Re: AWT : Tue Jan 10, 2012 4:03 pm  

Mintball wrote: Or in a bit of widespread looting. Which does – as noted earlier – point to different approaches to law and order for different people. Indeed. had AWT been a little old lady, or a kid pilfering, the chances are high that the police would not have turned out. He may well have received worse treatment just because of who he is. the fact that in many cases the police are not interested is well known, the system has gradually moved well down the road to de-criminalising shoplifting, and many officers view it as basically a civil matter. See for example the comments of the CE of Iceland, Malcolm Walker Writing in Retail Week, Mr Walker said: "Police would respond to a call about a potentially dangerous robbery whereas the "little old lady who steals a packet of cheese or the kids who nick a few sweets" would not warrant it "That's because petty shoplifting has been decriminalised - it's not really a crime at all, is it? "No one suffers, the shop can afford it. "It sounds absurd, but the weekly armed robbery is much less of a problem for us... one armed robbery is better than the daily grind of constant aggravation "It's victimless. The police aren't interested and usually don't turn up." Arrest a celebrity, though, and the press and the rozzers aill likely soon be there in force.

Mintball wrote: Or in a bit of widespread looting. Which does – as noted earlier – point to different approaches to law and order for different people. Indeed. had AWT been a little old lady, or a kid pilfering, the chances are high that the police would not have turned out. He may well have received worse treatment just because of who he is. the fact that in many cases the police are not interested is well known, the system has gradually moved well down the road to de-criminalising shoplifting, and many officers view it as basically a civil matter. See for example the comments of the CE of Iceland, Malcolm Walker Writing in Retail Week, Mr Walker said: "Police would respond to a call about a potentially dangerous robbery whereas the "little old lady who steals a packet of cheese or the kids who nick a few sweets" would not warrant it "That's because petty shoplifting has been decriminalised - it's not really a crime at all, is it? "No one suffers, the shop can afford it. "It sounds absurd, but the weekly armed robbery is much less of a problem for us... one armed robbery is better than the daily grind of constant aggravation "It's victimless. The police aren't interested and usually don't turn up." Arrest a celebrity, though, and the press and the rozzers aill likely soon be there in force.

Re: AWT : Tue Jan 10, 2012 4:04 pm  

rover49 wrote:

Don't worry Minty, he won't get banged up for shoplifting, thats reserved for those who do it through hunger and poverty.

I'm sure you've got some links to examples of this

Re: AWT : Tue Jan 10, 2012 4:29 pm  

Ferocious Aardvark wrote: I'm sure you've got some links to examples of this http://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/lewgr ... ermarkets/ What was it AWT stole again ! I wouldn't mind betting its happened a few times in the UK to people less well off than some fat, rich so-called celebrity

Ferocious Aardvark wrote: I'm sure you've got some links to examples of this http://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/lewgr ... ermarkets/ What was it AWT stole again ! I wouldn't mind betting its happened a few times in the UK to people less well off than some fat, rich so-called celebrity

Re: AWT : Tue Jan 10, 2012 5:00 pm  

Of what relevance is your comment that he is fat?

Re: AWT : Tue Jan 10, 2012 5:05 pm  

peggy wrote:

Of what relevance is your comment that he is fat?

I think he is suggesting that AWT ought to steal less food.
Or, if he's going to continue, that he ought to steal healthier options.

Re: AWT : Tue Jan 10, 2012 5:06 pm  

peggy wrote:

Of what relevance is your comment that he is fat?

.........or rich, or so-called or even celebrity.

I could have added ugly, obnoxious and pr!ck in the mix as well.

Are you an offended tubby by chance. I am 19 stone 7lb and fat, which is a description I use about myself if asked for one, whats the problem.

Re: AWT : Tue Jan 10, 2012 5:11 pm  

Stand-Offish wrote:

I think he is suggesting that AWT ought to steal less food.
Or, if he's going to continue, that he ought to steal healthier options.

Or that he probably ain't starving.

Re: AWT : Tue Jan 10, 2012 5:12 pm  

I'm not offended I just don't see the relevance of such a description.

Re: AWT : Tue Jan 10, 2012 5:20 pm  

peggy wrote:

I'm not offended I just don't see the relevance of such a description.

Hope the police never need you as a witness

Re: AWT : Tue Jan 10, 2012 6:30 pm  

Ferocious Aardvark wrote:

Indeed. had AWT been a little old lady, or a kid pilfering, the chances are high that the police would not have turned out. He may well have received worse treatment just because of who he is.

This depends entirely upon the area the crime is committed. Where the store I work in is located, we get a lot of "petty" theft. Some of it cheap as chips alcohol, and on one occassion, I've caught someone "doing a runner" with a cheapest branded sausage roll.

What happens then is very much down to the Guard and the detaining managers discretion. Quite often in our area, it's known petty theives who the police detain for £5ers worth, lock up for a night and let go. I've seen occassions where people have been caught by the guard, apologised and been let go.

From what I have seen of the AWT case, he had been at it a while, and they finally had the evidence to support the arrest.