Viewing Thread:
"The police"

This post will be a list of questions with a few things stuck on here and there with double-sided sticky tape to bulk it out a bit.

So it’s a nice simple thread really. The police, what are your views on them, what do you all perceive the job of a police officer to encompass? What experiences and or dealings have you had with them and how have they left you feeling? But I would also like to know what your perceptions are on the different reactions the police receive from the public and any reasons for them.

I am very young in my service and have really only had a minuet taster of all things baton and cuff orientated. Before joining, during the whole application and indeed parts of the actual training I was as ignorant and blind to what the job really is, like most of the general public. I thought the job of a policeman was to be out there protecting the public and catching the bad guys. Having been in for half a year now, I can tell you this is our job, but only a part of it.

I can’t talk for every force, because each is different in the way that they operate due to the fact that they each have their own issues to tackle, but our force as a very proactive force. Of course we still have to be reactive, reacting to whatever the baddies get up to each day, but we also operate in a highly visible manner. Whenever we can we are out patrolling the streets in our incredibly stylish hi-vis jackets, (we’re not all fat by the way, it’s body amour under there). This part of policing I enjoy, I walk the city centre talking to the public, which can be very satisfying as some of the public will talk to you and tell you how nice it is to see the police out and about. I’m a friendly policeman, I will give you directions if you ask me nicely, I will even have my picture taken with you and talk about your cat if you so wish, it’s called building community relations.

However there are of course certain members of the public that no matter how polite you are to them, and despite the fact that you’re trying to help them will treat you like crap. I’m just wondering what mindset it is that causes this level of hatred and animosity towards the police? It’s not all down to previous dealings; some of this is just in-built for seemingly no reason.

Some guy parking in a disabled bay because he doesn’t want to pay for parking or walk from the car park. Politely pointing the offence out to him and telling him that he could be liable for a £30 ticket if he leaves his car there but that I wouldn’t give him one if he would move it, only to be greeted by, “oh for Gods sake, don’t you have anything better to do?”

Another time with the same situation the lady simply said it was because she had, had an operation on her leg so can’t walk far and she just needed to return an ironing board to a shop. She apologised and even said she would accept a ticket. A reasonable person giving me a reasonable reason, so I even offered to carry the item for her.

What causes the different levels of respect shown towards the uniform?

It just amazes me sometimes. One drunk trying to climb into his own shoe in a shop doorway will show you nothing but respect when you enquire about his welfare, another will tell you to “fark orf!” saying, “do you know who my dad is?” No sir, I don’t, have you tried asking your mother?

I’m rambling a little now, so I will stop and let you get on with answering my questions as best as you can.

“I pay your wages!”

Really sir, can I have a raise then please.

we need more vigilante justice and im happy to provide it.

English_Bloke wrote:
> They guy found guilty of stamping, yes STAMPING! On another guys head
> got a fine at court!

--------

Some guy around here attacked someone with a spade. He literally dug at the guy's head; his brains were leaking out and somebody had to hold his head together as they waited for the ambulance.

Don't think the guy was caught, or if he was I haven't heard of anything going to courtm, but everyone knows who it was. Of course, you need evidence for a trial, but sometimes it hampers cases. A lot of the time it's OBVIOUS who did something, victims can even point them out, but if the police can't prove they were there at that time, they can walk.

English_Bloke wrote:
> They guy found guilty of stamping, yes STAMPING! On another guys head
> got a fine at court!

Yeah, that was bloody terrible, poor little lad and his old man got battered for no reason.

Then the other guy got five months in prison.

Perhaps those none lethal devices you were on about are a good idea after all.

ßora† SagdiyeV wrote:
> There was one incident which I found a little pathetic though. One
> guy was resisting arrest, and two officers could not restrain him.
> He wasn't a big guy, one of the officers was hitting him repeatedly
> in the legs with a metal baton to no effect.

That was silly. One of the cops was about 70 though. We are taught techniques to deal with that, but I suppose in the heat of the moment with all the adrenaline they just forgot them.

You know what summed it up for me?

They guy found guilty of stamping, yes STAMPING! On another guys head got a fine at court!

Strafio wrote:
> Hehe!
>
> I got "stopped" by the police today.
>
>
> I'd spent the afternoon skulking around a school, up to no good as
> usual.
> Anysway, I was walking home when a police car stopped and the two
> guys came out and started talking to me. I ran away screaming
> "You'll never take me alive coppers!", laughing maniacally.

> I was a bit shaken at first, being a bit surprised and wondering
> perhaps if being an adult walking out of a school looked suspicious,
> but as I thought about it and realised I had nothing to worry about.
> I went home and continued work on my doomsday device.

heh heh. :D

Hehe!

I got "stopped" by the police today.


I'd spent the afternoon in my old school, saying hello friends and giving back a few books and things I'd forgotten to give back earlier.
Anysway, I was walking home when a police car stopped and the two guys came out and started talking to me.

The opening line was "you look familiar, do I know you?" and started asking me questions. Whether I was from around here, where I lived... etc.
"Have you been in custody or on bail?"

:-D


I was a bit shaken at first, being a bit surprised and wondering perhaps if being an adult walking out of a school looked suspicious, but as I thought about it and realised I had nothing to hide I relaxed a bit and treated it like a "chat".

Finally, the one who'd done the talking said to his mate "You've seen him, is it him?"

"Nah. He looks like him but he's not him."


And they went.

My mum says they must've thought that I was "loitering with intent" and blamed it on my scruffy hair! :-D

After watching tonights episode of 'Drunk and Dangerous', I must say the police there had far more patience than I would of. To laugh off such open examples of physical and verbal abuse takes some restraint.

There was one incident which I found a little pathetic though. One guy was resisting arrest, and two officers could not restrain him. He wasn't a big guy, one of the officers was hitting him repeatedly in the legs with a metal baton to no effect. They called for back up. Perhaps they should increase the amount of self defence techniques taught to police, as two sober men being unable to restrain one guy who couldn't even stand up properly is a bit poor. The old go for the legs tripping technique combined with a nice arm or shoulder lock would have gone down a treat.

I found myself getting wound up watching it. If someone was screaming "F*** YOU" in my face, and spitting at me, I'd use his face to scrub the tarmac.

Rah. I mean, yeah, sarcasm

"Rah, rah, rah" is what radgies say.

I thought his "rah-rahing" either indicated sarcasm or a love for cheerleading. I made my choice and I stand by it.