A Victim of Policing Statistics

Making Money or Catching Criminals

West Midlands Police Force

Does the Penalty fit the Crime

The Cop in the Monkey Hat

Yesterday it was this reporters bad luck to be in a car which fell foul of the West Midlands Traffic Police.

While travelling along the Pleck Road, we heard and saw flashing sirens and as the driver pulled over to let them pass , we where thinking that the police are probably in pursuit of some bank robbers or a major criminal gang .

But no, to our surprise, we where the object of their attention. The first motor cyle officer pulled up alongside us and indicated for us to pull.over to the side , while the second pulled in behind us.

possibly to prevent our escaping'

On doing this, the officer instructed us to turn the vehicle around and follow him.When asked why and for an explanation. He rudely told us, to just do as we where told, without any further explanation of what we had done wrong.

We duly obliged and turned the vehicle around and followed him to the car park at --------- all the time being followed by the other motor cycle officer. On arrival ,there was what seemed like 100's of police officers standing around with some interviewing other car owners.

We where instructed to pull into a parking place in front of one of the police vans, where upon this officer in uniform except in place of his helmet he wore a white monkey hat.

The old man remarked , is this some kind of a joke. some TV show playing pranks on the general public. Surely no police office would be wearing a monkey hat while on duty

The young man pleaded with him not to say anything as it would only antagonise the police officer, and possibly make things worse for him.

I was wrong, It was serious, The cop in the monkey hat, informed the driver that his road tax was a couple of weeks out of date and he was confiscating his car. until he had paid the fines and got his Road tax in order.

The couple whers an old age pensioner with no criminal record who has served in our countries armed forces with pride and distinction. His driver a young neighbour who had kindly offered to bring him to his doctors for his (annual anti-pneumonia) injection. Not exactly the profile of master criminals

Perhaps it is old fashioned, and probably considered a bit fuddy duddy for this era , but is it too much too expect that our Uniformed Officers wear the proper attire while on duty.

How can the police expect the public to respect the uniform. while they themselves show so little respect for it.

The driver was wrong, he had broken the law, and deserved the punishment, but is it not an insult to be charged and summoned by a cop in a monkey hat.