Nanny State On Acid

Police who play burglar in the middle of the night

"A shadowy figure lurking in the garden in the early hours. A rattle on a window latch. It must be a burglar.
But don't panic too soon and call the police. That could be them outside.
Officers have begun testing windows and doors at night as part of a campaign to increase home security.
If they find one open, they are under orders to knock on the door and drag sleepy residents from their beds and lecture them.
The move is part of an initiative called Operation Golden which aims to slash burglary rates in Macclesfield, Cheshire.
Police say their actions are necessary as almost 40 per cent of all burglars gain access through an unsecured window or door.
But some residents have condemned the plan, saying it could cause alarm and increase the fear of crime, especially among the elderly.
One 82-year-old resident, who did not want to be named, said: 'If they're not careful the police will end up arresting their own officers.
It's going to get very confusing for them. If I got a knock on my door at 1am I'd tell whoever was there where to get off and I wouldn't be polite about it.'"
"Last year a 38-year-old woman from Hove in East Sussex was stunned when she walked into her lounge to find a PCSO clambering through her window. The woman, who did not want to be named, was then given a stern lecture by the officer on home security.
'I thought it was a bit much really, but it did make me think,' she said."

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