POLICE have defended their decision to describe criminals as "numpties", "pond life" and "scum", saying their officers have a "degree in sarcasm".
The name calling, on the increasingly popular Tandridge Beat Facebook page – which has 2,000 "likes" – came under fire from the TaxPayers' Alliance.
Jonathan Isaby, from the right-wing campaign group to lower taxes, told the Mirror he agreed with Surrey Police using social networks to broadcast witness appeals and traffic updates.
But he added: "You've got the police referring to burglars as 'Billy the Burglar', which as far as I'm concerned is kind of turning them into a kind of almost comic strip character.
"I wouldn't expect that for a minute, so why should we make a joke about someone who has violated someone's home and stolen their goods?"
But Tandridge neighbourhood Inspector Angie Austin robustly defended the casual style of posting, saying: "For what it's worth most people involved in 'coppering' have a degree in sarcasm and believe they are undiscovered comedians – it's the only armour we have to save us from stuff that at times makes us want to weep.
"There are many words that are used to describe people we sometimes deal with.
"In fact if we had a 'swear box' our budget deficit could be quickly sorted.
"I checked 'numpty' and it seemed unlikely to lose us our jobs. Equally 'pond life' and 'scum' are used when appropriate."
Posts from police on the site include: "Our big key was used again in the early hours of this morning. This time on Caterham Hill... one on their way to Old Bill towers for drugs" and "a numpty has left a calling card at a burglary in Tandridge... he will be enjoying our hospitality soon."
The updates, which range from poems to more serious witness appeals, attract thousands of readers and comments each week, and have become quite popular.
Inspector Austin added that it was she or other police officers who update the site.
"We don't have a site administrator or media elves to help," she said.
"The bottom line is we're trying to show you that Team Tandridge relentlessly pursues baddies, rocks up when we're needed, and that we try our very best to look after you all.
"It's been awesome for the team and me to read the comments of appreciation on this page, and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts."
The Facebook page can be visited at www.facebook.com/TandridgePolice
