Has anyone got any faith in the UK Police anymore?

Question

I must admit if I needed them in a hurry I wouldn't hold my breath waiting and they seem far more interested in Motorists than anything else.

Answer 1

Old bill are just revenue collectors now. Even my mum (who is 63) has gone from someone who gave the police total respect (and taught me to do the same!) to somebody who hates them. They are totally there for the wrong reasons now. The force just seems to be full of wet behind the ears drips, hiding behind their badges. If I caught a burgular I would smash them to pieces, sod the police, they are too scared to even show up!

Answer 2

Fat Tart has the right view. Police performance is measured by HMG on target achievement; targets are set by people in government offices who apparently never see a street, let alone a criminal, from day to day. From this statistical info they determine budget allocation, manpower levels and the delicate shades of Day-Glo that will be used in the next bi-annual uniform design change. These stats include the number of motorists who have been stopped and fined for having a duff tail-light.

Police performance is measured by the public on visibility, presence, response time at incidents and RESULTS. Fair to say, I think, that the Glasgow police did a sterling job. Too bad that the target system prevented the rest from maintaining this ultra-high standard that we used to be able to believe would be applied to all aspects of policing.

I recall when a copper had two items of equipment visible on his all-blue uniform: A whistle and a truncheon. Now, thanks to American TV shows having influenced those who form the new generation, who wouldn't join if they weren't allowed to emulate some kind of plastic Judge Dredd, they turn up at crime incidents looking like radioactive jellybabies (when they are not too busy booking delinquent motorists, that is) with more stuff dangling off them than your average ceiling mobile. They seem to be more intent on presenting their physical image rather than their physical presence.

Given what I've already said, and adding it to another reason which involves a crime but not a particular incident, I have to say that I have almost no faith in them any more. I can't say "absolutely no faith" because to do so would be to diminish the superb achievements of those involved in the Glasgow incident.

Answer 3

Having worked for the police (IMD) and having many friends who are Police officers (mainly in ARU, but also in CID and CAT) I would say no.

The attitude of most police officers is that they don't want to put themselves at risk of getting hurt but enjoy driving fast.

I ask a friend who is a police officer why police spend more time on traffic than other criminal activities. He fully supports the idea that motorist should be hit harder than other crimes for two main reason. There are around 70 fatalities on Cheshire road in 12 month period and a motorist is less likely to attack you putting your life in danger.

Ask a police officer who is more important an old ladies mugger or a person doing 90mph on the motorway and they would agree that the mugger is worse. Ask them who would be more likely to get caught and it's always the person doing 90mph.

There are lots of police officers who could be put back on the streets but every department, except IT, seems to be run by a police officer. In Cheshire Police all senior jobs are offered to police officers, then police staff before going out to the public.

Answer 4

Police are just Humans doing a job.Dixon of Dockgreen only existed in fantasy....The Police do protect the property of the rich more than individuals it seems....Some jobs will always need a Police Force to deal with them...Its the Policing of Big Brother Government a lot of people objecting to..London cameras everywhere,forms for this and money for that...Heard last month 60 new laws passed..Believe the threat from terrorism made worse by Blair and Bush,will be used to introduce,oppressive measures o us all...Workers of the World Unite you have nothing to lose but your Toilet Chains.....

Answer 5

Generally yes but I agree the response to is pretty bad.

However, I think you must be very careful. If need the Police urgently never tell the 999 operator that there is a gun or knife involved. That could cause serious delays to the arrival time as they follow there own procedures and hold back until an armed response unit arrives. This procedure is good for protecting themselves but does not do much for the public who need them quickly.

My advise is never mention a gun or knife over the phone. Wait until they arrive on the scene then tell them.

Answer 6

Where did you get the impression that the police are far more interested in motorists? Would it be from the press by any chance?

The Police has many strands to it. One of those is enforcing traffic law. You may not think it is important but many people are killed and seriously injured on our roads. The vast majority needlessly. If one of your family were killed you would be then calling for more action....... would that then make you a hipocrite?

As for needing the Police in a hurry......... I agree that the Police are currently bogged down and response times in a lot of cases are less than impressive. What you need to understand is that many calls we recieve are not even Police matters. However we still have to deal with them and dual role as social workers. We also deal with hundreds of calls about nuisance youths (whatever happened to partental responsibility).

Every ongoing shift has a long backlog of incidents to attend and deal with. Immediate incidents obviously take priority meaning that the less immediate incidents are put lower down the list.

The amount of red tape we have also dictates that when you arrest someone you can be out off the streets for hours if not an entire shift. This means less officers to deal with the mounting jobs and more waiting time for the public.

I understand the publics concerns and agree that the service could be far better. Unfortunately the beat officers hands are tied by government policy and swaithes of red tape. Please don't blame us because we like you are working class people and want the same thing.

Answer 7

NO!!!

Few reasons -

My mother (dirty old moose) was going out with a guy, supposed to be the chief inspector of g. manchester police, who was a bigger pothead than the potheads! He smoked more weed than I've had hot dinners, god knows how he got away with it...

One of my friends has a shotgun license and cabinet with guns in at his house. He caught a burglar in his living room and tied him up, then called 999. They said he would need to keep the burglar until at least 9am (almost 12 hours) as they were too busy to attend. It wasnt until he said he would shoot the barstad if they didn't come within half hour that they got their finger out! He had a young family at the time, he didn't want some random druggie tied up all night in his house!

We had reason to call 999 once not too long ago, as someone was kicking our door in with the kids in the house, (very young kids and we didn't even know this guy really), police didn't turn up til over 24 hours later and then i found out that they had not even recorded the fact that they knew who it was. The officer had called us and said he knew who it was, a mentally unstable guy who was on bail for something or other, surely threats to kill and kicking someones door in should be recorded? Not according to leics police!!

Wasters. In just keep a baseball bat next to my bed, deal with anyone myself rather than waste time and money on a useless phone call to even more useless coppers!

Answer 8

Same answer as Otter above - blame those who run the police force.

Also, most people expect too much of the police. They can only do so much and cannot be expected to be everywhere at once (that would mean we live in a totalitarian state!).

Answer 9

Due to this incompetent government, I believe that the police now have to chase targets rather than criminals and the soft target is the motorist. Throw Labour out.

Answer 10

your not supposed to have faith anymore, in anything that has gov interfearance. police are going through a proccess of being demoralised as is the teachers, nurses, social,military
working class in genral, non of them are unified, dont forget they are all under orders, and where do their orders come from, they come from bent politicians at the top.their job is to oppress the whole nation and prepare us for total surrender, so that nobody is unified enough to put up a show of defence against the the enemy gov.