Police to the rescue... Like hell!!!!????

Question

My mother who is 70 heard someone trying to in through her kitchen window after mid-nite last nite, which obviously startled her and she called the police. She called me directly afterwards and i immediately left, and got to her within 5mins (drive) armed with a hammer. When i got there were signs of an attempt. 45mins later and still no police. Today still no officer or a call to ensure that she's ok and safe. This is absolutely disgusting. Regardless of whether or not the person got in the police force havent responded. It may seem to some i am over-reacting, but to think she lives alone and for all the police know totally isolated and without family or friends, they havent checked to see if this woman is lying dead in her home. What is it with our so glorified police that its ok for them to totally disregard the call of a distressed woman but harrass some, often innocent, people on the road. Or worse still... prefer to sit in the office with a cup of tea?

Oh and before anyone says anything about priorities etc. I saw an unmarked police car happily cruising whilst the occupants were cheerfully chatting and going nowhere in a hurry.

Ooohhh!!! Thank you Steelerdude69. So you think your sentiments and lack of knowledge of who i am grants you the right to say that i am ignorant. For your information this is the UK and i had taken into account the fact that things had been moved to show that there was an attempt. I'm not a teenager no am i an uneducated mindless person that acts on impulse my friend. And my mother was asleep and woken by the amont of noise the person was making at the window. You wouldnt know this as you dont live there. So be openminded, sir... not narrowminded.

Answer 1

Besides all the advice given (from UK) I would add that additionally I would put all the circumstances / my complaint in writing , then go to my MP's weekly/monthly surgery and see him / her and hand the complaint to them. Being an ex Policeman (CID) for nearly 30 years service, I know the reaction from the chief constable /police complaints department, when a complaint comes via a MP .... THINGS MOVE ... !!! DONT GIVE UP PURSUE IT TO THE END AND GET A SATISFACTORY ANSWER
REMEMBER ... we pay for our police service, so they shouldnt be in breach of contract

Answer 2

As bear says, you are right to complain but may I suggest you direct it at the relevant organisation, I.E your local station commander, rather than an Internet user group? Or even the IPCC.

I'm not trying to justify the lack of an appropriate response but there may have been many legitimate reasons why no one attended and you will only hope to find out by contacting your local Police and start asking them the questions.

I also often don't get a chance to have a cup of tea or a meal when I'm working and my arrest rate shows that I do work hard. I even issue tickets for traffic offences too because that's part of my job.

May I also suggest that you take the advice of people in the know rather than the suggestions to make false calls, we are stretched to the limit as it is without risking the lives of genuine victims of emergencies by answering false calls. Maybe that's why there was a lack of response to your Mothers call.

Answer 3

You may want to ask if the situation there is the same as it is here in the U.S. I have been told that the police agencies are not there to protect me or any other person as an individual. They are there to protect the general population.

Now if that isn't a bunch of political B.S., I don't know what is. If that is truly the situation and some of the politicians get their way, they will remove any rights and abilities I have to even protect myself, as their kindred spirits have already done to you. Why do criminals have more rights than victims?

I will credit the Corning, N.Y. Police Department with a timely response when someone tried to break into my daughter's home and she called 911. He was caught climbing out a window.

Answer 4

First of all I hope your mom and you are better. Must have been terrifying, the thought of someone breaking in - the police should have responded and yep - I know they have other priorities but it always seems to be this case, when I do phone them. The police have a tricky job - a lot of the time they are chasing speeding cars because its easier do that, than the detection work required for what your mom went through. Again it is a tough one. But you should complain to them or the body that regulates them. Everyone of us deserves protection, so few get help when we ask for it. It is a shame the UK has gone like this, maybe the police service has always been like this. I know what yo umean by glorified - all the grand titles, but no know how of real police work - it is disgusting! I wish you luck, but don't let it eat you up, and don't let it lie either !! xx

Answer 5

US answers to a UK question as always - why don't they select US questions? It really is NOT that difficult.

