Police should commute in uniform

[scorza]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/sep/05/police-commute-uniforms-thinktank

That's the proposal from a centre-right think tank with links to the Conservative Party. The idea is that it would increase police visibility on buses and trains etc and be the equivalent of having an extra 12k police officers on the street. The Police Federation are against this as supposedly it puts officers and their families at risk when people see a uniformed officer leaving a home. My thought about that is that if things have really got so bad that a police officer can't be known as such in his own neighbourhood then the police have already failed society.

I quite like the idea of this, what does everyone else think?

 

[Duke]

Sounds a good idea to me.

 

[Cosimo]

Nods in approval.

 

[Dan Dan]

I also think this is a good idea for the reason that a police presence stops people commiting crimes. Even if they are not on duty I wouldnt dream of doing anything out of line if I saw a copper.

 

[Jono8]

Yes this seems like a good i idea.

Also agree with your point:

"My thought about that is that if things have really got so bad that a police officer can't be known as such in his own neighbourhood then the police have already failed society."

 

[Basher]

So the criminals can follow them home? No, rubbish idea.

 

[sorn21]

Not exactly fair though is it?
How would you like to be approached and asked to do certain things when you are technically not working or being paid for it?
I understand that being a police officer commands a different type of lifestyle and as a Cop you're never "off duty" but being in uniform is going to attract attention.

 

[Tefal]

So the criminals can follow them home? No, rubbish idea.

He's a rubbish criminal if he needs his target to wear a high vis jacket in order to follow them.

 

[shoes]

Two minds on this one. On one hand I totally agree and it would be an excellent way of increasing police presence on the streets.

On the other hand the police and their families have a right to a peaceful life just like the rest of us, and the argument that if they cannot be identified where they live then they have already failed society is a non-point. If I were a police officer I for one would sooner leave my job than be forced to reveal my address in public.

There is no accounting for the lowest / scummiest in society (although lolhausen will probably blame thatcher).

 

[Basher]

He's a rubbish criminal if he needs his target to wear a high vis jacket in order to follow them.

Maybe if he isn't wearing a high vis jacket he isn't a target?

 

[Deleted member 66701]

If they bring this in then they should be paid from the moment they step out through their front door until the moment they step back through it at the end of the day.

 

[Tefal]

Maybe if he isn't wearing a high vis jacket he isn't a target?

So you've gone from man specifically following a police officer to man following people in shiny clothes?



Fair enough but I suspect the random targeting of police officers by a person with no specific officer in mind would happen when they were on duty just as easily and commonly?

 

[Efour]

Thats one hell of a way to just improve statistics "on the cheap"

It should be voluntary and paid.. Do you think they will pay ? no chance.

Also what is the use of an officer with no radio communication that could potentially get into a situation with no back up options?

Why not just dress up mannequins and sit them on buses and trains - high viability

 

[OpenToSuggestions]

The problem isn't the number of Police, it is that chavs get pathetic punishments for vandalism, assault, stealing cars etc.
Coppers going to work in uniform may make a few % difference yes, but the crime cannot be properly driven down until the thugs are given a proper hiding by the Police when they are caught breaking and entering.

 

[Basher]

Fair enough but I suspect the random targeting of police officers by a person with no specific officer in mind would happen when they were on duty just as easily and commonly?

Yes, but it's one thing targeting them on the street, and a very different thing knowing where they live, obviously.

 

[joxang]

He's a rubbish criminal if he needs his target to wear a high vis jacket in order to follow them.

It's the stupid ones you have to be afraid of.

The typical 'stupid' criminal (chuck in borderline psychosis and massive personality disorders for good measure) don't plan this kind of gig. They're going to see a copper going home on the tube, use the opportunity to follow him and burn his house down. They're just opportunistic like that.

Great idea, but it does put their families at risk, and if I were a policeman I would refuse. There's other ways to put more policeman on the streets.

 

[Danthus]

Do they expect the Officer in question to tackle the criminal without a radio, hand cuffs, baton and Capta?

 

[krooton]

Whilst I can see logic from both sides, I don't think it's a good idea for the reasons already mentioned.

Whilst a uniform commuting may suppress any crimes in their vicinity, the potential for the extra-scummy of society to do very nasty things off the back of it, outweighs the former.

 

[RDM]

My thought about that is that if things have really got so bad that a police officer can't be known as such in his own neighbourhood then the police have already failed society.

Why is it a failure on the side of the police if there are some people out there that would use this as an opportunity to harm police officers?

 

[Nathan]

Start pay at the beginning of the commute then maybe so. However, it is unfair. People will recognise you and you/family become at risk. Do they want you to carry all the PPE as well? What about CS? Section 5 firearms can not be kept at home. Be recognised as an officer and get involved in an altercation without PPE = ££££ from the government.

Will never happen.