Just what we need ... fake muggings

rypt · 9 Sep 2009 at 02:35

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8244997.stm

Mock muggings should be staged across the UK to test the public's willingness to aid victims and report crimes, a charity has said.

What do these people smoke to dream up stuff like this?

Ross1234 · 9 Sep 2009 at 02:42

But someone might step in and smash the robbers face in!

BigglesPiP · 9 Sep 2009 at 02:46

Unfortunately the mugee would also be an actor. So if you see a dramatic mugging in progress, it's just one of these fake ones, walk on by.

Aedus · 9 Sep 2009 at 02:53

What's it going to prove though? Nothing.

So what if someone intervenes in a fake mugging, they are hardly going to get a medal for it, and if these fools come out and say "Oh thanks for the help, but this was all staged" what's to say the person who was trying to help out the goodness of their heart will do it again in risk of making themself feel like a fool over another staged event?

Pointless, utterly pointless.

shauncr91 · 9 Sep 2009 at 02:57

Just waiting for a vigilante to go medieval on the mugger one day

BigglesPiP · 9 Sep 2009 at 02:59

shauncr91 said:
Just waiting for a vigilante to go medieval on the mugger one day

I want a police officer to perform one of these fake robberies from my car. How far do you reckon I could go before they slap the cuffs on?

Ascendancy · 9 Sep 2009 at 03:01

So what happens if I come across a fake mugging, think that it's real and proceed to hospitalise the 'mugger' Platinum87 style?

titaniumx3 · 9 Sep 2009 at 03:04

Ascendancy said:
So what happens if I come across a fake mugging, think that it's real and proceed to hospitalise the 'mugger' Platinum87 style?

They'll reimburse you for a new keyboard.

Ascendancy · 9 Sep 2009 at 03:08

titaniumx3 said:
They'll reimburse you for a new keyboard.

I already beat you to the punch with the Platinum87 remark, but thanks for clarifying that one.

But seriously, one of the fake muggers is bound to get hurt.

asim18 · 9 Sep 2009 at 03:17

Is this some kind of joke? I know it's unlikely, but what if someone does a flying kick straight to their back or something?

It's taking the pee tbh, someone innocent could get into a lot of trouble for helping out.

Energize · 9 Sep 2009 at 05:19

This is quite possibly an even worse idea than the one where police steal things from peoples cars to stop them being stolen.

Kiyoshi · 9 Sep 2009 at 07:01

I'm more concerned about the person who will read that, then intervene on a real mugging thinking it's a staged one and ends up getting hospitalized or worse.

Azagoth · 9 Sep 2009 at 07:07

...and what happens when someone steps in and lamps the **** out of the 'mugger'? Would I, sorry I mean that person that intervenes, be held up on charges?

mrk · 9 Sep 2009 at 07:16

BigglesPiP said:
I want a police officer to perform one of these fake robberies from my car. How far do you reckon I could go before they slap the cuffs on?

That's right, be all Alfa male over his ass!

LiE · 9 Sep 2009 at 07:19

Nothing like a good ol mugging to wake you up in the morning.

Sankari · 9 Sep 2009 at 07:31

Cool, this is like "mystery shopper." Except now it's "mystery mugger."

I can imagine people filling in a little feedback form afterwards: "8/10. Needs to be more assertive, but still a very good experience. Would be mugged again."

:eek:

Von Smallhausen · 9 Sep 2009 at 07:36

I can confidently say the police will not endorse it.

We have too many other priorities such as targetting motorists, bullying children, stealing from peoples' cars, enforcing the police state, beating up suspects and ignoring 999 calls etc etc blah rant daily mail, my mate said .... etc blah to deal with staged muggings.

Oh, and I was being post nightshift sarcastic before anyone decides to phone the Daily Mail.

Von Smallhausen · 9 Sep 2009 at 07:43

Azagoth said:
...and what happens when someone steps in and lamps the **** out of the 'mugger'? Would I, sorry I mean that person that intervenes, be held up on charges?

Simple.

Someone organising the staged mugging would shout ' CUT. '

J!nx · 9 Sep 2009 at 07:45

They'll probably arrest the person who stopped in afterwards for assault an' all.

If I found out I'd been the 'victim' of a 'fake mugging' I'd want to kick his/her head in afterwards.

markweatherill · 9 Sep 2009 at 08:10

I agree the 'walk on by' cultural attitude we have is appalling but a TV ad campaign would do more to 'change attitudes' than semi-random street theatre.