New policing ?

[enigma]

I Read in the paper the other day there that Tayside police are set to forge ahead with their new initiative in tackling problems with late night revellers by ........ handing them lollipops at closing time ! (?) Yes , police officers will be handing lollies to clubbers in the hope that they will enjoy their lolly so much that they won't feel the need to indulge in anti-social behaviour. One pub landlord argued that at closing time , many feed their faces on kebabs and this still does not deter them so what good will come from handing them lollies ? Unless of course the lollies are laced with valium !
I personally feel that this is an insult to the hard working police officers of Scotland who work so damned hard to maintain some kind of order on our streets and I feel that this farcical idea will only serve to undermine the authority off the officers and set them up to be figures of ridicule. What do you think ?

[hugnie21]

I read that it had already been a success in another area. I can't see any harm in it to be honest.

[enigma]

Well only time will tell but I will be interested to know how many breach of the peace arrests are made in Montrose after the lollipops are in circulation in comparison to the figures before. I mean , do you know what the statistics are now for public order offences in Manchester where the scheme was piloted ?

I just can't see how a lollipop will make a difference in tackling anti-social behaviour when take-away shops providing hot food and the long standing tradition of the post club kebab is not enough to silence them.

Where I live (East Kilbride) , the message recently was 'Zero tolerance' to those who display anti-social behaviour , coupled with the promise of a heavy police prescence in the town at the weekend. (Which seems to have tapered off a bit) I just feel that it undermines the image of the police officers who have such a difficult job as it is without telling them to hand out lollies.

[hugnie21]

As I understand it, it is mainly aimed at tackling noise.
Although the new scheme may not have any effect on more serious anti-social behaviour, I believe it's hoping to calm down the majority of the loud drunks coming out of pubs and clubs. It must be worth a try.

With regard to kebabs, most of the anti-social behaviour I see on nights out is outside the kebab shops when people congregate and end up fighting. Maybe if people have a lolly to suck they won't feel the need to go to get a kebab.

Also, as I understand it, it will mainly be the door staff handing out the lollipops. But even if the police do have to, I can't see the problem. I can think of worse things that police officers have to do!