Nicked for throwing a slice of cucumber. Hauled before the courts forbreaking a broom handle. Arrested for possessing a plastic toypistol.
These and many more petty offences were a big topic at the annualconference of the Police Federation of England & Wales in Blackpool lastweek. The federation branded such arrests the "ludicrous" result ofGovernment police targets.
In her speech to the conference, federation chairman Jan Berry said thecases above "should have been dealt with by a quiet word and goodold-fashioned common sense". She added: "As a result of Governmentdiktats the police service has been reduced to a bureaucratic,target-chasing, points-obsessed arm of Whitehall; debasing what was oncea sensible police service."
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