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tino2479
Original Poster
73 posts
13 months
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not cop bashing here...but......why is it always mate, fella, bud with them...surly respect breeds respect?
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Extra 300 Driver
5,153 posts
115 months
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I know what you mean, always sir or madam from me
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tino2479
Original Poster
73 posts
13 months
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maybe its modern policing to go with the t-shirts and baseball caps?
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CraigMST
2,831 posts
34 months
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Extra 300 Driver said: I know what you mean, always sir or madam from me Why sir? :S They aren't superior to us when we are pulled over etc so I don't understand why they'd need to be spoken to in that manner. I understand speaking politely but nobody gets called Sir by me.
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tino2479
Original Poster
73 posts
13 months
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maybe its the ex military in me or just the way i was brought up but even a stranger on the street who is older than me gets called sir, maam when say opening a door or the likes.
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Papa Hotel
9,432 posts
51 months
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Zwolf
22,321 posts
75 months
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To date I've always found that they address me as sir, in turn I address them as officer. Once my name has been given, they tend to use Mr. Zwolf - and I still use officer, despite usually being able to see their name and rank. I haven't encountered "mate" or other informal term of address from one of them yet and would be a bit surprised if I did. tino2479 said: surly respect  Often apt.
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randlemarcus
8,719 posts
100 months
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It's quite odd when you think about it. The stereotypical Yoof demands respect without having earnt it, and the way we'd like to think of the Police (Dixon of Dock Green) gives respect until its proven not to have been earnt.
I would prefer to be addressed as Sir, on the whole.
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krisdelta
1,786 posts
70 months
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Not sure I've ever been called mate / bud by a Police officer. Perhaps they are simply trying to pick appropriate langauge for the audience at the time?
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Zad
8,705 posts
105 months
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They are public servants, why should they not refer to us, at least initially, as sir/madam? It helps get off on the right foot.
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lazygraduand
1,510 posts
30 months
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I try to be respectful and polite with everyone I speak to, police officers included. Don't see any reason not to to be honest, and I'd expect them to show me the same respect if they had any reason to speak to me.
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Steamer
8,848 posts
82 months
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Thats fine with me.
Only concerns me when they address me with 'OI!!!... get out of those bushes!!!'
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harry010
4,315 posts
56 months
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Mojooo
7,283 posts
49 months
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Because for the vast mjaority of people its more likely to feel less formal and put them at least.
Depending on who they are talking to, i.e someone half their age, it may also come across as condescending (certainly for Sir, IMO).
Mind you I woudln't use those kind of words on first meeting either but then again most of my meetings dont involve potential conflict.
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Glosphil
2,069 posts
103 months
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The only run in I have had with the police (suspected drink-driving - I wasn't) one of the police officers kept calling me Charlie even after I had given my full name (NOT Charlie).
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Ki3r
1,594 posts
28 months
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I'll start with Sir/Madam when I don't know their name, then when I do I'll ask if its OK to call them 'Joe/Beth' etc.
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Merlin28
653 posts
17 months
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I have always been called sir and always called them officer. I did get in trouble once when i called a female officer WPC but she was large and butch so mabe she prefered officer to reflect her geezerbird looks. Apparently WPC is not politically correct for Surrey Police it's Police officer, i couldn't care less myself I didn't think it was condesending.
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BlackVanDyke
8,026 posts
80 months
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Merlin28 said: I have always been called sir and always called them officer. I did get in trouble once when i called a female officer WPC but she was large and butch so mabe she prefered officer to reflect her geezerbird looks. Apparently WPC is not politically correct for Surrey Police it's Police officer, i couldn't care less myself I didn't think it was condesending. It doesn't exist any more, and I think hasn't for quite some time, so it's not unreasonable for them to prefer not to be referred to by it! They're all just PCs, there's no separate role, rank or title just 'cos they've got a snatch - as it should be.
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Kinky
31,989 posts
138 months
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covboy
1,341 posts
43 months
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Ki3r said: I'll start with Sir/Madam when I don't know their name, then when I do I'll ask if its OK to call them 'Joe/Beth' etc. If its Paul Simon you can call him Al Bet your tempted to call anyone named Rodney - "Dave" 
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