Police Complaints At Record Levels. I Don't Get It.
Discussion
As a bit of a hooligan and scrapper as a yoof, a boy racer, a Barry Sheen wanabee, a front line soldier in the Scottish Ice Cream Wars, and a build professional who had no choice but to interact with some very "interesting" security providers I have had the misfortune to deal (or rather be dealt with) with the police on an ongoing basis for many years. My observation is that over the years their behaviour, professionalism, levels of politeness and self control are all considerably better that they were in the late 70s, 1980s and early 1990s.
This being the case I'm very surprised at the fact the levels of complaints against the Police have reached record highs. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-31089413
What's going on?
This being the case I'm very surprised at the fact the levels of complaints against the Police have reached record highs. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-31089413
What's going on?
My personal take on this is 'the media' is what's happened.
The UK media reports every negative thing they can ever get their hands on. As a result the general 'I believe everything I'm told by the papers' public have seen an increase in the number of reported wrongdoings by police and this then colours their judgement of them. (Awaits the 'yeah but Ian Tomlinson, yeah but lying abt the politician' argument). I don't imagine the large decrease in the number of actual police over this period has helped either.
I've also had a goodly number of interactions with ze Babylon over the years.....and my view is broadly very positive and generally the same as yours (it's got progressively better). I'm always amused by the negative attitudes held by people who have had nothing much to do with them but still have their view (which can only be based on stuff they've heard or read).
The UK media reports every negative thing they can ever get their hands on. As a result the general 'I believe everything I'm told by the papers' public have seen an increase in the number of reported wrongdoings by police and this then colours their judgement of them. (Awaits the 'yeah but Ian Tomlinson, yeah but lying abt the politician' argument). I don't imagine the large decrease in the number of actual police over this period has helped either.
I've also had a goodly number of interactions with ze Babylon over the years.....and my view is broadly very positive and generally the same as yours (it's got progressively better). I'm always amused by the negative attitudes held by people who have had nothing much to do with them but still have their view (which can only be based on stuff they've heard or read).
Every complaint is now considered and recorded.
Where as in the past, the more obvious lies weren't recorded or disregarded.
I read somewhere that 86% of the 34k weren't up held and I'd guess the vast majority of those that were never got further than informal action.
It's also worth remembering some members of the public the police deal with complain about every officer they come into contact with, even if they have no real issue. Strangely enough, some people also lie about their experiences with the police... Imagine that.
Though that shouldn't detract from the real complaints made against officers who need to be dealt with.
Though funnily enough, dispute what certain media outlets would have you believe are a tiny tiny minority who are often found out and disposed of. As they should be.
Though with the rise of the number of body worn cameras, the number will probably drop as people realise how soon they will be disproved if they are false accusations.
Where as in the past, the more obvious lies weren't recorded or disregarded.
I read somewhere that 86% of the 34k weren't up held and I'd guess the vast majority of those that were never got further than informal action.
It's also worth remembering some members of the public the police deal with complain about every officer they come into contact with, even if they have no real issue. Strangely enough, some people also lie about their experiences with the police... Imagine that.
Though that shouldn't detract from the real complaints made against officers who need to be dealt with.
Though funnily enough, dispute what certain media outlets would have you believe are a tiny tiny minority who are often found out and disposed of. As they should be.
Though with the rise of the number of body worn cameras, the number will probably drop as people realise how soon they will be disproved if they are false accusations.
If every complaint is recorded why do some people have to appeal against an IPCC decision to not record?
Northumbria had more complaints than any other force. Shame their PCC was so vocal about Ched Evans. You'd think they'd have more than enough going on within their police force without going out looking for work. In their defence they have pointed out what a Noddy role the PCC one is as they're not allowed to discipline officers.
Northumbria had more complaints than any other force. Shame their PCC was so vocal about Ched Evans. You'd think they'd have more than enough going on within their police force without going out looking for work. In their defence they have pointed out what a Noddy role the PCC one is as they're not allowed to discipline officers.
Tannedbaldhead said:
As a bit of a hooligan and scrapper as a yoof, a boy racer, a Barry Sheen wanabee, a front line soldier in the Scottish Ice Cream Wars, and a build professional who had no choice but to interact with some very "interesting" security providers I have had the misfortune to deal (or rather be dealt with) with the police on an ongoing basis for many years. My observation is that over the years their behaviour, professionalism, levels of politeness and self control are all considerably better that they were in the late 70s, 1980s and early 1990s.
