Losing faith in the Law
Discussion
On the contrary I think the police get a pretty balanced time of it here. Thanks to contributions from Madcop, Relaxitscool, John Robson etc, we get to see what it's like from their perspective and probably have a greater appreciation for the position they're in than most forums would give credit for.
True, Peter, but at it grows, PH is becoming more & more a cross section of society and therefore to some degree, a reflection of broader public sentiment. True, people shouln't blame the police for a lot of things they do, but being the public face of law enforcement in this country, it's bound to happen that they cop some (sometmies unjustified) flack for upholding laws that make us angry or disappointed.
Besides, we're not all guilty of this.. I consider myself to be amongst those that value the contribution of a few notable police officers to PH. So let's not tar all PHers with the same brush, now..
Besides, we're not all guilty of this.. I consider myself to be amongst those that value the contribution of a few notable police officers to PH. So let's not tar all PHers with the same brush, now..
Blimey!
Fulham though, bit dodgy at the moment (for all you Italian Job fans). 'Er indoors got mugged on our doorstep for her mobile phone last year.
I agree with Ted though coppers should be an imposing presence on the street. On the London news last night (I think it was that) they were talking to a newly qualified bobby who was walking the beat on Brick Lane.
He was explaining why he was wearing a long coat. Not as you would first expect to keep the elements out but apparently to cover up his handcuffs, truncheon and CS gas spray so people wouldnt feel intimidated. Funny, I thought that was the idea?
Matt.
Fulham though, bit dodgy at the moment (for all you Italian Job fans). 'Er indoors got mugged on our doorstep for her mobile phone last year.
I agree with Ted though coppers should be an imposing presence on the street. On the London news last night (I think it was that) they were talking to a newly qualified bobby who was walking the beat on Brick Lane.
He was explaining why he was wearing a long coat. Not as you would first expect to keep the elements out but apparently to cover up his handcuffs, truncheon and CS gas spray so people wouldnt feel intimidated. Funny, I thought that was the idea?
Matt.
Cant see that being the solution really, perhaps more Armed Response cars but I cant see every bobby having a gun will do any good. Its so easy to buy a gun these days it would just promote more and more nutters into carrying them I think.
Question is, what else could be a deterrent? The prison system is somewhat overcrowded and an tax payers nightmare due to the cost. I've said it before and will say it again, put the buggers to work and hard work at that.
Matt.
Question is, what else could be a deterrent? The prison system is somewhat overcrowded and an tax payers nightmare due to the cost. I've said it before and will say it again, put the buggers to work and hard work at that.
Matt.
The solution is simple really, coppers on the beat and out of the patrol cars.A commonly seen, visual presence is needed to remind the scroats they can't get away with it, not just a police presence that reacts to the crime once it has occured, and imho one that reacts half heartedly....for whatever reason.
I found myself in A&E last night when a RTA came in. Turns out it was 18 year old kids who'd been racing their Max Power specials "for the keys" and it had gone wrong. A (used to be) very beautiful 18 year old blonde girl smashed into the windscreen of her boyfriends car at approximately 100 mph. Not a pretty sight. Another girl had to be cut out of her car. One driver had only just insured his car last week having driven round uninsured for a month. His colleages were laughing about their friend who had lost control of his car last week and ploughed straight into a brand new Alfa Romeo.
The police have to try and sort out these situations everyday. So I think respect is most definitely due.
The police have to try and sort out these situations everyday. So I think respect is most definitely due.
why would they have any respect when the police - or a citizen cannot touch them without being counter sued or at the very least investigated for assault similar.
If you are confronted by a system that defends law breakers but continually accuses enforcement or the law abiding - surely this type of behaviour is no surprise.
If you are confronted by a system that defends law breakers but continually accuses enforcement or the law abiding - surely this type of behaviour is no surprise.
I live down the road from a police station and aside from the constant wailing of sirens I do occasionally see plod walking down the road. However, it's not a burly bloke who I wouldn't consider messing with, it's a scrawny, short bloke. Whilst I have respect for the law, I can't help just looking at him and thinking his physical presence doesn't command any respect at all. It's a simple thing but pathetic looking policement don't do much for plod's image. I've not been concious of this abroad, what are the rules elsewhere in Europe?
We also had a bunch of paramilitary style plod around here the other day in their meat wagon. I wouldn't mess with them. I also remember the City riots and walking down Bishopsgate to see lines of riot vans with big blokes in scary looking boiler suits and boots. They looked like they meant business. That's what the police should look like.
