Do the majority of people generally dislike the police?
Discussion
I was just watching something on facebook and the way the police get treated by some members of society is nothing short of worth a beating. And then I read the comments. People actually sticking up for the guy and the way he acted. I didn't see the police officer do anything wrong. What are your thoughts?
https://fb.watch/qNXb6JlHXD/
https://fb.watch/qNXb6JlHXD/
I'm very much of the opinion that if something is not illegal to do and someone wants to do it then that's that. Police can't just go around inventing reasons to harrass people or do so due to their own lack of knowledge. It doesn't matter if someone 'doesn't want him to' - as long as they're flying by the rules then leave them be. It does seem that a lot of officers have little or no clue about the actual law when it comes to things like this and photography in public places etc.
Edited by Funk on Thursday 14th March 02:54
fasimew said:
I was just watching something on facebook and the way the police get treated by some members of society is nothing short of worth a beating. And then I read the comments. People actually sticking up for the guy and the way he acted. I didn't see the police officer do anything wrong. What are your thoughts?
https://fb.watch/qNXb6JlHXD/
Thanks for the link, it led me to Dave Allen videos. I'd forgotten how funny (and irreverent) he was. https://fb.watch/qNXb6JlHXD/

I miss those days, largely because I was in my prime but didn't fully appreciate it.

My experience of UK police over the years on the few interactions I have had:
- very helpful when my alarm/immobiliser cut in several times whilst driving on motorway in my mk1 MR2. Pulled a fuse for me.
- similar when I had a jag fuel pump fail late at Birmingham airport. Took me in to station for a cup of tea as weather was awful. Coned off the car whilst waiting 3 hrs for AA.
- SPG arrested friends for a robbery on a newsagents where cigarettes and ET dolls were stolen (that dates it). Two 13 year old lads on racing bikes coming home late at night, in no way fitted any kind of profile for a job involving hundreds of packets of cigarettes. Kicked one of them around quite a bit in a cell. Luckily one parent really knew her stuff and had them out quite quickly.
- Friend got arrested for standing near a fight that broke out in a pub. Respectable businessman, nothing to do with it at all. Multiple witnesses, including a magistrate. Went to court and judge summed up by saying that Police had ‘told a pack of lies’. Policeman smiled at my friend on way out and said ‘you win some you lose some’.
- Neighbour went away (to film the olympics) and let his wayward son have keys to his house. Cue loud music which just never happened on our nice quiet street- another neighbour and I went to investigate and were threatened by this skinny runt, his girlfriend and another guy. Followed my neighbour back to his front door…..we were very restrained as we could have easily wiped the floor with them, but as decent people its just not something you do.
Next night they were trying to tip cars over in the street. Multiple reports made to police. No action. It was only when i mentioned in a 111 call they had called myself and neighbour a ‘pair of gay
s’ that anything happened. Suddenly we had police to take statements. Wanted to arrest the lad but he had left to go back to his mum’s in Cardiff…apparently too difficult to do anything. Did get a very nice bottle of wine and abject apologies from his dad.
- Friend got stabbed in back of head with a champagne flute by some City boys in a posh bar in London. 17 stitches and left with a huge scar. Police closed it out without pulling any CCTV or checking the credit card which this large group had been using.
- Friends in London have had motorbikes stolen (including a Ducati), Vespas, pushbikes, including one worth several thousands of pounds. Friend had her laptop stolen off a table in from of her in a cafe in Highgate, guy in a hoody walked in swiped it walked out and casually cycled off. No action beyond a crime number for any of this…
- I got threatened with a stabbing by three scumbags on a Thames-link train into St Pancras when I asked them to kindly turn down music they were blasting from a phone. They stood up after a bit of verbal back and forth and I realised I had bitten off more than I could chew…. However they decided just to get off at the next station. BTP called (by another passenger) I arranged to travel back to St Pancras the next day to give a statement; gave it and then told nothing they could do anyway except log it. CCTV with exact time they left the station…excuses...? Apathetic response at best but I did get a nice leaflet.
That’s been my experience. Car related; what a nice bunch of officers. Anything else: can be a total waste of time.
Oh and my mum and dad received awards for catching a bank robber! Police later claimed in newspaper it was ‘an intelligence led operation’.
Yeah, intelligence as in my dad thinking that guy dropping bundles of twenties on the floor as he runs from a bank is a tad suspicious ..
- very helpful when my alarm/immobiliser cut in several times whilst driving on motorway in my mk1 MR2. Pulled a fuse for me.
