Police too busy to fight crime (From Stroud News and Journal)

Police too busy to fight crime

LAW-ABIDING citizen Gary Beech was forced to stand by helplessly and watch vandals laughing and playing after vandalising his car because police said they were too busy to help.

Car dealer, Mr Beech, 32, was returning home to Hardwicke on Friday night when he saw a group of youths smashing the back lights of his Jaguar Sovereign which was parked on the driveway outside his house in Westbourne Drive.

He challenged them but the youths fled to a nearby park shouting abuse.

"Not wanting to break the law myself I didn't follow them any further but rang the police only to be told by an operator that the vandals would probably be long gone by the time they could get to me."

"I told them the youths were still in the park - I could see them from my house - and they said someone would turn up.

But after 25 minutes there was no sign of any officers so I rang again.

"The response was not one I was expecting. I was told no-one was actually on the way to me and I would have to wait until it was convenient," said Mr Beech.

"I said the youths looked like they were moving off and were going to get away but the operator just said: 'what do you want me to do about it?'" said a flabbergasted Mr Beech. In desperation he drove to Gloucester police station and asked to speak to the duty sergeant.

"He eventually saw me but fobbed me off saying he did not have enough staff on duty.

"I just couldn't believe it," said Mr Beech. "

"I work hard and pay my taxes so it shouldn't be too much to ask the police to come out when vandals are kicking my car in should it,?" he said.

And he added: "These youths could have been arrested but the police couldn't be bothered to come out."

As a businessman, he said he found the attitude of the police control room staff 'disgusting.'

"I am quite aware of staffing problems," said Mr Beech, "but if it happens in my company I employ more people or offer overtime."

A spokesman for Gloucestershire Constabulary said: "With the large number of calls received by our control rooms, especially during busy periods, we are forced to prioritise and inevitably incidents where there is an immediate danger of injury must be dealt with first.

The information provided on this incident led us to believe the offenders had left the scene and our officers were dealing with other, more serious, emergencies elsewhere.

We have since spoken to Mr Beech, provided an explanation as to why our response did not meet his expectations and the incident is being fully investigated.

Mr Beech said police were always warning people not to 'have a go' themselves "I could have taken matters into my own hands," he said " I bet at that point there would have been enough police on duty arrest me."