Public - police relations improving?
Discussion
I'm a police officer and have been for around 13 or so years. In that time I have seen the relationship between the public and the police worsen.
However I have been on duty the last two days.
A child, encouraged by her parents crossed the road to high-five me earlier.
The public have waved and smiled.
People have stopped and chatted to us.
Someone even thanked us for "what your do" while I was buying a sandwich.
There has been bags of haribo handed in for us at the station by a youngster.
Is this because of Manchester? Is it better PR on our part? Or is it just the sun?
The feeling of support by the public has been great and long may it continue.
If you have smiled, waved, nodded or interacted positively with cops then thanks. We appreciate it.
However I have been on duty the last two days.
A child, encouraged by her parents crossed the road to high-five me earlier.
The public have waved and smiled.
People have stopped and chatted to us.
Someone even thanked us for "what your do" while I was buying a sandwich.
There has been bags of haribo handed in for us at the station by a youngster.
Is this because of Manchester? Is it better PR on our part? Or is it just the sun?
The feeling of support by the public has been great and long may it continue.
If you have smiled, waved, nodded or interacted positively with cops then thanks. We appreciate it.
darren9 said:
I thought as much. But it's quite nice.
I agree its awesome, we've been doing pretty much 15hr days which has been brutal. I dont really think all of the public hate us but it is nice that most people are grateful and supportive at the moment. It'll business as usual soon enough!
darren9 said:
I'm a police officer and have been for around 13 or so years. In that time I have seen the relationship between the public and the police worsen.
However I have been on duty the last two days.
A child, encouraged by her parents crossed the road to high-five me earlier.
The public have waved and smiled.
People have stopped and chatted to us.
Someone even thanked us for "what your do" while I was buying a sandwich.
There has been bags of haribo handed in for us at the station by a youngster.
Is this because of Manchester? Is it better PR on our part? Or is it just the sun?
The feeling of support by the public has been great and long may it continue.
If you have smiled, waved, nodded or interacted positively with cops then thanks. We appreciate it.
Long may it continue.However I have been on duty the last two days.
A child, encouraged by her parents crossed the road to high-five me earlier.
The public have waved and smiled.
People have stopped and chatted to us.
Someone even thanked us for "what your do" while I was buying a sandwich.
There has been bags of haribo handed in for us at the station by a youngster.
Is this because of Manchester? Is it better PR on our part? Or is it just the sun?
The feeling of support by the public has been great and long may it continue.
If you have smiled, waved, nodded or interacted positively with cops then thanks. We appreciate it.
Greendubber said:
Its because of Manchester.
Give it a week and the media and public will hate us again.
I disagree. No one I personally know has a dim view of the fuzz with most holding the front line officers & PCSO's in high esteem. Give it a week and the media and public will hate us again.
Various levels of the "management" however, not so much.
For the record, I've had personal experience of being stitched up like a kipper but the overwhelming balance has all been good.
On the other hand, slaaags will always be slaaags.
Part of this is down to the public now actually seeing cops out on foot, engaging with the public again - something that hasnt happened regularly for a few years now. The public would always generally say hallo and were happy to chat and pass the time of day in the past.
Edited by Bigends on Sunday 28th May 21:59
Manchester has made any decent person more 'aware', so it isn't a sudden PR campaign or anything, it'll be Manchester. Friday I was by the river having lunch and the police presence was immediately apparent. Literally every section of the city centre had a pair of officers, and there were marked cars buzzing about all day.
As I was chomping on a submarine sandwich, goading the swans who clearly wanted a nibble, 2 officers walked past and one said 'afternoon' and just enquired if I was OK. Quick as a flash I said yeah, fine - more importantly are YOU ok? I hope that made his day, it's pretty obvious to most rational humans that after the Westminster attacks, and now manchester, they put their life on the line.
I'm often able to view things from other peoples perspectives and dealing with the public is soul destroying at best. Underneath that uniform is a fellow human being and it costs nothing to be nice.
As I was chomping on a submarine sandwich, goading the swans who clearly wanted a nibble, 2 officers walked past and one said 'afternoon' and just enquired if I was OK. Quick as a flash I said yeah, fine - more importantly are YOU ok? I hope that made his day, it's pretty obvious to most rational humans that after the Westminster attacks, and now manchester, they put their life on the line.
I'm often able to view things from other peoples perspectives and dealing with the public is soul destroying at best. Underneath that uniform is a fellow human being and it costs nothing to be nice.
