Jobsworth Aussie Cops

brin

Just reading in mag about the actions of 2 Aussie cops, obviously must be a law against riding your bike without a lid in Queensland? however when these 2 eejits spotted a 15y.o. riding his bike helmetless, they stopped him to give him a lecture then remarkably they let his tyres down forcing him to walk the 3k back home (doesn't say why he never had a pump with him, but thats beyond the point)
Apparently after bad press, the 2 cops we reprimanded by their seniors as the incident occurred near to a spot where a young boy went missing (presumed to have been abducted) in 2003.

spen666

Can say in some respects I like the action. [I don't like the idea of police acting as judge and jury though]

They lecture criminal and either:
a) allow him to carry on committing the crime - seems to undermine the rule of law
b) they take action to prevent the crime being committed again


The police over here used to issue HO/RT1 forms to drivers suspected of driving without licence/ insurance etc and then allow them to continue. Now they impound car if it is not shown on DVLA computer as being insured. Driver has to produce valid insurance or get someone who is insured before car can be released from the pound.

This is similar sort of action, but people don't object to that. Why the different attitude?

TommyEss

It's the law all across Australia - not just Queensland. It's probably a big reason their "Boris Bikes" are doing so badly down here in Melbourne.

Normally there's a pretty hefty fine too, so the kid got off lightly tbh. And it was a teenager on a bmx - I don't think I had a pump on me at that age either.

I read the story at the time, and their "justification" was that, in their opinion, the kid would have ridden again once they'd moved on. To be fair, they're completely right, and he definitely would have ridden home as soon as they'd left.

Doesn't stop it being a dumb law mind.

Wheelspinner

IIRC, the "news" with this story was the kid's Mum blathering on about how the police "should have" done the "right thing" which apparently was to pack little Johnny and his bike in their car and drive him home to Mummy instead. Apparently she believes their job is to be a taxi service for the children of idiot parents.

John Stevenson

If they choose to implement an idiot law (and no bleating about "it's the law, they have to enforce it" - police everywhere use their 'discretion') then yeah, the consequence is they give the kid a lift home.

Or they go catch someone doing something that actually matters.

jonathan2

imagine, they let him continue. 5 mins later, he gets knocked off and injures his head. You can imagine the headline 'mum blames cops for not taking action'. I am a teacher, and imho, when confronted with 'tricky' issues you think of the worst case 'possibility' and cover yourself against that. Taking the lad home would have been ideal, but how far was the lad from home? Cops did okay, not great, not bad but they may have saved his life?

EKE_38BPM

The cops should have put the kid and the bike in their cop car and driven him the 3k home, had a word with his parents and left it at that.

It would have got the helmetless kid off the street, got him home safely and they could have given a warning to parents that if they see kid helmetless again, they (not he) would get a fine.

That would have kept everyone (apart from the kid) happy.

Compulsory wearing of helmets = Stupid law (and I always wear a helmet)

motdoc

Should have given him a lift home? Why? Does personal responsibility no longer exist?

Could have saved his life? How? Per mile you are more likely to be killed as a pedestrian than a cyclist (very, very unlikely in either case).

This is a kid walking down a road, if as a society we find that a worrying prospect there is something wrong.

Anonymous

How about the cops contacting the parents and asking them to come and get him?

Rouge Penguin

15yrs old? He'd have a mobile, could have rang and asked for a lift off his parents.

I hate 24hr news, everythings a story.

Feltup

NapoleonD wrote:

How about the cops contacting the parents and asking them to come and get him?

Nail on the head there.

cougie

Is this a story ? He had a 3k walk home ? Thats less than 2 miles ? HTFU !

Wheelspinner

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/boy-left-stranded-by-police-as-punishment-for-not-wearing-helmet/story-e6freoof-1225949227909

All your questions answered.