Brilliantly Orwellian.
Police are taking a proactive measure to solve the escalating problem of 'death from pursuit' that has made their eagerness to chase people in cars look bad in the eyes of the public and especially in the teary eyes of the families of the usually young victims of police pursuit - they're changing what they call it!
They no longer "chase" or "pursue".
The people they are neither pursuing nor chasing are "fleeing".
The Southland Times carried the article but didn't put it online.
12 comments:
Have you ever been chased by a boy racer Robert?.
It is very scary.
You weren't being chased Shunda - you were fleeing.
What do we do then Robert? Do you know any kids killed in senseless car crashes? I know too many, and none of them were being chased by the cops, all of them were driving like idiots.
How are we supposed to tackle this problem?
you should go and spend a night in a patrol car Robert, you might find you change your mind.
The cops have a hard enough time keeping things in line without cheap shots from the sideline, if you want to comment on the game, you need to be playing it...
Thanks for the suggestion Southernright, though I've beaten you to it, having been out on just such a 'tour' already.
Both you and Shunda have mis-interpreted my post, which is about the use of language, hence 'Orwellian'. Mine is not a 'cheap shot' but another comment in my series looking at the way words are used to reshape public perception. I don't imagine for a moment that the officers involved in trying to manage drivers who flee came up with this strategy that is designed with media coverage in mind. It sounds more like a Judith Collins and/or her spin-team idea than something that occured to rank and file.
Robert! really?
You did say victim of police chases, i'd say partial victim of their own stupidity and mostly victim of parents that couldn't care less.
But yeah, perhaps the cops need to realise this, these yoofs don't deserve to die for the neglect of others.
It seems, Shunda, that Judith Collins prefers escalation - in this instance - hit them harder, chase them further, so typical of the rightwing's approach to law and order. The move to 're-present' the strategy as 'not chasing, they're fleeing' is something we need to be wary of.
Did you notice it yourself, the cjhange of emphasis?
No I didn't.
I can see where you are coming from Robert, but I am not used to thinking that way. I guess my dissatisfaction with all things 'left' during Labours tenure kind of blinded me to the 'sins' of the right.
I am keen to see things as they should be seen, but it is a lot harder than I thought!
Sometimes Shunda, those on the right are wong.
Ha ha!
Are they trying too hard to right the Wongs?
It's wrong of us to joke about this Shunda.
oh! now he gets all serious!
Ahem..
Robert, I am appalled at my behaviour and I retract my previous insensitive statement.
:)
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