The police...have your experiences with them been generally positive, or negative?

Question

Please say where you are from and where any incidents took place.

Answer 1

I am from buckinghamshire.
My friends and i were leaving a local nightclub when a man started attacking a woman, the police were on the scene in seconds. I commented to my friend that the incident had been dealt with really well.
A young policeman, standing near us said to me " i could arrest you for that".
"For what"? I replied "standing on a pavement"?.
He then persisted in telling me that i would be arrested.
I replied " ok, arrest me, we will see what my uncle has to say about it". ( My uncle is a DCI).
To which he replied " name dropping now are we"?
"No" I answered " if i was going to do that i would have said his name wouldn't i"?.
He told me to be on my way, i was actually waiting in the queue for a taxi. I did think he was an opinionated little t***.

Answer 2

I've been a victim of crime 5 times. Got knocked of my bike by an uninsured driver, a theft of my bike, a stolen car, hit and run on my car that was parked on the street and a theft from my vehicle.

Of all these times, the reports were dealt with promptly, professionally and courteously. They did all the relevant paperwork and explained things clearly to me. The only time I had a 'bad' experience was last year when I had a theft from my car and they never contacted me after the crime was reported so I never knew what happened. This was unacceptable because of what I do for a living but no organisation can get it right all the time.

I personally try to make sure that everyone has a good experience of the Police when they come into contact with them. In my experience, the majority of people thank the officer who has dealt with them for whatever reason, be it a ticket for a traffic offence, a crime report or even having been arrested for an offence. This however isn't always possible, as you can't please everyone. No matter how hard you try you always upset someone, even if you've done everything right.

Answer 3

I've had both. To me, it seems the green cops are bursting at the seams, ready to give tickets, tazer and raise hell.

The oldest ones have already seen comrades getting killed in street justice incidents, and even seen a few citizen complaints go in personnel records. At that level, they acquired the skills to deal with the public and realize that violating civil rights and covering for those who do, is not the solution to work in a community.

Answer 4

I live in Devon I have been involved in a botched investigation by the Police involving 60+ forged cremation documents. There is only one CID Officer that I have found helpful and supportive, the others were useless, hence a formal complaint regarding their ineptitude and incompetence.

Answer 5

I am from Derry and the incidents occurred in various places in the six. I would not say the experiences were positive at all.

Answer 6

Both negative and positive depending on the individual and circumstances. I live in London and have met officers that are curteous,humourous and supportive have also met officers that are aggressive,insulting and racist, Just like the rest of the population I suppose.

Answer 7

originally from Russia but moved to UK, more negative experiences than positive
arrested for assault after defending myself in late 2004, despite being attacked by a gang of 8 young hooligans, still arrested.
arrested (falsely) for possession of firearms and ammunition in 2005
repeated reports to police of crimes occurring whilst working, no follow up. I think theyre useless, police back home more effective despite being brutal and corrupt at least they take on the criminals!!

Answer 8

positive, of course.
They are normally professional and nice, they do a stressful job. I never had a bad experience ( although yes, i did get stopped many many years ago, because i was driving too close, so they told me off) .

I work with them now( although not in the police myself), i see them every day and they no longer intimidate me, however, if they stopped me for speeding i would be very embarassed.....

Answer 9

I live in Bluff city Tn.. The judges in Bristol and the cops are on the take for drug money, so if you cross one of their Drug runners you get arrested even if they have beat, threatened your children and gang beat your 100 pd wife. I know .they arrested my son and his wife for defending three teenage girls, the neighbor threatened to kill. The neighbor was one of their "friends"" He has had 93 warrents since the age of 16, bullied the neighborhood and harassed one policeman so bad, he had to move.If you called the Bluff City police on this neighbor, the victim gets arrested! He has put three families in emotional, financial and physical ruin. We are still waiting and going back to court for over ayear and half, delay after delay The neighbor is now in prison for three attempted murder charges and rape but they have yet to drop charges against us the victims..You would not believe our ten typed pages of horror stories. So yes our experience has been very negative.

Answer 10

ive never had any bad experiences but my sister has,her ex-husband kidnapped her son..literaly took him from her house,and she was in the hospital at the time very ill,anyway when she went to get him back they arrested her,and she had never been in trouble with the law before,to make a long story short she was still recuperating from being in the hospital with diabetes and the officer said you ought to have your a** kicked he refused to let her take care of her diabetes etc.. ,the whole thing was because he was friends with her ex...they were so tacky and horrible to my sister..she finally got a lawyer and got her son back...but here in this part of Texas theres no way you can go up against law enforcement...