Does the UK have the best police in the world?
Discussion
Look at the unfortunate situation in the US (who the f
k would want to be a copper in the US at the moment? No matter what you do you're going to cop a pile of st for it thanks to some complete fk-wits in uniform) and how the police in Belgium, France and Spain (for example) have reacted in recent incidents. The look at how our police react could we claim to have the best police in the world?
Before people say it - yes I am aware that they're not perfect, far from it! But think about how much worse they could be
k would want to be a copper in the US at the moment? No matter what you do you're going to cop a pile of st for it thanks to some complete fk-wits in uniform) and how the police in Belgium, France and Spain (for example) have reacted in recent incidents. The look at how our police react could we claim to have the best police in the world?Before people say it - yes I am aware that they're not perfect, far from it! But think about how much worse they could be
I think we do, having watched way to much of the live coverage over the weekend on CNN they literally cant win, they are getting attacked, stations burnt down & cars torched yet any measures of self protection get met with pure complaint or escalation of violence, I worry for the US at the moment, I cant see this wending well.
UK courts need follow through on the good work our police do though, this is where they get let down.
UK courts need follow through on the good work our police do though, this is where they get let down.
No. No it does not.
We have some running around trying to fine people for breaking Coronavirus guidance, the Cliff Richard debacle, the whole ignoring stuff with the Jimmy Savile situation, the willingness of some to lie through their teeth over admitting a mistake...
We have a reasonably good police service. If this is the best the world has to offer just take me now.
We have some running around trying to fine people for breaking Coronavirus guidance, the Cliff Richard debacle, the whole ignoring stuff with the Jimmy Savile situation, the willingness of some to lie through their teeth over admitting a mistake...
We have a reasonably good police service. If this is the best the world has to offer just take me now.
Edited by Pegscratch on Monday 1st June 14:04
Having only lived in the UK it's very hard to say for sure. Ours have their flaws but overall appear to be at the higher end of the scale.
The trouble is, comparing to somewhere like the US is very difficult. We only see the negative stories which come out which I suspect is only part of the picture. I suspect outside of the inner-city areas, at the community level (so I guess local Sheriffs, etc) it might be quite effective and better respected? (unless you happen to live in some B-movie thriller where the local PD are either completely clueless or the killer
)
The trouble is, comparing to somewhere like the US is very difficult. We only see the negative stories which come out which I suspect is only part of the picture. I suspect outside of the inner-city areas, at the community level (so I guess local Sheriffs, etc) it might be quite effective and better respected? (unless you happen to live in some B-movie thriller where the local PD are either completely clueless or the killer
)Not sure about best in the world, I've had very limited interactions with foreign police. To be fair, I've had pretty limited interactions with ours as well, but the ones I have had have always been positive.
I think we have a good police force in the main. There are some bad apples, but this is the case in any profession. The bad apples tend to get the most publicity.
I strongly dislike the idea of a fully, routinely armed police force. One of the things I dislike when abroad is seeing police wandering round with guns - and I dislike it when I see our own armed units (London stations/ Airports) patrolling. If it's supposed to make me feel reassured and safe, it doesn't. I can see why armed units are necessary of course, but I'd rather they didn't form part of routine visible patrols.
I think we have a good police force in the main. There are some bad apples, but this is the case in any profession. The bad apples tend to get the most publicity.
I strongly dislike the idea of a fully, routinely armed police force. One of the things I dislike when abroad is seeing police wandering round with guns - and I dislike it when I see our own armed units (London stations/ Airports) patrolling. If it's supposed to make me feel reassured and safe, it doesn't. I can see why armed units are necessary of course, but I'd rather they didn't form part of routine visible patrols.
I firmly believe we do. Having spent significant time all around the world I think our police are far better than most - they genuinely seem to care about people, far more tolerant and face genuine dangers. French cops have always seemed good too, but I haven’t had much experience with them apart from speeding.
As for the protests in London - totally ridiculous.
As for the protests in London - totally ridiculous.
As someone says, it depends how you define best. I also don't have much experience of other forces so can't give too much of a comparison.
I do have a good idea of protest / public order tactics used by other forces (who'd often come to the UK to see ours). Ours are about as soft as it gets. We didn't even use rubber bullets in the 2011 riots.
With us having one of the only unarmed forces in world, that creates a different relationship with the public. Generally speaking, the ability to talk and defuse with words alone seems a particular strength of our police.
