THERE are some occupations that are so self explanatory there doesn’t need to be any supplementary questions.

Pilots, for example, fly planes, doctors heal the sick, teachers, well teach and police officers investigate crime and apprehend criminals.

But this may be about to change after Police Scotland announced it will no longer investigate every crime reported to them.

It follows a pilot project in the north east which has been regarded as a success by the force.

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Chief officers have given the green light to the roll out of the scheme meaning thousands of ‘minor’ offences such as some break-ins, vandalism and thefts where there are no leads or CCTV evidence may be written off.

It is thought as many as one in 20 crimes will not be taken forward because of the new approach starting in April.

Police Scotland chiefs believe it will free up rank-and-file officers to concentrate on more serious crimes.

However, while there is undoubted merit in the scheme, it appears that police officers across the country are becoming increasingly picky when it comes to what actually defines a crime.

Activists this week projected a pro-Palestine slogan was projected on to Big Ben, much to the anger of Jewish groups.

The stunt was pulled off in full view of dozens of police monitoring a pro-Palestinian protest outside the Houses of Parliament on Wednesday night.

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But while many Jewish groups reacted with understandable fury, The Met Police said the officers could not act because it was ‘not a criminal offence’.

The words ‘From the river to the sea’ were beamed on to the Elizabeth Tower during a Commons debate in which MPs warned threats from ‘Islamist extremists’ were stifling democracy.

A spokesman from the Board of Deputies, which represents the Jewish community, said: ‘From the river to the sea is seen by many Jews as a hate slogan.

‘For it to be projected on to Big Ben is a demonstration of the utter contempt these extreme campaigners have not only for the concerns of the Jewish community, but for our Parliament.’

A Met Police spokesman said: ‘While there are scenarios where chanting or using these words could be unlawful depending on the specific location or context, its use in a wider public protest setting, is not a criminal offence.’

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It might not be a criminal offence in the eyes of the law but maybe it should be and police officers should perhaps get tougher before things get totally out of hand.

Recent figures show that every single police force in the UK has recorded a crime of anti-semitism since Hamas launched its attack on Israel in October.

Even the Channel island of Jersey has seen such a crime reported which despite Jim Bergerac’s best efforts, is hardly a hotbed of serious crime.

The situation in the Middle East is, of course, extremely complex and a temporary ceasefire is only that - temporary and that does the situation no good at all.

There is no question, though, that the world is currently in the grip of anti-Jewish sentiment not seen since perhaps the 1930’s - and we all know how that ended.

Police cannot just turn a blind eye and let us sleepwalk into a scenario we all hoped was in the past.