Nightwatch with Steve Scott

[shivvy]

I have been watching a programme on ITV called ********** with Steve Scott. It follows cops on their daily duties. Tonight it seemed to show the police stopping/questioning people for various offences but often letting them off with a warning. Some of these offences seemed to be motoring offences which I imagined were black-and-white cases.
I suppose my question is - do police officers have discretion as to whether a ticket/penalty is charged?

[pauln90]

Yes of course they do. Plus it depends on the policy of the Chief Constable. Some adopt a softer approach to motoring offences than others.

When I was an operational police officer we were encouraged to use discretion and use other means eg vehicle defect reports for minor vehicle defect offences - in this way the motorist had 5 days to have the defect rectified. Have the work done and no further action was taken. |n the case of speeding/ inconsiderate driving/ traffic light offences etc if no other motorist was put at risk you could give them suitable advice.

The decision to issue a ticket or give advice may also depend on the attitude of the person stopped. Lets face it if they came straight out and gave you a mouthful of abuse which route would you follow advice or ticket !!

[Mamjet]

ticket.

[shivvy]

Thanks pauln90 - I naively thought that it was a black and white issue that if someone was speeding etc they would automatically get a ticket.
By the way, does anyone know why '**********' has been censored in my question? (but not in the question title?)