I was at the International Carnival inLuton today
The police presence was highly visible, including armed officers.
For a town that's had an historically (particularly in recent years) fractious relationship with the police, it was heartening to see so many people of all ages, races and faiths actively engaging with officers and expressing their gratitude.
The police certainly aren't perfect, and sometimes they don't seemto help themselves,but by Christ, we need them and to back them more than ever before.
The police presence was highly visible, including armed officers.
For a town that's had an historically (particularly in recent years) fractious relationship with the police, it was heartening to see so many people of all ages, races and faiths actively engaging with officers and expressing their gratitude.
The police certainly aren't perfect, and sometimes they don't seemto help themselves,but by Christ, we need them and to back them more than ever before.
I think it's a slow turning of the tide, as in recent years the police seem to have become a bit more open to the public. Commanders and bosses seem a little happier for the men and women on the street to show their human side when they're not dealing with the grim business of their daily work. Things like Manchester bring into sharp focus just how much we rely on the police, and it's nice to see them shown some appreciation.
I was at Wembley on Saturday, I was melting in shorts and t-shirt and couldn't help but feel sorry for the police in full gear. I know they are on extended shifts and cancelled leave so had a chat with one guy and thanked him.
Whenever we see a police car, fire engine or ambulance I always encourage the children to wave and often they get a response. Consequently they also wave to tractors, ice cream vans and the bin lorry.
Normally I don't see the police in person only if they are buying food or clearly dealing with a muppet so I just tend to walk by and think they probably just want to be left to it. A few weeks ago I was in Lincoln on a night out, returning to my car two officers were pleading with some idiots to go home or get locked up. the inevitable happened and both the idiots were locked up for shouting, swearing, pushing each other and making threats to kill each other. It took 9 officers to drag these two idiots kicking and shouting about their rights while their group of mates took video's and abused the officers. That sort of incident is often on TV but its very different in real life.
Finally everybody I know values the police and thinks its a tough, thankless job and certainly don't hate them.
Whenever we see a police car, fire engine or ambulance I always encourage the children to wave and often they get a response. Consequently they also wave to tractors, ice cream vans and the bin lorry.
Normally I don't see the police in person only if they are buying food or clearly dealing with a muppet so I just tend to walk by and think they probably just want to be left to it. A few weeks ago I was in Lincoln on a night out, returning to my car two officers were pleading with some idiots to go home or get locked up. the inevitable happened and both the idiots were locked up for shouting, swearing, pushing each other and making threats to kill each other. It took 9 officers to drag these two idiots kicking and shouting about their rights while their group of mates took video's and abused the officers. That sort of incident is often on TV but its very different in real life.
Finally everybody I know values the police and thinks its a tough, thankless job and certainly don't hate them.
darren9 said:
I'm a police officer and have been for around 13 or so years. In that time I have seen the relationship between the public and the police worsen.
However I have been on duty the last two days.
A child, encouraged by her parents crossed the road to high-five me earlier.
The public have waved and smiled.
People have stopped and chatted to us.
Someone even thanked us for "what your do" while I was buying a sandwich.
There has been bags of haribo handed in for us at the station by a youngster.
Is this because of Manchester? Is it better PR on our part? Or is it just the sun?
The feeling of support by the public has been great and long may it continue.
If you have smiled, waved, nodded or interacted positively with cops then thanks. We appreciate it.
I think the way the Police (I live in London) have carried out their duties in the last few years has been the big difference as someone who used to get stopped regularly for BS reasons under SS rules, I now find that I don't & if I do it's normally a pleasant rather than patronising like it used to be.However I have been on duty the last two days.
A child, encouraged by her parents crossed the road to high-five me earlier.
The public have waved and smiled.
People have stopped and chatted to us.
Someone even thanked us for "what your do" while I was buying a sandwich.
There has been bags of haribo handed in for us at the station by a youngster.
Is this because of Manchester? Is it better PR on our part? Or is it just the sun?
The feeling of support by the public has been great and long may it continue.
If you have smiled, waved, nodded or interacted positively with cops then thanks. We appreciate it.
So when something like Manchester happens then you will get more support, keep up the good work.
Elroy Blue said:
catso said:
Just need to do something about the speed camera operators and things'll only get better... 
One of my teams stopped one of the vans for speeding if that counts. Had a brief chat with armed officers in a shopping centre today, saying their presence was reassuring.
8 year old nephew was impressed by the weapons and had his photo taken with one officer.
I think the friendly presence is definitely working from a PR point of view, so keep up the good work chaps.
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