- similar when I had a jag fuel pump fail late at Birmingham airport. Took me in to station for a cup of tea as weather was awful. Coned off the car whilst waiting 3 hrs for AA.
- SPG arrested friends for a robbery on a newsagents where cigarettes and ET dolls were stolen (that dates it). Two 13 year old lads on racing bikes coming home late at night, in no way fitted any kind of profile for a job involving hundreds of packets of cigarettes. Kicked one of them around quite a bit in a cell. Luckily one parent really knew her stuff and had them out quite quickly.
- Friend got arrested for standing near a fight that broke out in a pub. Respectable businessman, nothing to do with it at all. Multiple witnesses, including a magistrate. Went to court and judge summed up by saying that Police had ‘told a pack of lies’. Policeman smiled at my friend on way out and said ‘you win some you lose some’.
- Neighbour went away (to film the olympics) and let his wayward son have keys to his house. Cue loud music which just never happened on our nice quiet street- another neighbour and I went to investigate and were threatened by this skinny runt, his girlfriend and another guy. Followed my neighbour back to his front door…..we were very restrained as we could have easily wiped the floor with them, but as decent people its just not something you do.
Next night they were trying to tip cars over in the street. Multiple reports made to police. No action. It was only when i mentioned in a 111 call they had called myself and neighbour a ‘pair of gay
s’ that anything happened. Suddenly we had police to take statements. Wanted to arrest the lad but he had left to go back to his mum’s in Cardiff…apparently too difficult to do anything. Did get a very nice bottle of wine and abject apologies from his dad.- Friend got stabbed in back of head with a champagne flute by some City boys in a posh bar in London. 17 stitches and left with a huge scar. Police closed it out without pulling any CCTV or checking the credit card which this large group had been using.
- Friends in London have had motorbikes stolen (including a Ducati), Vespas, pushbikes, including one worth several thousands of pounds. Friend had her laptop stolen off a table in from of her in a cafe in Highgate, guy in a hoody walked in swiped it walked out and casually cycled off. No action beyond a crime number for any of this…
- I got threatened with a stabbing by three scumbags on a Thames-link train into St Pancras when I asked them to kindly turn down music they were blasting from a phone. They stood up after a bit of verbal back and forth and I realised I had bitten off more than I could chew…. However they decided just to get off at the next station. BTP called (by another passenger) I arranged to travel back to St Pancras the next day to give a statement; gave it and then told nothing they could do anyway except log it. CCTV with exact time they left the station…excuses...? Apathetic response at best but I did get a nice leaflet.
That’s been my experience. Car related; what a nice bunch of officers. Anything else: can be a total waste of time.
Oh and my mum and dad received awards for catching a bank robber! Police later claimed in newspaper it was ‘an intelligence led operation’.
Yeah, intelligence as in my dad thinking that guy dropping bundles of twenties on the floor as he runs from a bank is a tad suspicious ..
jdw100 said:
My experience of UK police over the years on the few interactions I have had:
- very helpful when my alarm/immobiliser cut in several times whilst driving on motorway in my mk1 MR2. Pulled a fuse for me.
- similar when I had a jag fuel pump fail late at Birmingham airport. Took me in to station for a cup of tea as weather was awful. Coned off the car whilst waiting 3 hrs for AA.
- SPG arrested friends for a robbery on a newsagents where cigarettes and ET dolls were stolen (that dates it). Two 13 year old lads on racing bikes coming home late at night, in no way fitted any kind of profile for a job involving hundreds of packets of cigarettes. Kicked one of them around quite a bit in a cell. Luckily one parent really knew her stuff and had them out quite quickly.
- Friend got arrested for standing near a fight that broke out in a pub. Respectable businessman, nothing to do with it at all. Multiple witnesses, including a magistrate. Went to court and judge summed up by saying that Police had ‘told a pack of lies’. Policeman smiled at my friend on way out and said ‘you win some you lose some’.
- Neighbour went away (to film the olympics) and let his wayward son have keys to his house. Cue loud music which just never happened on our nice quiet street- another neighbour and I went to investigate and were threatened by this skinny runt, his girlfriend and another guy. Followed my neighbour back to his front door…..we were very restrained as we could have easily wiped the floor with them, but as decent people its just not something you do.
