Police spend more than £50,000 on cardboard cut-out PCs to scare away shoplifters…

Police have spent more than £50,000 on cardboard cut-outs of themselves – despite most forces admitting they do not know if they stop crime. The two-dimensional crime fighters are supposed to deter shoplifters and petrol thieves who think they are real PCs from a distance. But some have become victims of crime themselves after being stolen by pranksters or vandalised.

Now MailOnline can reveal forces have bought more than 750 of the replicas – at the same time as axing more than 10,000 officers. The total was questioned by the Police Federation, which said more cash should be spent on real PCs.

Obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, the figures show almost half of Britain’s police forces have invested in the cut-outs since 2008, when they first made headlines. A total of 21 forces said £53,940 had been spent on 782 cardboard cut-outs. Most were used for crime prevention along with a small number used as promotional materials.

But there were huge differences in the amount paid by each force – and therefore the value of money to the taxpayer. One police force paid 10 times more for each cardboard policeman than another force 200 miles away. Gwent Police spent by far the most, splashing out £13,260 on just 52 cut-outs at £255 each. By comparison the average cost of a carboard crime-fighter was a much more modest £69 – and South Yorkshire Police paid just £25 for each of theirs.

Meanwhile, only three of the 21 forces could provide MailOnline with any figures to suggest the cut-outs stop crime.

source: www.dailmail.co.uk

cardboard cut-out – kartonból kivágott figura
despite – valami ellenére
to deter – elriasztani, elrettenteni
shoplifter – bolti tolvaj
PC = police constable – közrendőr
from a distance – távolból
victim – áldozat
prankster – tréfacsináló
to reveal – felfedni, nyilvánosságra hozni
to axe – leépíteni
Freedom of Information Act – Információszabadsági törvény
to invest – befektetni valamibe
to make headlines – újságfőcímbe kerül
crime prevention – bűnmegelőzés
promotional material – reklámanyag
taxpayer – adófizető
by comparison – összehasonlításképp
average – átlag, átlagos
meanwhile – mindeközben
figures – számok, adatok

True or false?

1. The police force has been recruiting recently.

2. There isn’t enough data to prove the cardboard officers prevent crime.

3. Some cardboard officers have been vandalised.

4. The lowest amount paid for a cut-out was £69.

5. The cardboard officers made it into the papers in 2008.

answers: 1-F 2-T 3-T 4-F 5-T

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Woman jailed for failing to return Jennifer Lopez movie she rented in 2005

A woman was arrested and jailed for failing to return a video she rented nine years ago. Kayla Michelle Finley, 27, was arrested when she went to her local county sheriff’s office in Pickens, South Carolina to report a crime. Officers informed her there was an active warrant for her arrest, she was arrested and spent the night in jail.

Finley rented the Jennifer Lopez and Jane Fonda movie Monster-In-Law from local store Dalton Video in 2005, but police say she failed to return it. As if having to watch Monster-In-Law wasn’t in itself adequate punishment, Dalton Video issued a warrant for Finley’s arrest. The store has since closed, but the warrant remained active.

"It’s obvious that Pickens County has nothing better to do," Finley wrote on Facebook. "I fully intend on fighting this. It’s ridiculous that I had this happen to me." Police say Finley was sent a number of letters telling her the video was overdue and that a warrant had been issued. She denies having received the letters. Finley was released on $2000 bail next morning.

source: www.mirror.co.uk

to be arrested – letartóztatnak valakit
to be  jailed – bebörtönöznek valakit
to fail to do something – nem sikerül valamit megcsinálni
to report a crime – bűntényt bejelenteni
warrant – parancs
as if – mintha
punishment – büntetés
to issue – kiadni, kibocsátani
to remain – maradni
obvious – nyilvánvaló
to have nothing better to do – nincs jobb dolga
to intend – szándékozik
ridiculous – nevetséges
overdue – lejárt, késésben van
to deny – tagadni
to be released – kiengedik
bail – óvadék

Fill in the sentences with the right verbs. There is one extra. 

1. Ken went to work in New York but Jim ……………….. in Alaska.

2. Mark ……………….. for drunk driving for a month.

3. If you need to ……………….., call the police.

4. Kate said that her flatmate had stolen her bag but she ……………….. it.

5. My brother ……………….. to study engineering.

answers: 1-remained 2-was jailed 3-report a crime 4-denied 5-intends

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Policeman: Can I see your driving licence, please?
Man: Yes, of course. I think it’s in my pocket. Uh … Maybe in my wallet. Yes, it’s here.
Policeman: Do you know how fast were you driving?
Man: No, I’m sorry. I’ve rented this car and I’m not used to it.
Policeman: Have you been drinking tonight Mr Murphy?
Man: I had one or two drinks. I’m okay to drive, though. I know my limits.
Policeman: You may know your limits, but you definitely don’t know the limits here in Hungary. How long have you been here in Hungary?
Man: Just for a few days.
Policeman: It seems you are unaware of our zero tolerance for drinking and driving.
Man: I didn’t know that. I’m not drunk.
Policeman: You were also going over the speed limit, Mr Murphy. I’m going to have to ask you to step out of your vehicle and get into my car.
Man: And what about the car?
Policeman: We’ll have the rental car towed to the agency. When you’re in our country you have to respect our rules.