nobody is saying we could do better, we pay taxes and the government sorts it for us. I wouldn't be chosen to be a police officer anyway, so the old "do it yourself then" is really irrelevant. Like everyone else who pays taxes, we EXPECT to get what we are forced to pay for, and that includes protection in the form of the police and the law. We don't expect unfairness, persecution and no protection. I don't expect to be treated badly by police officers, just because THEY tar me with the same brush as twats who break the law.
increasingly I think, people don't feel protected anymore. I find a lot of people generally feel the police aren't there to help, that the police aren't interested in "youre petty problem". Like getting your house burgled...the police don't give a shit, there is always an excuse. Every crime is less bad than the next. Petty crime affect so many people for example, and it shakes some people up, but I fail to see how being burgled or having your car nicked is petty crime these days-and that's what I have heard a lot of police officers in our area think. Like if I go out and get smacked in the face, then report it to the police, I have NO DOUBT nothing will be done, the excuse will certainly be "there is nothing we can do" AND if I videoed it, id probably get arrested for videoing it without the assailants consent.
Actually you are not tarred with the same brush as the scumbags, that's just utter cobblers. And I never met a bobby who thought people had "Petty" problems except the ones who really did have non Police related problems. Please remember there are people out there that are just attention seekers too.
Yes, you've heard it all before and no you won't believe it but I'm gonna say it anyway because I know it to be true. There are places and times when there are next to no Police available. Would it shock you to know that one new years eve I was the only Bobby working ? Yes, New years eve when people get drunk and there are lots of domestics. Did I have to be very careful knowing that my backup was at least 10-15 minutes away and in that time I could easily get a good hiding. You're damn right I did, but I couldn't just hide in the station you know !
I did my fair share of attending, investigating and catching criminals and I did my fair share of ticketing motorists and I'm not ashamed of it. I literally arrested hundreds of people in the fairly short time I was a copper.
I dealt with accidents, sudden deaths, death messages, burglars, murderers, people beaten up and a fantastic number of domestics, kids causing nuisance and missing people and one dog locked in a boiling car !
I helped people with directions, I gave first aid, I even got people into cars they'd locked themselves out of.
I spent many of my hours on nights out of my car sneaking round looking for burglars and catching them I might add. And I also got assaulted many times.
I put up with scumbags sitting opposite my house intimidating my wife just by being there.
I was never petty, I did a damn good job and I loved helping people that's one of the reasons I joined and why I got out because I couldn't do that properly anymore. I took many people to court who basically got off with a slap on the wrist and I'm talking burglars thieves and thugs here. But do I hear of anyone on here sayig that magistrates/courts/punishment guidelines are poor?
The job is a mostly thankless task but along with the unpleasant memories I still have the good ones, of walking round in shirtsleeves in summer chatting to people who loved to see a bobby on the beat ( I walked many miles ) and the thrill of the chase and bringing criminals in and the camerarderie.
And I know how the argument goes, if you are so busy/undermanned how come you have time to ticket innocent motorists ? I'm not saying that there isn't a minute ever free from other duties, but picture this, what if we said ok no one is gonna bother with road traffic law anymore? Just get on with it and do your own thing. That wouldn't work out so well.
Complain all you want but remember they are there in the backgrond 24 hours a day often watching us as and our families as we all sleep and will put their lives on the line for you if necessary, if only there were more bobbies, less paperwork and no ridiculous government targets. Try also to remember they are human beings and most of them are trying to do a job with enormous restrictions on how they do it.
Anyway, I've been here before and I know the usual outcome of the discussion and most of you will be saying blah blah blah.
