English Police Powerless to Arrest Criminals

From the Telegraph:

Three masked men suspected of stripping lead from a village church roof were allowed to go free because they could have been enjoying the view (our italics). Police responded quickly after churchgoers reported seeing the trio on Treeton Parish Church, in Rotherham, South Yorkshire…the suspects were caught wearing balaclavas and gloves…Police arrived and the men came down. Lead had been removed and rolled up ready to be carried off…Officers searched all three youths and thoroughly examined the surrounding area but found no evidence that any offences had been committed.

The Keystone Cops could have done better (once they parked their vehicle, anyway). Is this really the England of Scotland Yard and Sherlock Holmes?