Why do you think people don’t like the Police?
- Thread starter Virdi
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Most Police I have had the displeasure of dealing with have been arrogant and aloof in the extreme. I try my best not to show my distain for them around my children as I think it sets a poor example.
These days it's more about making money than serving the public. They prioritise an easy target like the motorist who will make them money rather than investigating more serious crime imo. The older I get, the more hatred I have for them.
These days it's more about making money than serving the public. They prioritise an easy target like the motorist who will make them money rather than investigating more serious crime imo. The older I get, the more hatred I have for them.
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Why do people always think that we're not also dealing with serious crime as well as minor crime?
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Upholding the rule of law and keeping the peace in society should never have been turned into a career. It should be a vocation, for a stipend.
Transform the police into a public service, paid for by the public, manned by the public and we might see some positive change.
Perhaps all police officers should be volunteers (or maybe even have a system similar to jury service) with screening tests for the entry. The police employees further up the chain of command should be civilian employees of the government with no police powers themselves.
Those higher ups should also be more visible in the community (have their offices in the local council buildings, not police stations), to deal with complaints and take suggestions from the public.
We also have to strengthen the basic rights enshrined in law - innocent until proven guilty. What I mean by that is that no police officer should be able to restrict a persons freedom unless there is undeniable proof that they pose a threat to the public. At the moment, people are arrested for several hours whilst officers search their houses before realising they've made a mistake and not only is that morally wrong, it's also a massive waste of time and resources.
Transform the police into a public service, paid for by the public, manned by the public and we might see some positive change.
Perhaps all police officers should be volunteers (or maybe even have a system similar to jury service) with screening tests for the entry. The police employees further up the chain of command should be civilian employees of the government with no police powers themselves.
Those higher ups should also be more visible in the community (have their offices in the local council buildings, not police stations), to deal with complaints and take suggestions from the public.
We also have to strengthen the basic rights enshrined in law - innocent until proven guilty. What I mean by that is that no police officer should be able to restrict a persons freedom unless there is undeniable proof that they pose a threat to the public. At the moment, people are arrested for several hours whilst officers search their houses before realising they've made a mistake and not only is that morally wrong, it's also a massive waste of time and resources.
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Because we have all experienced, or heard of, police being unable/refusing to attend a burglary or similar ... while the local SCP is still able to field a camera van
I can go on and name plenty of examples ...
First off I understand the Police do a difficult and largely thankless job, they deserve our respect for doing it.
My main gripe over the years is the increase in arrogance shown by the Police when dealing with the public.
Whatever happened to being polite, surely it isn't that difficult even in a stressful situation to simply be civil. I think that many situations are exacerbated by the police's poor attitude toward the public.
Not all Officers are the same granted, but as an observation it just seems more common today than when I was a kid.
My main gripe over the years is the increase in arrogance shown by the Police when dealing with the public.
Whatever happened to being polite, surely it isn't that difficult even in a stressful situation to simply be civil. I think that many situations are exacerbated by the police's poor attitude toward the public.
Not all Officers are the same granted, but as an observation it just seems more common today than when I was a kid.
Because solving serious crime costs more and makes less/zero money? Look at how much revenue speed cameras/motorist fines make then look at how much a investigating or better preventing a burglary would make? I know this isn't the local bobbies fault but they are the face of the police I'm afraid and wil always take the backlash of joe public.
Respect is something that is earned, not demanded and thus far in my 36 years, the police have done very little to earn anything other than distain. Maybe I've just been unlucky in dealing with the few bad apples in the orchard but somehow I doubt this is the case.
Alternatively consider that:
1: Most police forces don't get any money from speeding fines (IIRC it mainly goes back to the government with just some of it being paid to maintain the cameras).
2: Speeding is still a crime, and a very very simple one to enforce using very few police man hours due to the fact that they can/do use largely automated systems.
A single officer manning a speed camera might catch hundreds of speeders in a few hours (you don't even need an officer if it's a fixed site), that same officer on the "beat" might not manage more than a couple of basic arrests doing other duties (so one officer doing speeding enforcement might be extremely visible in his job compared to officers on other duties).
It's also worth noting that the officers that generally doing motoring stuff, are oddly enough traffic officers tasked with dealing with, you've guessed it traffic offences - things like drink driving (often caught due to silly motoring mistakes), unlicensed drivers, uninsured drivers, unsafe vehicles, stolen vehicles, hit and runs, etc etc, and dealing with the aftermath of people who are convinced their driving skills are much higher than they really are...
Whilst other officers are equipped and tasked with things like burglaries and muggings...
I believe many forces don't have many officers doing traffic duties these days though.
That's just cops that don't know their powers or legislation.
Cops are able to seize noise making equipment if they have to return to the property after giving the householder an official warning.
Except that's a lie ...