Next night they were trying to tip cars over in the street. Multiple reports made to police. No action. It was only when i mentioned in a 111 call they had called myself and neighbour a ‘pair of gay
s’ that anything happened. Suddenly we had police to take statements. Wanted to arrest the lad but he had left to go back to his mum’s in Cardiff…apparently too difficult to do anything. Did get a very nice bottle of wine and abject apologies from his dad.
- Friend got stabbed in back of head with a champagne flute by some City boys in a posh bar in London. 17 stitches and left with a huge scar. Police closed it out without pulling any CCTV or checking the credit card which this large group had been using.
- Friends in London have had motorbikes stolen (including a Ducati), Vespas, pushbikes, including one worth several thousands of pounds. Friend had her laptop stolen off a table in from of her in a cafe in Highgate, guy in a hoody walked in swiped it walked out and casually cycled off. No action beyond a crime number for any of this…
- I got threatened with a stabbing by three scumbags on a Thames-link train into St Pancras when I asked them to kindly turn down music they were blasting from a phone. They stood up after a bit of verbal back and forth and I realised I had bitten off more than I could chew…. However they decided just to get off at the next station. BTP called (by another passenger) I arranged to travel back to St Pancras the next day to give a statement; gave it and then told nothing they could do anyway except log it. CCTV with exact time they left the station…excuses...? Apathetic response at best but I did get a nice leaflet.
That’s been my experience. Car related; what a nice bunch of officers. Anything else: can be a total waste of time.
Oh and my mum and dad received awards for catching a bank robber! Police later claimed in newspaper it was ‘an intelligence led operation’.
Yeah, intelligence as in my dad thinking that guy dropping bundles of twenties on the floor as he runs from a bank is a tad suspicious ..
Dont go to London- very helpful when my alarm/immobiliser cut in several times whilst driving on motorway in my mk1 MR2. Pulled a fuse for me.
- similar when I had a jag fuel pump fail late at Birmingham airport. Took me in to station for a cup of tea as weather was awful. Coned off the car whilst waiting 3 hrs for AA.
- SPG arrested friends for a robbery on a newsagents where cigarettes and ET dolls were stolen (that dates it). Two 13 year old lads on racing bikes coming home late at night, in no way fitted any kind of profile for a job involving hundreds of packets of cigarettes. Kicked one of them around quite a bit in a cell. Luckily one parent really knew her stuff and had them out quite quickly.
- Friend got arrested for standing near a fight that broke out in a pub. Respectable businessman, nothing to do with it at all. Multiple witnesses, including a magistrate. Went to court and judge summed up by saying that Police had ‘told a pack of lies’. Policeman smiled at my friend on way out and said ‘you win some you lose some’.
- Neighbour went away (to film the olympics) and let his wayward son have keys to his house. Cue loud music which just never happened on our nice quiet street- another neighbour and I went to investigate and were threatened by this skinny runt, his girlfriend and another guy. Followed my neighbour back to his front door…..we were very restrained as we could have easily wiped the floor with them, but as decent people its just not something you do.
Next night they were trying to tip cars over in the street. Multiple reports made to police. No action. It was only when i mentioned in a 111 call they had called myself and neighbour a ‘pair of gay
s’ that anything happened. Suddenly we had police to take statements. Wanted to arrest the lad but he had left to go back to his mum’s in Cardiff…apparently too difficult to do anything. Did get a very nice bottle of wine and abject apologies from his dad.- Friend got stabbed in back of head with a champagne flute by some City boys in a posh bar in London. 17 stitches and left with a huge scar. Police closed it out without pulling any CCTV or checking the credit card which this large group had been using.
- Friends in London have had motorbikes stolen (including a Ducati), Vespas, pushbikes, including one worth several thousands of pounds. Friend had her laptop stolen off a table in from of her in a cafe in Highgate, guy in a hoody walked in swiped it walked out and casually cycled off. No action beyond a crime number for any of this…
- I got threatened with a stabbing by three scumbags on a Thames-link train into St Pancras when I asked them to kindly turn down music they were blasting from a phone. They stood up after a bit of verbal back and forth and I realised I had bitten off more than I could chew…. However they decided just to get off at the next station. BTP called (by another passenger) I arranged to travel back to St Pancras the next day to give a statement; gave it and then told nothing they could do anyway except log it. CCTV with exact time they left the station…excuses...? Apathetic response at best but I did get a nice leaflet.
That’s been my experience. Car related; what a nice bunch of officers. Anything else: can be a total waste of time.
Oh and my mum and dad received awards for catching a bank robber! Police later claimed in newspaper it was ‘an intelligence led operation’.
