I retired as a Metropolitan Police inspector almost 15 years ago. In my 11 years in that rank, I had a policy that, should anyone's behaviour result in their arrest for being drunk and disorderly, they should go before the magistrates' court. The Crown Prosecution Service's (CPS) policy, however, was that they should be cautioned.

I used to rebel against that policy, but whenever anyone was charged on my instructions and appeared before the court, the CPS would insist that they be cautioned and the charge would be withdrawn. (I always declined to caution them myself.) Thus, although years ago the courts would have a fair number of people appearing every day and being sanctioned with a hefty fine after behaving badly after drinking too much, today they in reality totally get away with it.

Thus, I wish Kevin Hurley every success with his zero tolerance policy, but he needs to get past the CPS hurdle first.

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