Citizens who take it upon themselves to do unusual actions which attract the attention of the police should be careful to bring these actions into one of the recognized categories of crimes and offences, for it is intolerable that the police should be put to the pains of inventing reasons for finding them undesirable.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- People doing unusual actions should fit them into recognized crime categories to spare police from inventing reasons.
- In plain terms
- Fit unusual actions into existing crime rules to avoid police making up reasons.
- What can you take from it?
- Follow known rules to avoid arbitrary enforcement.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How should unusual actions be handled?
- Is arbitrary enforcement a risk?
Another view
Police need flexibility to address new behaviors.
More from A. P. Herbert
The portions of a woman which appeal to man's depravity Are constructed with considerable care.
Permalink to quote #8 It is like the thirteenth stroke of a crazy clock, which not only is itself discredited but casts a shade of doubt over all previous assertions.
Permalink to quote #10 There's alcohol in plant and tree. It must be Nature's plan That there should be in fair degree Some alcohol in Man.
Permalink to quote #7
Related quotes
I have conferred with the superintendent of police this morning and I gave him instructions that an order be issued by him immediately and under his signature …
Richard J. DaleyRichard J. Daley quote #8 We cannot have a situation where people decide to sit in places not allowed and when police remove them they say no. We can't have that. That is a revolt to th…
Robert MugabeRobert Mugabe quote #14 Sunt superis sua iura
OvidOvid quote #26