Raoul Moat Kills Himself After Six Hour Stand-Off With Police

Raoul Moat, who went on the run for a week after shooting his ex-girlfriend, killing her boyfriend and seriously injuring a police officer, was eventually cornered by police and became involved in a six hour stand off.

In the early hours of Saturday morning a shot was heard and the police later confirmed that Moat had shot himself with a shotgun and that no police officers were injured in the incident.

Initial reports revealed that Moat was injured and was receiving treatment in hospital for his wounds. However, unofficial information later confirmed that he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Raoul Moat's death brought to an end a hunt that involved the highest number of police officers taking part in a search in recent times, for what had been described as "Britain's most wanted man"

Moat, who had recently been released from prison, was angered by the belief that his ex-girlfriend was now seeing a member of the police force. However, it later turned out that the man in question, Chris Brown, had no connections with the police force, and was in fact a Karate instructor.

Whilst the hunt for Raoul Moat may have ended, there will be many questions asked in the weeks and months to come. Should the police have taken a warning by the prison (about Moat's state of mind) more seriously after he was released? And what action will be taken by the authorities against the people who clearly supported Moat while he was on the run?

One could also question the decision by Miss Stobbart (Moat's ex-girlfriend) to apparently suggest that her new boyfriend was a police officer, almost certainly knowing that this would provoke Moat unnecessarily. Whilst this may not have affected Moat's decision to shoot her, in which she received critical injuries, or played any part in Chris Brown's death, it would seem that it could have influenced Moat's decision to shoot Pc David Rathband in an unprovoked attack, and produce his declaration of "war" on the police.

As the people in Rothbury now have a chance to return to a normal life, following a tense week of police activity, we should perhaps use this tragic incident to examine society's role when releasing potentially dangerous prisoners back onto the streets.

Many offenders (not just violent ones) might benefit more from receiving help with their emotional problems, rather than just placing them in a prison which might make the problem worse.

With the number of people being kept in prisons doubling over the last few years, it might be time to consider community work for less serious offenders (financial crimes and petty offences), as opposed to prison. This may provide an opportunity for the authorities to help some of the serious offenders who should be placed in prison for their crimes.

Despite the terrible nature of Raoul Moat's crimes, you can't help feeling that this could have been avoided. Hopefully, we can learn from this and do better the next time a situation like this arises.

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Ian Brockwell writes straight talking, honest stories that engage readers. Contact Ian through NewsBlaze.