In real life, if someone got a black hoodie and a mask and decided to “fight crime”, how successful would they be?

  • Corporal_Punishment@feddit.uk
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    14 hours ago

    I’m ex-police (did 13 years - UK).

    In 13 years of active patrol, (if you’re not counting stopping someone suspicious, searching them and finding some drugs/weapon) I probably stumbled on a crime in progress maybe two or three times. Only one of those was what you’d call serious and that was a kid threatening another kid with a knife as i happened to walk round the corner.

    And a couple of shop lifters whilst I was in the security office having a cup of tea with the shop manager.

    The hardest part about being a vigilante is actually finding the crime in the first place.

    The second hardest part would be actually detaining them without any real authority. The knife lad dropped the knife immediately when I shouted at him. As a masked vigilante you wouldn’t have that authority. You don’t have any backup or anyone to call. And you dont have anywhere to take your captured criminal once you’ve detained them.

    • CanadaPlus@lemmy.sdf.org
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      3 hours ago

      It’s nice to see a (former) cop getting to talk without everyone spamming ACAB. That doesn’t actually help anything.

    • Credibly_Human@lemmy.world
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      10 hours ago

      Assuming UK cops aren’t as utterly as untrustworthy as north american cops, (which you probably are purely because you don’t always bring around a gun), what are you meant to do with a knife attack? Wack people with a stick? Run away and called for armed backup? I assume the latter, but what about in the immediate?

      • Corporal_Punishment@feddit.uk
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        5 hours ago

        Carry out a “dynamic risk assessment”.

        For me i relied on shock, awe and the fact I was twice this lad’s size.

        But yes, metal stick/CS gas were options as well.

    • Modest_Toxic@feddit.uk
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      11 hours ago

      Plenty of crime where I am and the police won’t do a thing about it! Any idea how I would report the police for not coming out for the crimes? A few of the crimes are fighting, drug dealing, street racing, ant social behaviour all of which occur late at night/ early hours in the morning.