Queue the trolls - Menezes, Tomlinson etc.
I do have a good idea of protest / public order tactics used by other forces (who'd often come to the UK to see ours). Ours are about as soft as it gets. We didn't even use rubber bullets in the 2011 riots.
With us having one of the only unarmed forces in world, that creates a different relationship with the public. Generally speaking, the ability to talk and defuse with words alone seems a particular strength of our police.
Queue the trolls - Menezes, Tomlinson etc.
It depends to a great deal on what people want from a police force.
Someone in the thread complained about policing of the coronavirus regs. Not only that, what the police did to Cliff Richard and didn’t do to Savile. With the former criticism, it’s like the village resident who wants speeders stopped driving through his village, but gets upset when he pulled for speeding.
With regards Savile and Richard, it’s a question of balance, and that was decided way above the level of police officers whom to might interface with on the streets or on an enquiry.
There’s lots of room for improvement of course. But then one must expect that when you realise there’s been no significant change to the way policing works in 1984. The governments seem scared. Easier to blame.
It needs modification via a plan. This piecemeal interference in day-to-day running hinders rather than helps. In my day the police moved to non-warrant-holding staff to do those tasks where a warrant was unnecessary. The then government made sure, by close regulations, that civvies were sacked. Farcical. Tragic.
A few years ago, the forces were very open. One nick I was at gave free rein to the local paper’s ‘crime reporter’. You’d find him wandering the stairways at various times of the day. That seems to have been banned now, and not at the instigation of the police, because no one, it seems, wants the general hoi-polloi to know what the police is doing under their stressful conditions. A backwards step. Individual police officers commit an offence if they tell anyone of their difficulties. A backward leap.
It’s not perfect. I would suggest that it’s not the best in every specific criterion, although it’s not through the want of trying.
Overall? I think it does a pretty good job, even if one doesn’t consider the limitations it’s working under. The best in the world? I doubt it in absolute terms.
Someone in the thread complained about policing of the coronavirus regs. Not only that, what the police did to Cliff Richard and didn’t do to Savile. With the former criticism, it’s like the village resident who wants speeders stopped driving through his village, but gets upset when he pulled for speeding.
With regards Savile and Richard, it’s a question of balance, and that was decided way above the level of police officers whom to might interface with on the streets or on an enquiry.
There’s lots of room for improvement of course. But then one must expect that when you realise there’s been no significant change to the way policing works in 1984. The governments seem scared. Easier to blame.
It needs modification via a plan. This piecemeal interference in day-to-day running hinders rather than helps. In my day the police moved to non-warrant-holding staff to do those tasks where a warrant was unnecessary. The then government made sure, by close regulations, that civvies were sacked. Farcical. Tragic.
A few years ago, the forces were very open. One nick I was at gave free rein to the local paper’s ‘crime reporter’. You’d find him wandering the stairways at various times of the day. That seems to have been banned now, and not at the instigation of the police, because no one, it seems, wants the general hoi-polloi to know what the police is doing under their stressful conditions. A backwards step. Individual police officers commit an offence if they tell anyone of their difficulties. A backward leap.
It’s not perfect. I would suggest that it’s not the best in every specific criterion, although it’s not through the want of trying.
Overall? I think it does a pretty good job, even if one doesn’t consider the limitations it’s working under. The best in the world? I doubt it in absolute terms.
I think on the whole ours are very good but I have to deal with them reasonably regulaly for my business both uniformed, civlian staff and some senior people. One fundamental thing that a lot of them dont understand/seem to forget/ be above is the fact they they are law enforcers working for a law enforcement organisation. Too many of them think they are law makers and simplistically for me its what I think leads to a lot of the mistakes they make and in some places the lack of respect they enjoy from ordinary folk (not the perps and scumbags)
Edited by Ziplobb on Monday 1st June 16:29
"Best" is a very difficult concept, as there will always be things that we do well and things that we aren't so good at. But, for sure, we are very high on the list.
And I think this is one of the key reasons:
And I think this is one of the key reasons:
La Liga said:
With us having one of the only unarmed forces in world, that creates a different relationship with the public. Generally speaking, the ability to talk and defuse with words alone seems a particular strength of our police.
Not having the option of drawing a firearm encourages a much more collaborative policing model. And, particularly, everything works much when neither side is terrified of being shot.Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff