British Police

[colin(bridgend)]

What is this country coming to - we employ an unarmed police force to protect us and to ensure law and order in this country. At the recent riots in London two policemen have been suspended for their actions on the public. If you look at the ratio of police numbers to the masses then I think the police managed very well.

What are the police supposed to do - if they use force they are accused of being heavy handed and are initially suspended with the possibility of being charged and dismissed from the force. What incentive do they have for keeping law and order - they are damned no matter which way they react. They are criticised if they do not turn up to an incident and they are criticised if they use strong arm tactics to restrain an individual. Why join a police force if you are damned from the word go.

 

[Murdan]

Picture your self walking home from work trying to avoid any trouble mr plod comes along and strikes you on the back of the legs knocking you to the ground for no reason whatsoever you think this type of behaviour is acceptable, the Police are there to serve and protect not to act out side of the law. Just like the driver of the police car doing 90 mph in a 30 mph zone no siren or flashing lights knocking down and killing a young girl, he thinks he did not do anything wrong either!!

So you condone police brutality and total disregard of the law?

 

[Bigfoot]

The images I have seen over the last week or so suggest that the officers concerned may have been in the wrong dont forget though you are only seeing a smalll part of a very large picture, the one that the press are focussing on. Have no fear that they will be investigated and dealt with accordingly. There is no excuse for a Police officer to abuse their authority. However I would ask you to spare a thought for the many thousands of Police officers who act professionally in the most difficult of situations.

I myself am a Police Constable of 25 yrs service, I have just spent the Easter weekend working a late shift. There were two of us covering an area of some 450 square miles, 4 large towns including an army garrison and about 40 villages. That included stretches of the A303, A350 and A36. Some of the busiest and most dangerous roads in the West Country. Needless to say I didn't finish on time once all weekend. I know it's easy to slag us off...You try it!!! (you can even join the Special Constabulary and do it for nothing if you feel so inclined)

 

[Guest]

I do not believe anyone in the UK is against the Poice performing their designated duties. However, they are there to protect the public and uphold the Law, not to support the wishes of any political Party. Any Police oficer that hides his/her number or face has to my mind something to hide, and is not performing the duties expected of a British Police officer. As it would appear these practices are being directed by senior officers then there is a culture of political subservience being promulgated, and must be resisted, if we are to retain the rights and freedoms we have fought and enjoyed for so long.

We are now the most spied on nation in the world. We also have the most restricted freedom of speech of any civilised nation. We even have a Government that is planning on asking children to report on their parents, which is something that was last practised by the Nazis. I never condone violence but peaceful protest has been part and parcel of our traditions since the days of Aldermaston etc. It is ironic that many of those who were part of that movement are now in Government and seeking to deny that right to others.

 

[Robert_374373903]

I disagree with how you desribe the incident.I believe that it is more than what the media are saying and i have my own interpretation of it.

 

[Stephen_374341239]

I had friends working in that part of London at that time of day trying to get home after a days work. The Police just treated eveybody as a demostrater they were not letting anybody through there lines to get home. He did say some of the police were totaly out of control lashing out at anyone or any thing.

You have only to look at the news at 10 to see that. In this case the CCTV footage will be very damming if what I have seen on the Net.

 

[Chris_374413356]

I know a person in the police service, not interested in promotion just wants to wear a yellow jacket and stand on street corners on over-time....

 

[Chrisbee]

I had to do a job on the Isle of Grain during the Kingsnorth power station "climate camp". The overkill by the police had to be seen to be believed. They must have outnumbered the protesters 3 to 1 and were very heavy handed. They even used double manned Essex high speed pursuit cars to stop Bedford CF vans full of "swampies" when a PC with his hand up would have done the job. If you believe the police act responsibly, go to a lawfull demonstration as a bystander, your views will quickly be changed.

 

[Guest]

I note some of the Press are comparing this altercation with the one in 2004 when the Countryside Alliance held a rally in London. Heads were literally broken by the Police, but no charges were brought, and of course as it was a rally by so called right wingers and country folk, the BBC skipped over it, unlike this one.

 

[trucker]

One of our drivers of a hgv lorry today was driving south on the M5, started to have a coughing fit tears comming from his eyes, so as he could not control himself pulled over onto the hard shoulder, got out of the cab and whilst bent over coughing a police woman asked what he had stopped for, he told her what the problem had been. She gave him an on the spot

 

[mark_374368910]

If you watch the tv prog "cops" you cannot but be amazed at how diffrent the british police attitude is to thier american counter parts. I have often thought our police are too soft on criminals.

However, having just had an encounter with our police ( A Police car was stopped facing the wrong way in the opposite carriage way with another ordinary car, I flashed the next couple of oncoming vehicles and waved to say slow down as they would have to come into our carriageway) When another oncoming police car veered so hard and fast across the road towards us my passenger screamed thinking we were about to be hit. I then got warned that flashing another vehicle to warn of a police operation was a criminal offence then had to endure a 10 minute inspection of my van - which had only been MOTed the day before and an unbelieveable attitude of the copper. All of this took place on a bend in a busy A road. My attitude has now changed and I'm no longer an ardent supporter of our boys in blue if this is how they treat ordinary poeple trying to help others avoid a crash. I have never in my life had any kind of conviction and indeed only had 3 points in 25 years of driving

FYI, yes I have written a formal complaint, and had an interrim reply and am awaiting the full outcome. Not that I hold my breath!

Woody

 

[Chris_374413356]

Thats amazing Mark, several months ago I was returning home after a 12 hour shift and a round trip of 70 miles, as I was only half a mile from my house and driving through my village I was blinded by a car with its headlights on hi beam. I flashed the car to remind the driver he was blinding everyone, although there was no other vehicle on my side. Ten seconds later a police car with blue lights flashing and sirens blaring came behind me. I naturally pulled over as I thought there had been a robbery or car accident, but no, the car I had flashed was a police car.

He got out of his car while his colleague no doubt checked out my car. He said, Why did you flash me, because you were blinding everyone I said.

The next must be in the police training manual.... I can categorically verify they were dipped, I said, well I can categorically verify they weren't.

Anyway we parted our ways and the only thing that came out of this experience, beside a letter of complaint, was like you mark they have now lost all my repect

 

[colin(bridgend)]

I was told a while ago that unless the police have been on an official vehicle inspection course and passed, they have no authority to carry out a road side inspection of a vehicle for roadworthyness. They can only impound a vehicle if there is an obvious fault with it ie it is noticable without having to undertake an inspection. The only ones certified to carry out a detailed roadside inspection of a vehicle are the VOSA inspectors.

 

[Guest]

Unfortunately, we now seem to be in a situation where even if you know the Law, it has little effect. As you cannot ask a Policemen for their identity, and as we now know, they can cover up their numbers, actually trying to find out who is giving you a hard time is difficult. Using a mobile telephone camera will not work either as that is an offence liable to I believe, 10 years in the slammer. The Police have over the last decade been systematically removed from their primary functions and regurgitated as political arbitraters of the will of the Government of the day. They of course, have lost all the respect of the community and will not regain it until their proper duties are returned to them. That wil require a complete mind set change in Government and senior officers, so I am not holding my breath.

 

[KnL]

SL,

When the day comes that one cannot ask a Police Officer for their identification, it will be a very sad day indeed. The only time that it would normally be witheld is in extreme cases (eg. terrorism), when a force number will be used instead of a name.

In the NE at least, numbers have to be displayed if they are in uniform and it is a disciplinary offence not to display them. I would think that the Met Sergeant we all saw on the news, who had his numbers covered/missing has action taken against him, but I think that may be the least of his worries at the moment.

If you are ever in the real world position of needing the identity of a Police Officer that you are speaking to, simply try asking them.... you might be surprised to find that they are human and will treat you accordingly.

"10 years in prison for using your mobile phone camera", Where on earth did you get that one from.

Like in all walks of life, there are good and bad amongst us and recently there have been a lot of reports of things going wrong within the Police. This has always happened and probably always will, no matter how hard we try to eradicate such incidents.

With the IPCC investigating 'bigger' complaints and the growth of Internal Investigation departments, we can but hope that those that overstep the mark will be dealt with, with a range of punishments ranging from disciplinary action through to spending years in prison and rightly so.