This being the case I'm very surprised at the fact the levels of complaints against the Police have reached record highs. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-31089413
What's going on?
What's happened is that you will be listened to & your complaint looked into now, where as that wouldn't have always been the case in tester year. In short people think there is actually a point in complaining now, so more will do it.This being the case I'm very surprised at the fact the levels of complaints against the Police have reached record highs. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-31089413
What's going on?
Elroy Blue said:
Body worn cameras will protect against the many thousands of malicious complaints (that the usual suspects pretend don't happen). They can't come soon enough.
Having been through the mill a few times after bulls
t complaints I'll happily wear one.I had nothing to hide but actual video evidence of what happened would have had the complaint filed at source and the complainant sent away with some sage advice about making s
t up. Elroy Blue said:
Body worn cameras will protect against the many thousands of malicious complaints (that the usual suspects pretend don't happen). They can't come soon enough.
Not so sure about this. We've been waiting 12 months for video and audio of an arrest that took place inside a newly built ultra mordern police station.ICO involvement but still nothing. Now a claim has been filed they will be compelled to produce but we are expecting a "video/audio file was corrupted" reply even though we have a sergeant on record saying he had viewed the video.
Bigends said:
Not sure why body worn cameras havent been rolled out nationally yet - my lot have had them for a while now - enough to go round even for some PCSO's
Money I would imagine and the need to update our antiquated computers so we can download any footage and have the capability to burn it to disc.... which we currently cant do with still images from a digital camera as we don't have CD-R drives ir computers that let you plug external devices in...great eh?There would need to be trials and then procurement and all the usual blah that's more complicated than using one that other forces have already trialled.
Its a joke really when you think about it.
Greendubber said:
Money I would imagine and the need to update our antiquated computers so we can download any footage and have the capability to burn it to disc.... which we currently cant do with still images from a digital camera as we don't have CD-R drives ir computers that let you plug external devices in...great eh?
There would need to be trials and then procurement and all the usual blah that's more complicated than using one that other forces have already trialled.
Its a joke really when you think about it.
Always been the way unfortunately, forces prioritise on different spending. Ours is off the shelf stuff having used a couple of others - on third generation of cameras now- instructions and guidance for for use are all on the force intranet so little or no training required. Download at the end of a shift and forget. Book in properly if its likely to be used in evidence. There would need to be trials and then procurement and all the usual blah that's more complicated than using one that other forces have already trialled.
Its a joke really when you think about it.
Greendubber said:
I had nothing to hide but actual video evidence of what happened would have had the complaint filed at source and the complainant sent away with some sage advice about making st up.
I'm sure that his side of the story was different, though. The truth is usually somewhere in the middle.t up. I look forward to their widespread use providing that the footage doesn't miraculously disappear when convenient. Joe Public has a lot of video capability, though.
Rovinghawk said:
I'm sure that his side of the story was different, though. The truth is usually somewhere in the middle.
I look forward to their widespread use providing that the footage doesn't miraculously disappear when convenient. Joe Public has a lot of video capability, though.
The truth was exactly as per my account as his account was pure bI look forward to their widespread use providing that the footage doesn't miraculously disappear when convenient. Joe Public has a lot of video capability, though.
ks which happened to be backed up by 2 members of the public that were located and spoken to as a result of him making his 'complaint'. vonhosen said:
What's happened is that you will be listened to & your complaint looked into ....
Couple of years ago an officer stopped an ambulance leaving the scene of a car accident. The paramedics, after asking him three times to , had to remove him from the ambulance to get my wife to hospital.
I made a complaint and was told, very quickly, that because I had made a complaint against a particular officer and they didn't consider that he had done anything wrong the matter was closed.
So, effectively, what they said is that stopping an ambulance taking someone with potentially life changing injuries to hospital is fine.
Von, thats why I put the
Greendubber said:
The truth was exactly as per my account
I didn't realise you were the most honest & accurate person in the world. I obviously retract any suggestion that you might have been in any way at fault.I further accept that no policeman has ever been other than perfect & the complaints about them are entirely fictitious.
Rovinghawk said:
I didn't realise you were the most honest & accurate person in the world. I obviously retract any suggestion that you might have been in any way at fault.
I further accept that no policeman has ever been other than perfect & the complaints about them are entirely fictitious.
You really do get boring. It BEGS the question as to why you bother coming on SP&L. I further accept that no policeman has ever been other than perfect & the complaints about them are entirely fictitious.
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