General Discussion

[Fulcrum09]

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/Sheffield-Posters-Accuse-Teen-Of-Break-Ins-South-Yorkshire-...

I think this is interesting, naming and shaming someone of a crime they may not have commited. Then again, it's interesting to see joe public standing up to criminals who keep getting away with things.

I don't know, tough call. What do you think?

[LordRoss]

I guess it's like the rule in these forums of no naming & shaming.

The rule against naming and shaming policy is to protect the innocent, and therefore to prevent potential harassment of those wrongfully accused.  I do realise however that a policy such as this can protect the guilty, but that is why we have a grief report function.

So I can understand the situation on both sides, but I feel the posters could have the potential to do more damage than good.

Edit:

When I say posters I do mean the Wanted posters in that link, and not forum posters.  Incase of any confusion lol

[Ricz1000]

Problem is the suspect could be innocent yet be treated unlawfully and the risk could not be worth it.

[Solid_Snake12345]

If it is true that the user was spotted attempting to break into somebodys house then this should be allowed.

[PatC_PSN]

Well if the police don't want people taking the law into their own hands then maybe they should enforce it more effectively themselves. There doesn't seem to be a resource shortage when it comes to radar speed traps.

I think we'll see a lot more of this as the huge public spending cuts come into force.

[WJB1]

I can understand why they've done it but it isn't really helpful in any way, if anything it might make securing a conviction more difficult as the defense could argue witnesses are identifying the person they saw on the posters, not the person they saw committing a crime. I think the police should attempt to put out a clear massage that vigilantism will not be tolerated and encourage people to help the police while remaining within the confines of the law.

[PatC_PSN]

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WJB1 wrote:

I think the police should attempt to put out a clear massage that vigilantism will not be tolerated and encourage people to help the police while remaining within the confines of the law.

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I don't think it makes any difference what message the police put out. Once people start taking the law into their own hands they have already lost faith in the police. And quite frankly, who could blame them?

[InForTheKills]

I hate it when they say it could lead to 'vigilante gangs' wanting revenge. Its the UK not bloomin America.

[Ultimation]

The police is given such a bad name by a couple of incompetant idiots at the top, many of the police on the 'front line' do a brilliant job round ours, especially giving a bit of banter and stuff to people instead of being instantly suspicios of them, I think that helps with giving the police a good image and relationships with youths in areas, unfortunatly mess ups in situations such as that article dont help.

[Phil_The_Lad]

Innocent till proven guilty I guess...