Mobile prison cells will cage criminals on the beat
Police will be given mobile cells to target offenders in crime hotspots and shopping centres under plans by the Conservatives to free up officers.


By Tom Whitehead, Home Affairs Editor
Last Updated: 5:53PM GMT 27 Feb 2009
Metropolitan Police officers in London
Police will get mobile cells to cage criminals quickly away from the station Photo: REUTERS

The "mobile urban jails" will be used in targeted areas such as those rife with knife crime and anti-social behaviour or where there is no police station nearby.

They will allow officers to process criminals, fingerprint them and issue, on-the-spot fines, bail or court summons without having to go back to a police station.

A satellite link will even allow a custody sergeants to charge offenders via video while offenders could be held for up to six hours.

Similar but permanent facilities will also be set up in shopping centres - dubbed "retail jails" - to allow police to deal with high volume, low level offending, such a shoplifting and drunks, without having to go to and from police stations.

In 2007, the Home Office raised similar proposals with short term holding facilities to be set up in shopping centres or major sporting venues, nicknamed at the time "Tesco jails".

The Tory proposals are part of a series of measures to reduce police bureaucracy and give officers more time on the streets.

Other moves include reforming a "disclosure form" that officers have to fill out for crown prosecutors listing all non-sensitive material relevant to the case as well as unused material that has not been examined.

The document also repeats pledges to restore more charging powers to police sergeants and scrapping of rules under the Regulatory of Investigatory Powers Act (Ripa) which makes officers fill out multiple forms just to carry out standard operations, such as staking out a known burglar's home or carrying out a plain clothes surveillance.

The Tories also promise to cut the paperwork surrounding stop and search recording.

David Ruffley, Shadow Minister for Police Reform, said: "The public want the police back on the beat and that is where the police also want to be. We need to take the handcuffs off the police and put them on the criminals.

"Twelve years of Labour red tape and bureaucracy have wasted police time, keeping them away from front line crime-fighting. Labour have a criminal record - antisocial disorder, gun crime, violence, robbery, knife crime and stabbings are all up on their watch.

"The public want the police back on the beat and these proposals are a start in achieving just that."

Hi t2d, Am I missing something? I don't particularly see a problem with this. With more and more people to protect and to catch it seems quite logical to me. You posted this so I am thinking you have more to say about it, maybe?

this is happening in the uk, which we can be sure that it will most likely be implemented here too. this is something that will take the place of these people's rights. once you give too much control to the police officers and make them the judge and jury right on the spot, you have some serious probabilities for abuse.

they aren't judge and jury. people are arrested but wait to see the judge. it happens all the time. the policee don't have the time to sift through violence, alcohol related offenses, theft, etc. that's what the judge's do. it's no different than taking someone to jail to await the court. this is just a mobile jail

They will allow officers to process criminals, fingerprint them and issue, on-the-spot fines, bail or court summons without having to go back to a police station.

on the spot fines sounds very trusting of the officers with the money.

that isn't any different than now except they don't have to transport people then go back

The only reason why governments do not imprison literally everyone, is that they need someone on the outside to work and pay taxes.

Now, with this new tracking technologies, it will become absolutely possible. We will start with some criminals, then with all criminals, then with those owning guns, then those working dangerous jobs, then those that may need assistance...

Before you know, the bell is ringing for you. It would only "make sense"!

Now, I'm revealing my age.
They had them here and they called them Paddy Wagons.
The cops would leave them parked and when they got full, haul them to jail in one trip.

people will be treated like rats in petshop, just put into a box and left for hours.

Geez, guys, go have a drink, get out of the house, something, your losing it..

They used them a lot for rounding up hookers. In a busy district, it didn't take long to fill it up.
Wouldn't you have liked to have the guards job!

lol

T2,
Instead of just wearing the tee shirt, why don't you get out and have one, my friend.

!!!!DOWN WITH THE NWO!!!!

nah, i don't need any hookers lol

again...this is no different than how it's done now...except it's mobile to catch more people