How well do our resident BiB know the law?
Discussion
I've read quite a few responses here on PH where the police officers seem to quote very specific paragraphs about traffic offences, etc. For example, on [url]this|http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=203358&f=10&h=0[/url] thread DwightVanDriver quotes 2 sections from a road traffic act, there are many more examples on lots of threads where BiB are very precise with their answers.
My question is how much of this is from memory? Is it just a case of using the same phrases day after day so it gets ingrained in memory, or do you have an electronic document you can copy and paste from?
I'm not ungrateful that you lot are this precise, I'm just curious!
My question is how much of this is from memory? Is it just a case of using the same phrases day after day so it gets ingrained in memory, or do you have an electronic document you can copy and paste from?
I'm not ungrateful that you lot are this precise, I'm just curious!
Ok I will let you into my secret.
I am a venerable plod, i.e. one who did his 30, no bad back or stomach, during which time I served some 23 years on and off traffic on various rungs of the ladder. It was my forte, I loved traffic and the job.
In retirement I try and keep up with traffic matters and to assist have a number of books including Traffic Officers Companion and Stone's Justice Manual (The legal profession's Bible) circa 2001. Through the wonders of the Web I can access all Acts and Regulations passed in the last ten years and check daily for anything new of which a note is made in my Law Note Book..
I also have Ploddaughter but she is mainly into General policing and not Traffic minded like Dad.
With the biologocal clock fast approaching midnight the memory isn't as good as it used to be but from seed planted in questions on the forum can lead to an outline of what is what and a plant by research. I appreciate these as it keeps the grey box working.
I try to give the authority where possible as misinformation does no good.
My one regret is that serving Bib can be restricted by various force policies on what they can say as it can be construed as Force policy, which isn't the case. Certain MOP cannot distinguish personal thought from policy. Also at times I feel maybe I inhibit their input because I come on every day almost whereas their duties do not permit the amount of time I have available. This is the last thing I want.
So there my bones are bare.......
dvd
I am a venerable plod, i.e. one who did his 30, no bad back or stomach, during which time I served some 23 years on and off traffic on various rungs of the ladder. It was my forte, I loved traffic and the job.
In retirement I try and keep up with traffic matters and to assist have a number of books including Traffic Officers Companion and Stone's Justice Manual (The legal profession's Bible) circa 2001. Through the wonders of the Web I can access all Acts and Regulations passed in the last ten years and check daily for anything new of which a note is made in my Law Note Book..
I also have Ploddaughter but she is mainly into General policing and not Traffic minded like Dad.
With the biologocal clock fast approaching midnight the memory isn't as good as it used to be but from seed planted in questions on the forum can lead to an outline of what is what and a plant by research. I appreciate these as it keeps the grey box working.
I try to give the authority where possible as misinformation does no good.
My one regret is that serving Bib can be restricted by various force policies on what they can say as it can be construed as Force policy, which isn't the case. Certain MOP cannot distinguish personal thought from policy. Also at times I feel maybe I inhibit their input because I come on every day almost whereas their duties do not permit the amount of time I have available. This is the last thing I want.
So there my bones are bare.......
dvd
I am also plod (and in about 6 months will retire and get my Porsche). Yes when I started we learnt the law by heart. (The bit about accidents starts "When, owing to the presence of a motor vehicle on the road, damage or injury is caused to......" and it goes on and on) but without knowing the law how can you enforce it?
Unlike DvD I am not and never have been a Traffic Cop, I have been more GPD (General Police Duties) and highly trained within my own specialism - disaster management.
Many people will say "its not right" but if there is no law to say its wrong Police may agree with the comment but say "but its not illegal" - anti-social but not illegal is one of the problems we have now and unfortunately the Government seems to want to make new laws at the drop of a hat.
Unlike DvD I am not and never have been a Traffic Cop, I have been more GPD (General Police Duties) and highly trained within my own specialism - disaster management.
Many people will say "its not right" but if there is no law to say its wrong Police may agree with the comment but say "but its not illegal" - anti-social but not illegal is one of the problems we have now and unfortunately the Government seems to want to make new laws at the drop of a hat.
- StreakyDwight VanDriver said:
Ok I will let you into my secret.
Nah... he's fooled you all again.
DVD is really an Artificial Intelligence program running on this
in Ted's spare room... 
But seriously, hats off to all the PH BiB who contribute far more to the positive PR of their forces than any desk bound meedja liaison bod ever can.
I'd like to think I have a reasonable knowledge of Criminal Law. Thing is, it is easy to get out of date. When you sit exams for promotion to Sergeant and Inspector you have to really know your stuff accross 4 areas; traffic, general police duties, evidence and procedure and crime. In reality an Officer will only actually use a fraction of this law on a day to day basis.
Having sat (and passed!) both Inspectors and Sergeants exams my knowledge is perhaps better than avaerage, but in my current HQ role I use just about none of it, so I still try and keep up to date with law changes as DVD says.
Having sat (and passed!) both Inspectors and Sergeants exams my knowledge is perhaps better than avaerage, but in my current HQ role I use just about none of it, so I still try and keep up to date with law changes as DVD says.
Succinctly stated xxxplod. (Try saying that with a marf of pearlies)
The amount of law that public expect Plod to know and maintain in his head is tremendous and cannot sadly be achieved.
Unlike Plod up to his R's in alligators and having to bring a bit of legislation to mind, a Brief enjoys the calm and comfort of his Office surrounded by All England Law Reports etc and maybe a couple of Legal Execs to do his research and then starts hurling bricks.
So PH'ers remember this when the poor sod does make a mistake.........
dvd
The amount of law that public expect Plod to know and maintain in his head is tremendous and cannot sadly be achieved.
Unlike Plod up to his R's in alligators and having to bring a bit of legislation to mind, a Brief enjoys the calm and comfort of his Office surrounded by All England Law Reports etc and maybe a couple of Legal Execs to do his research and then starts hurling bricks.
So PH'ers remember this when the poor sod does make a mistake.........
dvd
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