A senior police officer, John Alderson, noted that to enforce the law in every possible situation was a “...barren and unimaginative approach...”. He also suggests that this could bring the police and the legal system into disrepute, and “... fails to exploit the potential of the law for soothing rather than irritating social maladies...” (Alderson 1979).

Alderson also suggests that in the case of minor offences, police should use discretion within the bounds of local tolerance levels. It can be seen that there are, in many instances, local variations as to certain misdemeanours and that tolerance levels, along with attitudes and values will vary from town to town or city to city. The police must recognise these regional differences, and must use their discretion accordingly. It has been recognised that although the police must exercise discretion in relation to local tolerance levels, and must also be aware of local differences, especially with regard to a multi- cultural society that contains a mix of ethnic backgrounds, as well as considering the demands and needs of different age groups, that the police must be aware of the different needs of a pluralist society, this calls into question the relationship between reactive and proactive policing (Williams 1988).

http://www.murderuk.com/word_files/p...

The problem lies in responding to a post on the main forum by having to use the Off Topic Forum. It is somewhat ironic that your post on the main forum is OT yet will not be removed (smiley)

Be well