Cause, effect and the Metropolitan Police
Here is the headline and opening paragraph of a press release at the Met's website:
"Easter operation stops club and bar shootings 28.03.08
"Easter operation stops club and bar shootings 28.03.08
The Met police have once again successfully tackled shootings in and around the capital's licensed premises, with the second rollout of a special anti-gun initiative, named Operation Argon".
That no-one got shot in a London bar over Easter is undoubtedly a good thing, but the detail would seem to suggest that the London's Finest have fallen for the post hoc ergo post propter hoc fallacy:
"Over the period of the operation, officers carried out 48 armed vehicle stops resulting in 15 arrests, for a range of offences including burglary, possession of with intent to supply of class A drugs, immigration and driving offences. A total of 83 clubs were contacted regarding their promotions during this operation and over 200 venues were risk assessed by Clubs and Vice".
Note, nothing about handguns, rifles, shotguns, AK-47s, or come to that, Nimitz-class aircraft carriers being intercepted.
I do wonder whether we can expect every non-crime to be hailed as a triumph for the Plod.
"Over the period of the operation, officers carried out 48 armed vehicle stops resulting in 15 arrests, for a range of offences including burglary, possession of with intent to supply of class A drugs, immigration and driving offences. A total of 83 clubs were contacted regarding their promotions during this operation and over 200 venues were risk assessed by Clubs and Vice".
Note, nothing about handguns, rifles, shotguns, AK-47s, or come to that, Nimitz-class aircraft carriers being intercepted.
I do wonder whether we can expect every non-crime to be hailed as a triumph for the Plod.
Labels: Cant, Law and order
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on Monday, March 31, 2008 at 7:38 am.
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They 'risk assessed' venues? Does that involve sampling the local produce to see if its safe?
A pedant writes : One too many "post", mon vieux. Excellent diagnosis, though.
50 cent (in da club)
LFT - all too likely.
N - Whoops....
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