All speeding fines USED to go to the local authority, now they go to central gov ... hence why some authorities have stopped funding cameras.
The police also form an active part of the SCP, the people who run the cameras.
Don't misunderstand me here, I'm all for traffic officers catching those who drink drive, insurance evaders and the like. What I do object to are police who sit with their radar guns to catch people who are barely breaking the limit i.e 34 in a 30. While agree a limit is a limit and it SHOULD be abided to and those breaking the limit should be fined and dealt with accordingly, that officer could be better put to use walking the beat, if nothing else but a visual deterrent to more serious crime rather than standing in descreet positions, bus shelters, behind fencing etc looking for an easy target. It's rare that a police officer with a speed gun will be standing in clear view of the motorist....that is until it is too late so the arguement that they are indeed a extremeley visible, for me at least, is null and void.
Serious crime is on the increase and has been for some time as we all know. While I do not hold the police solely responsible for this and I certainly do not envy the fantastic job they do do considering the budgets and red tape that restrict them, the manner in which they go about this leaves a lot to be desired. Too many have a bad attitude and forget they are here to serve the public, not criminalise them.
I would wage (and I am happy to be corrected on this) that it takes a lot less man hours and creates higher prosecution figures to catch a motorist than it does, say for some scally breaking into a house? I am not sure whether the police are set targets for such crimes but if figures are indeed important (and I'm not talking about the police wo/man doing the job here but the people responsible for setting the targets/government), I know which area of 'criminality' I would target to get the best figures
.Judging by some of the dealings I have had with the police, they appear as frustrated as joe public and I can't blme them when REAL criminals are released early only to offend again days/hours later! This does not, however, excuse some of the dreadful mannerisms they have whilst carrying out their duties which sadly leads people like me to tar them all with the same brush. No offence intended to those who are police officers, just voicing my opinion based on my experiences.
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Well I'm definitely not impressed with them now. My brother just got out of court this morning, having to attend as some guy had threatened to kill him (this is a few weeks after the guy got let off for stabbing someone).
All the dude has got is a restraing order. WTF???! The police just told my brother to contact Victim support... useless *****!
So basically if this dude turns up, I assume that the only way this will get resolved is via a baseball bat. Thanks a lot, Justice System of ****!
All the dude has got is a restraing order. WTF???! The police just told my brother to contact Victim support... useless *****!
So basically if this dude turns up, I assume that the only way this will get resolved is via a baseball bat. Thanks a lot, Justice System of ****!
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Man of Honour
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Well I'm definitely not impressed with them now. My brother just got out of court this morning, having to attend as some guy had threatened to kill him (this is a few weeks after the guy got let off for stabbing someone).
All the dude has got is a restraing order. WTF???! The police just told my brother to contact Victim support... useless *****!
So basically if this dude turns up, I assume that the only way this will get resolved is via a baseball bat. Thanks a lot, Justice System of ****!
How is the the Police's fault? The court made the decision.
Well I'm definitely not impressed with them now. My brother just got out of court this morning, having to attend as some guy had threatened to kill him (this is a few weeks after the guy got let off for stabbing someone).
All the dude has got is a restraing order. WTF???! The police just told my brother to contact Victim support... useless *****!
So basically if this dude turns up, I assume that the only way this will get resolved is via a baseball bat. Thanks a lot, Justice System of ****!
the police dont pass sentence, all they do is gather the evidence for the court to decide...in this case the police gave enough evidence for the culprit to be found guilty...the judge/magistrate has decided on a restraining order, not the police
Sorry, I think I was a bit unclear... I know the courts are crap (see earlier posts in here), but I was just a bit miffed at the police just shrugging their shoulders and suggesting he contact victim support... Not really helpful.
Still - what planet are these judges living on...
The culprit is a nutter and due in another court in London next week from what I hear. Very likely to go down, but at the moment he might think he's got nothing to lose so might "tidy up some loose ends".Apologies, annoyed, stressed and letting off steam.
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What else could the Police do?
Well, in the week between now and his next court appearance, reassurance that steps will be taken to enforce the restraining order would be nice but I suppose that kind of thing is a casualty of resources. Hence why these days, we see so many tragic stories of incidents that could and should have been prevented.
So it's a case of him staying away from home and hoping that the place doesn't get burned down in the meantime... A restraining order means nothing to the likes of the person in question.
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Tell the court he is a danger to the public and they want him off the streets ...simples really
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From what PianoBasher said, he's not a danger to the public, just to one person - hence the restraining order.
So you missed what Basher said then "this is a few weeks after the guy got let off for stabbing someone"
This backs up my claim that the cops don't give a **** like they used to.
UNTILL someone really gets hurt and then they blame it on the courts or who ever is around.
And stabbing someone and telling another person that he is going to kill them is not a danger to the public?
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