first season time and time again.

Dalek is another particular favourite.

[marie-j-granger.livejournal.com]

Everybody Lives! Makes me cry. Also, they introduced Captain Jack, who is just awesome. And the doctor dances with Rose. *loves* Plus, the Mummy/son story was awesome-sauce.

[gonzo21.livejournal.com]

I always liked Captain Jack a lot more in Who than in Torchwood. But then, I never really managed to get into Torchwood.

[marie-j-granger.livejournal.com]

I'm exactly the same way. Torchwood was always a little too out there for me with the pterodactyl and the m-preg and all. Felt a little like someone filmed fanfic.

[ericadawn16.livejournal.com]

You know, it's weird. I always thought Doctor Who was stupid like Power Rangers and things when I was little. I didn't start liking it until Fox had that movie with Eight when I was thirteen.

Now, I love Eight-Eleven but I've started watching the old stuff and I like it a lot more than when I was little. Yes, I prefer 8-11 but it's almost like apples and oranges since the pacing and set-up is so different.

[gonzo21.livejournal.com]

Did classic who ever get aired much over there?

[marie-j-granger.livejournal.com]

It used to be on Public Television some.

[ericadawn16.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, we had a local PBS station that showed them until the mid 90s...unfortunately, about the time I thought I might like it after all.

I heard some PBS stations still showed it until shortly before the NuWho came out. Now, they show NuWho and sometimes, complete with Confidential afterwards.

[gonzo21.livejournal.com]

The weird thing is they never repeat them here in the UK. The last time classic who was on uk tv must have been.... at least 20 years ago. Probably longer.

Even when new Who appeared and was super popular, I thought they might start repeating the classics, at least on BBC2, but nothing.

I guess maybe the DVD sales are too lucrative or something.

[marie-j-granger.livejournal.com]

That is really strange. It's probably the DVD sales thing. The only other answer I can think of is that they think they'd compare unfavorably with the modern ones. I think they'd get good ratings, though.

[gonzo21.livejournal.com]

Maybe they figure kids are much more demanding these days in terms of graphics and suchlike. LOrd knows the video game industry is driven almost entirely by the need to have bigger better faster shinier graphics, otherwise the kids just aren't interested.

[ericadawn16.livejournal.com]

BBC does provide full episodes on Youtube, and sometimes iPlayer, for everyone who's not in the US.

http://www.youtube.com/show?p=Ps0e32nFzs0&s=1 (http://www.youtube.com/show?p=Ps0e32nFzs0&s=1)

I guess they figure the ratings wouldn't be high enough and/or the people interested would prefer watching online...

[marie-j-granger.livejournal.com]

It sucks that we're excluded, although our TV stations do the same to other countries with their shows.

[ericadawn16.livejournal.com]

Yes, they should just give up and let everyone watch everything the way we want it.

[marie-j-granger.livejournal.com]

LOL, I Know, Right?

[ericadawn16.livejournal.com]

Between Joe Dempsie and Tom Ellis, I definitely want to see The Fades at some point but I'm hoping it'll be picked up by someone over here...I hate having to buy or download everything. I also want to see Hidden.

[gonzo21.livejournal.com]

Fades had a pretty excellent ending too. Definitely worth catching.

What's Hidden?

[ericadawn16.livejournal.com]

It's a crime drama starring Philip Glenister. I usually like his stuff.

[ericadawn16.livejournal.com]

That seems like a much better way of doing things.

Yeah, the US did give up on its color coding scheme...

It's too bad they made Amber Alert into a silly thing there, if our Amber alert ever goes international, it'll have to have a different name like 911/999.

[gonzo21.livejournal.com]

I found it very bizarre when I was in LA the way that so many stations would keep switching to breaking live coverage of exciting high speed chase #2817. It just seemed like such a... irresponsible thing for the news media to be doing, because surely by making it all seem like a movie, with excitement and fame, I can imagine how that might encourage people to steal cars and have high speed chases? Just... so they get to be on tv, and the sheer thrill of it all.

I dunno, I think a lot of that sort of crime is often all about wanting attention, wanting the kudos that go with makin ga big scene, and earning reputation amongst your peer group.

And good show, glad to hear you guys gave up on the silly amber alert thing too. It was just nonsense, what were we supposed to do? Be extra specially vigilant for the evil terrorists sneaking in our bathroom windows? Just bizarre.

[marie-j-granger.livejournal.com]

No, Amber Alert is NOT a silly thing here. It means a child has been kidnapped or is missing.

[gonzo21.livejournal.com]

Ahh, right, apologies. Didn't know that, I'd assumed it was terrorist related.

[marie-j-granger.livejournal.com]

It's okay; I know you didn't mean any offense. It's just that there's a case in my town right now and the baby is probably dead and it's a bit... hard.

(This is the latest in case anyone's interested: http://www.kansascity.com/2011/10/23/3225517/irwin-cases-frustrations-continue.html)

[gonzo21.livejournal.com]

I remember somebody telling me that there was a lot of child abduction in the States. Which... is probably just because America is such a huge country, as a percentage, I imagine it's probably about the same as the rest of the Western world.

The Madeline McCann story still makes headlines here, and that was years ago. But that was a very curious case.

[marie-j-granger.livejournal.com]

Yes, I'm sure it is largely due to the size of the country. It's awful though.

I remembered a little about Madeline McCann and just looked it up. It was and is truly curious.

[gonzo21.livejournal.com]

There's always been this sort of very fundemental problem with the story from the parents about what happened. It just didn't make sense.

I'm fairly convinced they killed the child themselves, either accidentally, or there was a very convincing argument that they were doping the kids with sleeping pills so that they could put them to bed early and go out and have fun, and that they got the doseage wrong and the little girl died and they panicked and hid the body.

Just. What with there being no evidence of anybody having broken into the apartment, no motive, no forensic evidence, nothing, the other two kids didn't hear or see anything. Just this story from the parents that didn't make sense.

But I don't suppose we'll ever know. Certainly the parents have made a lot of money out of it now, most of which has been embezzled and fiddled off to the pockets of friends. Which makes it all rather horrible.

[marie-j-granger.livejournal.com]

That is just horrendous all around. I think I feel sorriest for the two siblings. I can't even imagine.

[ericadawn16.livejournal.com]

Yeah, as mentioned before, Amber Alert is a HUGE deal here. It's for all minors who go missing or if they're older, if they might be in danger like Autistic teens.

Florida and other states also now have Silver Alert for elderly who go missing especially those with Alzheimer's or dementia.

[gonzo21.livejournal.com]

I do hope they find a cure for Alzheimers soon, it is surely one of the most horrifying diseases out there.