What Does It Mean?

The Crown Prosecution Service has dropped all charges against a man who was due to stand trial next year over allegations that he failed to stop at the scene of an accident, failed to report an accident and driving without due care and attention.

In words I seem to have seen before, the reviewing lawyer for the CPS said: ‘I have reviewed the file of evidence passed to me ... and have concluded that there is insufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction.’

What does this mean? Does it mean that the man concerned might have committed the offences but there is not enough evidence to prosecute? Or does it mean that the charges were dropped because, as he had stated, the man was innocent?

The CPS statement leaves things in the air somewhat, but let’s assume the man was innocent.
.

A Sign Of The Times

.
I am of the generation where a misdemeanour in the home might have led to a clip round the ear, though I can’t remember it happening too often.

My generation also knew that if a youth was seen misbehaving in the street by a policeman, a clipped ear might follow - thus saving much paperwork and aggravation all round.

But times have changed, as witness the case of a gentleman in Manchester who administered a clipped ear to his 16-year-old stepdaughter who promptly complained to the police. The man was arrested on suspicion of common assault, taken to a police station, held in the cells overnight and finally released after accepting a caution.

The time and effort, not to mention the paperwork, involved in all this must have been considerable, and one wonders why it could not have been dealt with in the man’s living room without the need to lock him up overnight and criminalise him.

It’s politically incorrect to say it - but a clipped ear now and again might do some modern youths a great deal of good!
.