I agree with Bigfoot, that there are many thousands of good cops out there, doing a sometimes difficult and thankless task and as bad as things are, I would not like to see the state of our country without them.

 

[mark_374368910]

I remebr not so long ago when you asked a policamn his details it would be Pc 1234 Smith. Now its just Officer 2345. As a Locksmith/carpenter I deal with some of the local police regularly, and have to quote details. I am informed that locally they are only obliged to give only their number and nothing else, which is a real pain when you need to contact them over an incident.

woody

 

[Lara_374353049]

mark,

I don't understand where you're coming from? If someone rings the Met for example, and asks for PC Smith, the reply would be "which one do you mean? we have 300 PC Smiths!" whereas if you ring and ask to speak to an Officer quoting his/her number, it is a quick, simple computer enquiry to establish the officers name and station to which he is attached to.

Lara.

 

[Bigfoot]

Thanks for your support Ken, Its most refreshing. As for the suggestion that we must only give our numbers....nonsense. My force and many others spent thousand of pounds producing name badges to be worn and business cards etc. to hand out to all and sundry. I actually Police the town in which I grew up as did my Father and Grandfather. I am known by my first name generally and alway introduce my self by my name as my uniform says what I do for a living

 

[xtrailman]

Its a joke, provoke a policeman, by constant verbal abuse, refuse to move on, chuck a few bricks and sticks.

Scream indignation and show total shock, when you get a good whack, meanwhile get your mate to video it.

Case made,report the police "attack", phone the papers, sell the video/pictures, take the money.

If it was up to me, at the first sign of violence, shoot the rioters with rubber bullets.

 

[mark_374368910]

Bigfoot, I can only speak for my own local force Dyfed Powys. I can assure you (especially since I have actually printed their name here)that I have been told on several occasions they only give their number out, not a name to go with it. Now, I must just clarify two things.

1) That does not appear to effect PCSOs who are known by their name as well as thier number.

2) I cannot confirm it is official policy, but certainly locally thats what the officers say when asked for their name.

Lara, It is much nicer and easier to ask for officer "1234 Blake" (or whatever) then just "I need to speak to officer 2345".

I am still awaiting payment for an invoice thats 4 months old because it took 2 months to find the right officer who called us out in the first place and the number was taken down slightly wrong.

Mind you, now the local calls are diverted to carmarthen, who don't know the local "patch", and our local station is locked at all times and it seems rarely manned anymore, which considering the numbers based there seems daft.

Bigfoot, I am also not really way having a go at you or your colleagues (for the most part anyway - see my top post). It is unfortunetly the system that is wrong. A recent survey on Radio 4 indicated the biggest single thing the public wanted from the police was more on the street bobbies and local prescence. What do we get? News that there is going to be yet more speed vans and a clamp down on main road speeding as this years priority.

Now if they were to deal with the speeding of an evening on the local streets by joy riders, I would support that. Instead NO, they want to do more on the main roads in daytime. Easy targets and numbers.

I am sure you and many of your colleagues feel just as frustrated as the public do.

Woody

 

[colin(bridgend)]

Ray - not only cause all that mayhem and problems for the overworked police but you could also spend your social security money given by the Government on drugs - why can't we turn the hose pipes on them like other countries do - I am sure many of them could do with a damn good wash free of charge.

 

[Guest]

There freedom fighters just like the Taliban, Hammas and Hezbollah, fighting against globalization...held at bay by the blue suited troops of capitalism.

 

[Gumbo]

Hi le croc

I like your your description of of the G20 protesters and of the " Blue suited troops of Capitalism "

Now how do we go about being just citizens who have a vote every few years, and then get on with our peaceful lives until the next round of Voting. !!!!!

 

[Guest]

You cant, it suites any gorvenment to have society fragmented, divided and rife with crime.

 

[lee_374371794]

There freedom fighters just like the Taliban, Hammas and Hezbollah, fighting against globalization...held at bay by the blue suited troops of capitalism.

Freedom fighters on whose behalf exactly? Certainly not the 50% of the population who happen to be female. Mediaevalist, misogynist thugs are not going to save the world from anything except progress towards a more equal and tolerant society. The world needs more Socialism not more religious dogma.