Friday, 13 March 2009

ACPO - Lawmakers?

An article in the print edition of the Telegraph today (no link) reports that abusive partners may be banned from drinking alcohol at home.

Plans are being considered by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) that will give officers responding to "persistent domestic violence offenders" the power to order a suspect to take a breath test. If failing such a test the suspect could then be arrested - and an order, not to consume alcohol at home for a specified period, imposed.

Brian Moore, Chief Constable of Wiltshire, who is the national lead officer on domestic violence, said police and courts needed "additional powers" to control serial violent offenders.

Excuse me ACPO, but since when did you decide the law and the punishment? Would it be impertinent to remind you that all police officers - and that includes members of ACPO and Chief Constables - are public servants and that you are paid by the taxpayers, aka your masters?

And how do you envisage this idea would be enforced and monitored? Or is that another 'power' you believe you will need as a result? Remember that phrase 'the privacy of ones home'? No doubt you also envisage having yet another 'national register' such as that proposed by Jacqui - Second Home - Secretary Smith for offenders to who are banned from the family home.

Might one suggest that there is more than sufficient crime already without you officious people (of dubious parentage) creating new ones in your desire to 'panda' to political correctness.

1 comment:

knirirr said...

I could comment on the principle of allowing the police to determine what the law should be, but I fear I would Godwin myself.