Police turn a blind eye

Senior police officers are allowing gangs to operate unhindered provided they carry out their illegal activities in other parts of the country, a Home Office study found.

Researchers discovered that some commanders were reluctant to devote resources to investigating known criminals who were not causing problems in their own area. Examples of the practice of turning a blind eye were found in all three mainland forces examined - Surrey, Bedfordshire and Northumbria. About 10 per cent of all crime was committed by villains crossing into neighbouring force areas, the study found.