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...to the zero-tolerance policy associated with Mayor Giuliani. Britain, far from adopting zero-tolerance approach, looks like adopting a policy of not prosecuting many serious crimes at all--reserving the full weight of the law for trivial regulatory matters and, significantly, for offences against political correctness.
London and British crime rates have been increasing for years. Recently total crime rates for London have been estimated at about seven times those of New York for a slightly smaller population, and some authorities suggest these figures have been minimised. England and Wales are now accounted by some estimates as the most dangerous places for crime in the developed world.
New York and London have comparable populations (8 million and 7 million) and police budgets, though New York has about 40 per cent more police actually on the beat. British papers retail many incidents of British police, rather than preventing crime, being kept busy "celebrating diversity" and prosecuting politically incorrect remarks and behaviour,
There have also been numerous and well-publicised cases of people being prosecuted and jailed for defending themselves from criminal attacks. In Norfolk, where a number of incidents revealed a state of professional criminal gangs robbing and terrorising isolated rural dwellers, police recently alerted all officers to the fact that a man was still at large after having stolen four soft-porn magazines. The criminal's picture was sent to stations throughout the county, and the police released closed-circuit television footage of the crime and appealed to members of the public to ring a Crimestopper number if they knew the desperado's identity and could assist in bringing him to justice.
A storekeeper was knifed in the back as he tackled a gang of youths stealing wine from his Norwich store. He was arrested on two charges of assault.
Shirley Best, owner of the Rolander fashion boutique, was ironing some garments when two youths broke in. They pressed the hot iron into her side and stole her watch, leaving her badly burnt. "I was frightened to defend myself," said Miss Best. "I thought if I did anything I would be arrested."
In July 2002, a shopkeeper, Richard Barnes, confronted a teenage thief. The thief threw a punch at Mr Barnes, who responded with a single blow. Mr Barnes was arrested, tried before a jury, and eventually acquitted after a three-day trial in the Hull Crown Court.
There have been doubts expressed that a right to self-defense still exists in British law. Following one homicidal home burglary, Dr Ian Stephen, an Honorary Lecturer (Forensic Psychology) at Glasgow Caledonian University, gave the following advice and comfort to householders:
If you attack the burglar, or react in an "over-the-top" manner ... you will inevitably end up on the receiving end of a prison sentence that will far outstrip that imposed on the intruder in your own home ... when individuals are confronted by intruders there are some actions they should follow. Direct contact should be avoided whenever possible. If unavoidable, the victim should adopt a state of active passivity ...
In 2002 a...
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