Wasting Police Time: The Crazy World of the War on Crime

Anthony Butcher · 08-07-2007, 08:10 PM

		Wasting Police Time: The Crazy World of the War on Crime
By David Copperfield

PC DAVID COPPERFIELD is an ordinary bobby quietly waging war on crime...when he's not drowning in a sea of paperwork, government initiatives and bogus targets. 'WASTING POLICE TIME' is his hilarious but shocking picture of life in a modern British town, where teenage yobs terrorise the elderly, drunken couples brawl in front of their children and drug-addicted burglars and muggers roam free. PC Copperfield reveals how crime is spiralling while millions of pounds in tax is frittered away, and reveals a force which, crushed under mad bureaucracy, is left desperately fiddling the figures. His award-winning internet diary, Coppersblog, attracted rave reviews for its dry wit from The Sunday Times, The Guardian and The Daily Telegraph; The Mail on Sunday featured it across three full pages. It's also banned by most police forces - just accessing the blog is a disciplinary offence. Copperfield brings the same incisive, acid humour to bear in 'Wasting Police Time'. The Home Secretary won't like it, and nor will Copperfield's Chief Constable, but a million serving and retired police officers and millions of ordinary Britons will be left nodding in agreement. If you're fed up with Tony Blair's bogus war on crime, and you want the truth - with added laughs - this book is for you.

	Check prices at: Blackwell's Search for second hand copies on: AbeBooks.co.uk

Westcountryman · 19-05-2008, 10:43 PM

I've read this, it offers a brilliant insight into 'modern' policing within England and Wales. Very informative as to what is expected of Police Officers under New Labour and the methods used in fiddling figures - 'administrative detections' are of particular interest.

It is a damning criticism of target-led policing and the politically correct culture that is making the police force an inadequate tool for dealing with crime. The author argues for a return to fighting real crime, instead of treating police officers and social workers and using the police for social engineering.

g hall · 27-05-2008, 09:46 AM

Excellent book and ties in with what friends and relatives in "the job" say

I don't know how anyone can be a police officer these days given that what the job was about i.e. catching villains and deterring crime has know been turned on it's head

Ea of Dune · 03-06-2008, 07:54 PM

I remember seeing a documentary or horizon or something similar. I think it was a spin off because this book came out. Anyway they had coppers saying they had deliberatly arrested kids for school yard style scuffles in the park, and people taking a pee behind a tree in order to hit targets.
I'll have to get myself a copy of this and have a read.

Ea of dune

19-05-2008, 10:43 PM	#2 (permalink)
Westcountryman Uber Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: The Westcountry. Posts: 5,701 Party: Libertarian Party	I've read this, it offers a brilliant insight into 'modern' policing within England and Wales. Very informative as to what is expected of Police Officers under New Labour and the methods used in fiddling figures - 'administrative detections' are of particular interest. It is a damning criticism of target-led policing and the politically correct culture that is making the police force an inadequate tool for dealing with crime. The author argues for a return to fighting real crime, instead of treating police officers and social workers and using the police for social engineering. __________________ Porthemmet Beach Last edited by Westcountryman; 19-05-2008 at 10:46 PM.

27-05-2008, 09:46 AM	#3 (permalink)
g hall Uber Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 4,596	Excellent book and ties in with what friends and relatives in "the job" say I don't know how anyone can be a police officer these days given that what the job was about i.e. catching villains and deterring crime has know been turned on it's head __________________ "That government is best which governs least." "This is a sharp Medicine, but it is a Physician for all diseases and miseries". "To be "matter of fact" about the world is to blunder into fantasy --and dull fantasy at that, as the real world is strange and wonderful."

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

03-06-2008, 07:54 PM	#4 (permalink)
Ea of Dune Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Hell Posts: 875	I remember seeing a documentary or horizon or something similar. I think it was a spin off because this book came out. Anyway they had coppers saying they had deliberatly arrested kids for school yard style scuffles in the park, and people taking a pee behind a tree in order to hit targets. I'll have to get myself a copy of this and have a read. Ea of dune