Anyway, I was a London (Met) police officer for 30 years and am appalled at the lack of officers patrolling our streets. There are, in fact, MORE London police officers than ever before - around 29,000 - and there are as many constables and sergeants as there are London taxis - around 19,000. However, this new fad of Neighbourhood Policing has taken all the response officers away from what they were previously doing, and you have the ludicrous position that EVERY council ward in London has one sergeant, two constables and 3 Community support officers.

This means that Old Malden, the quietest area in London, has EXACTLY the same amount of officers as the busiest area, wherever that is. It took a genius to work that one out.

In the area I used to work I had two stations under my command (per shift) and insisted that the officers available to respond to calls was never lower than 22: I am led to believe that now the figure is more likely to be 5.

That is why the streets are pouring with disorderly louts as soon as it is dark, and the reason your poor mother has had no response.

I have a single bit of advice. Make an official complaint, and DO NOT be talked out of it.

Best of luck.

Answer 6

Firstly in relation to your mum;

You are right in that the police should have attended. Even more so that your mother is in her 70's and lives alone. The officers could have made an initial area search for the offender before attending and giving reassurance to your mother.

Write and complain regarding the lack of action. There may just be some other reasons like no officers were available due to other immediate incidents. It is not uncommon to run out of officers. Even so they should despatch officers from another district. Did they subsequently speak to you or your mum on the telephone? If so the incident may have been downgraded for officers to attend later. Officers would not knock your mother up in the early hours after she had gone to bed...... if she was not too scared to do that, which I assume was unlikely. You clearly need some answers.

I appreciate you are angry, and rightly so. I have to point out that the state of our forces is largely down to the inadequacies of our government. They are only interested in supplying positive figures to the public, making out that crime is being reduced. We have a lack of frontline officers and too much red tape to deal with, forced on by the government. Some people cannot believe how many officers we turn out per shift, even in busy cities.

As for being more interested in targetting innocent motorists you are incorrect. I would much prefer to catch a burglar than issue a ticket for a motoring offence. That does not mean I don't issue the odd ticket but these are not my priorities. If I am on patrol and I see someone on their phone then I deal with them. Ultimately I am looking to arrest criminals, but as you can surely understand crimes rarely happen in front of you. I attend any immediate incidents where I am in a position to respond and possibly help or detain the offender.

As for drinking tea......... If I am in the office completing paperwork is it wrong for me to have a cup of tea... I suggest not. There have been many occasions where I am unable to sit down and eat. Likewise I have had to leave many half eaten meals and turnout to immediate incidents. I accept that this is to be expected and do so without moaning.

Answer 7

Yet they're everywhere writing tickets.

I use to live in La Jolla Ca. This woman went ballistic when another car pulled into a parking space in front of her. She got out yelling screaming cursing banging on the car door and even pulled it open. Several people called 911.

Now LA jolla is a very upscale area practically 0 crime. Anyways. I went over told the woman that the police were called. She said I dint care I'll wait here for them. Long story short. The victim , the assailant and 5 witnesses sat there for over 2 hrs even after follow up calls the police never came. Even at least 3 cruisers passed by in that time.

Answer 8

I'll admit being in the US I don't know all that happens with UK law enforcement (hell I don't even know all about our own!) but I really can't see how a shortage of officers is an excuse. I wouldn't attack the officers on duty if they were all rightly on cases, but as the ex-officer said, there should be many more people on a shift than there obviously were if everyone was busy. In the end I'm just glad you took action yourself and that your mother is ok. Best of luck if you decide to file a complaint.

Answer 9

I echo all the UK replies particularly that of the ex policeman. Please ensure that your complaint is in writing and preferably sent recorded delivery. Send it to the chief officer at your local force and copy the letter to the Chief Constable.
If your local media are on the ball include them in.
Your local council will have representation on the local Police Liaison committee, so give the Council a call and find out who that person is and speak to them.
I am heartily sick of the Police's inability to respond to vulnerable or elderly people who live alone. We all pay a large police precept as part of our local tax so we should have a say in how this is spent!

Answer 10

This is your time to take action. I would suggest a very calm complaint to the Police Department. I would also contact your local media the State Attorney General and The local District Attorney. When doing so, do not rant, but simply state the facts of your position and let things take their course. A Squeaky Wheel gets the grease.
Glad Your Mom is Okay!

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