We also had a bunch of paramilitary style plod around here the other day in their meat wagon. I wouldn't mess with them. I also remember the City riots and walking down Bishopsgate to see lines of riot vans with big blokes in scary looking boiler suits and boots. They looked like they meant business. That's what the police should look like.
quote:
I don't see much respect for the police in Pistonheads either.
Must differ on this - the decent ones we all seem to have a lot of respect for, it's the others that we don't. The guys on here seem pretty well balanced, eventhough I know I am guilty of disliking most of the service - I shouldn't, because they have a valid job to do. Not their fault if they have to enforce stupid pointless laws.
Just every now and then you get to meet a bad 'un. It is very easy to have your views soured by one bad encounter. All too easy.
However, from personal experience, the last Traffic cop I spoke to at the scene of a friends accident was a real nice bloke - I'd buy him a pint any day of the week for being so considerate.
Now respect for the *law* ? that's a different issue. Police aren't the law, they are law enforcers, and community guardians with a sense of civic pride and the motivation to make things better (but I guess some get jaded after a few years).
Why'd you think I nearly signed up?? I wanted to make things better.
quote:
I don't see much respect for the police in Pistonheads either.
I also disagree with this. Having been a person that has many discussions with the police on this forum some of them very long (relaxitscool
). I do believe there is actually a lot of mutual respect going on. You may be confusing the anger at stupid laws with anger towards/lack of respect of police officers. There is a key difference I have a lot of respect for police officers who I believe often get the sh*ty end of the stick but I don't have a lot of respect for some of the laws in this country.
I have to agree with Smeagol on this subject, respect the police until an individual proves themself unworthy of respect, some of the laws are a bit of a joke at times.
On the subject of burly or not, Hungary does not appear to operate a 'size matters' policy, there are some very scrawny looking individuals (including some of the females). However, since they all carry sidearms I would not like to mess with any of them, unless at a shooting range in a competition.
On the subject of burly or not, Hungary does not appear to operate a 'size matters' policy, there are some very scrawny looking individuals (including some of the females). However, since they all carry sidearms I would not like to mess with any of them, unless at a shooting range in a competition.
Sort of agree with Ted on this one, we need a police force with a better reputation but also with some back up.
When I were a lad (oi, it wasnt THAT long ago) if you did something wrong you got grief from plod then taken home and got grief again from your parents, these days it seems that plod cannot give the scroats grief and when they do get hom the parents give plod even more grief because their little Johnny wouldnt hurt a fly. Lets get back to the days when plod could give a scroat a clip around the ear and nip the bad behaviour in the bud.
The other thing that really gets me is prison sentences - why should you get time off for good behaviour when it was bad behaviour that got you in there? What they should do is ADD ON time if they play up - when someone gets sentenced to 20 years they should serve 20 years - how can you have respect for a system that thinks 20 years is about 8 years with good behaviour? If they only want to keep them in for 8 years then sentence them to 8 years - and if they do something wrong then increase their time.
We seem to be too soft on criminals - think of this, do we send them to prison to punish them or to re-habilitate them? I don't think it is either (they think it is for rehab but it doesnt work) I think we SHOULD send them to prison for punishment - and make it hard work like chain gangs - that way we would get some of the roads mended as well!!
Vote for MB. - the harsh voice on crime
When I were a lad (oi, it wasnt THAT long ago) if you did something wrong you got grief from plod then taken home and got grief again from your parents, these days it seems that plod cannot give the scroats grief and when they do get hom the parents give plod even more grief because their little Johnny wouldnt hurt a fly. Lets get back to the days when plod could give a scroat a clip around the ear and nip the bad behaviour in the bud.
The other thing that really gets me is prison sentences - why should you get time off for good behaviour when it was bad behaviour that got you in there? What they should do is ADD ON time if they play up - when someone gets sentenced to 20 years they should serve 20 years - how can you have respect for a system that thinks 20 years is about 8 years with good behaviour? If they only want to keep them in for 8 years then sentence them to 8 years - and if they do something wrong then increase their time.
We seem to be too soft on criminals - think of this, do we send them to prison to punish them or to re-habilitate them? I don't think it is either (they think it is for rehab but it doesnt work) I think we SHOULD send them to prison for punishment - and make it hard work like chain gangs - that way we would get some of the roads mended as well!!
Vote for MB. - the harsh voice on crime
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