Norwich Police - Telling cyclists off...for being on a cycle path!

[thomas]

Don't forget the Norwich Cycling Campaign!

oh blooming heck...I've already copieded about 10 people in

I'll forward them a copy in a sec.

 

[atbman]

First para, 'kerb' should be 'curb',

Curb is US spelling - slapped wrist

 

[Vikeonabike]

Actually they are doing what the residents have requested they do. Local Panel Priority meetings designate the action of the local policing teams....

Rowdy and anti-social behaviour on The Avenues
Continued attention has been given to The Avenue to deter anti-social behaviour. A combined effort with the local community and partner agencies has reduced crime and anti-social behaviour in this area. In a survey conducted on The Avenue, the majority of residents reported that they were satisfied with the police response to their concerns. The team have carried out in excess of 300 hours of patrol time. 11 people have been arrested for offences ranging from assault to theft and over 30 youths have been given words of advice and asked to move on. Over 40 cyclists have been warned about cycling without lights and on the footpath and youths caught causing criminal damage or anti-social behaviour were stop-checked and had their details recorded should further action be necessary.

 

[wafflycat]

Whilst I have no problem at all with plod stopping cyclists who are not using lights when cyclists are supposed to be using lights, it would seem that plod may have been over-zealous on the footpath issue as it appears to be a shared-use farcility, NOT a pedestrian only footpath. If that is the case, then plod should NOT be stopping cyclists for using a legitimate farcility.

Yet another reason I *loathe* farcilities with a vengeance - as they encourage footpath cycling.

 

[Twenty Inch]

Curb is US spelling - slapped wrist

Curb is a transitive verb meaning to check or restrain, as well.

 

[Twenty Inch]

Or they are just hitting the targets politicians give them?

Think about that next time you vote.

I think there are two trends in modern policing. One is hitting targets, and I agree that the target culture is rubbish. The other, endemic to the police, is to push the boundaries of their powers, and it is this that is especially damaging, as they are eroding the trust that the population has in them. I know several coppers personally, and they are all people of integrity and with a clear willingness to serve. At some high level though, idiotic decisions get taken, such as the overuse of stop and search, the harassment of photographers, the application of exclusion orders, the Yard's idiotic attempts to close down Critical Mass, or Kent Police reporting that 80 officers were injured policing the Kingsnorth protests - the "injuries" were insect bite, sunburn, and twisted ankles - none of them caused by figthing with protestors. This stuff is corrosive and pernicious, and so frequent that I sometimes wonder whether there is a project at ACPO level to so alienate the public that police powers are imposed and enforced, rather than being granted and agreed.

 

[Crankarm]

Curb is a transitive verb meaning to check or restrain, as well.

As in Curb Your Enthusiasm.

 

[ttcycle]

Excellent for taking this further Thomas- keep us updated. Make sure the student union as well as each student emails or sends a letter to the police (and press if required) so that there is a number of letters as one from just the student union will make less impact.

In fact if you see it happening again and speak to another cyclist as well, get them to email/write too.

Good luck!

 

[Lizban]

I heard back from the student Union...Doesn't sound like I'm the only one who it annoyed.

I'll post anything else I hear about it ...I'm very glad other students have complained, as hopefully it will help it be taken seriously. Certainly the response I got from the Police's representative was really just a bit of a fob off (I wouldn't hold it against the person who I spoke to though!).

Imagine that students moaning!

Seriously well done for seeing this through, but be careful writing letters of complaint can become addictive.......

 

[ttcycle]

Imagine that students moaning!

Seriously well done for seeing this through, but be careful writing letters of complaint can become addictive.......

Nah, Lizban, you just feed the addiction with something else more direct in terms of campaigning and become known as a pain in the arse across the board!

 

[colinr]

11 people have been arrested for offences ranging from assault to theft and over 30 youths have been given words of advice and asked to move on. Over 40 cyclists have been warned about cycling without lights and on the footpath

Seems a bit off sticking cycling on the path/without lights in with assault and theft, I know it's illegal but it feels like two very different levels of lawbreaking!

I was always under the impression that kerb was a stone and curb was restraint. Every day is a school day.

 

[Vikeonabike]

I know several coppers personally, and they are all people of integrity and with a clear willingness to serve.

Thank you! I think the above would cover a good 90% of Police officers below the rank of Sgt...After that it's all about empire building and promotion!

 

[Crankarm]

Students ............. not the most considerate or responsible group of people to ever take to two wheels. If they are anything like their bretheren in Cambridge I would back the police. Most students are so clever they can't even get their shoes on the correct foot.

 

[ttcycle]

Crank-it's not entirely the student population that this effects. Besides that just sounds like a easy generalisation to make and it wouldn't necessarily be true. Cyclists who use the shared path are most likely to be using that as it's considered a facility and may possibly not be as confident on the roads. If the police are stopping people for using it then what's the point in having it there in the first place?

Vike - not sure if that's true in the Met!

 

[Jezston]

Students ............. not the most considerate or responsible group of people to ever take to two wheels. If they are anything like their bretheren in Cambridge I would back the police. Most students are so clever they can't even get their shoes on the correct foot.

Thank you for your informed contribution.