Yeah, intelligence as in my dad thinking that guy dropping bundles of twenties on the floor as he runs from a bank is a tad suspicious ..
Joking aside, i have no faith in the police anymore, various things have happened and not resolved, mostly minor to others but a big deal to me, and no use at all.
And i think alot of people have the same view.
To be honest, every dealing I've had with the police has been ok. Whether I was in the right or the wrong is not of value, but they have done their job. I had a housemate call the police because she was scammed out of £150 of bitcoin, they showed up at the door. I can't fault them... Ok there was one time when I was smashed and lying on the floor outside of a London club, and some Germans came alone and started screaming in my face using a traffic cone. They saw my mate trying to help me and told him to clear off, but did nothing to help me or about the guys harassing me... The other 99% of encounters have been ok.
We have had a few issues where the cops have not turned up when they really should do, however I suspect the cops would love to have more work mates like the good ol days
My friend was a cop in Southampton and they were spread so thin it was alarming
Edit to add that when my folks got broken into they turned up quickly, however once the clues lead to the local traveler site they just closed the case
I suspect it’s because the chance of getting a result would be slim to none
When I was 19 or so I had a hot hatch and one local cop seemed to have it in for me, would always pull me over and look for stuff but never found it, I suspect he was getting me muddled up with someone else but then wouldn’t back down
Only ever had issue in one small location, perhaps on reflection he was a good cop looking for issues
My friend was a cop in Southampton and they were spread so thin it was alarming
Edit to add that when my folks got broken into they turned up quickly, however once the clues lead to the local traveler site they just closed the case
I suspect it’s because the chance of getting a result would be slim to none
When I was 19 or so I had a hot hatch and one local cop seemed to have it in for me, would always pull me over and look for stuff but never found it, I suspect he was getting me muddled up with someone else but then wouldn’t back down
Only ever had issue in one small location, perhaps on reflection he was a good cop looking for issues
Edited by Spare tyre on Friday 15th March 10:18
I don't think that the majority of people generally dislike the police, I think that the majority of people probably have no faith in the police. If someone says something unkind to another, they can expect a visit from the boys in blue. If someone gets their property stolen or are assaulted, they can expect a crime reference number. It seems that policing as it used to be no longer exists. Rainbow painted police cars and officers dancing the macarena and taking the knee for BLM do them no favours in the eyes of the general public. Some forces are worse than others, but people don't see that. They just see the police.
I don't have any negative views of the Police but then again I've had very little interaction with them.
The last time I was involved was when my nephew was being bullied by a local thug - so him and his mates decided to take matters into their own hands. Unfortunately it was caught by CCTV but the Police were quite understanding (they had plenty of previous knowledge of local thug so were quite sympathetic)
Anyway I think they mostly do a decent job in very difficult circumstances. Until you have to deal with "the General Public" you don't realise what a bunch of arrogant self-entitled morons and cretins some of them are.
The last time I was involved was when my nephew was being bullied by a local thug - so him and his mates decided to take matters into their own hands. Unfortunately it was caught by CCTV but the Police were quite understanding (they had plenty of previous knowledge of local thug so were quite sympathetic)
Anyway I think they mostly do a decent job in very difficult circumstances. Until you have to deal with "the General Public" you don't realise what a bunch of arrogant self-entitled morons and cretins some of them are.
johnymac said:
I don't think that the majority of people generally dislike the police, I think that the majority of people probably have no faith in the police.
Pretty much this. I’ve had cars broken into and not bothered reporting it as nothing will come of it, it’s easier to just move on. In terms of disliking them, I’ve no real reason to. I was only stopped once as a youth and it was quickly resolved. There’s definitely a white privilege to that though, my Black/Asian friends had all lost count of the amount of searches they’d had as teens. Would countless unwarranted stops lead to hate? Probably!
trumpton7291 said:
Over zealous tax collecting of 35 in a 30 nonsense “speeding” offences sure doesn’t help engender warm hearted feelings towards them, that’s for sure…
Oh God, he's here as well.Oh and BTW, please can you show a (redacted) NIP for a 35 in a 30, as I believe no-one has ever been able to.
If not then FRO.
I respect the need for the Police
They do a necessary and very difficult job
The people who become policemen have a higher proportion of t
ts and bullies than the general population and as such, generally I don't like many of the actual people, especially when carrying out their duties.
Oh, and our eldest passed out as a constable 3 years ago.
They do a necessary and very difficult job
The people who become policemen have a higher proportion of t
ts and bullies than the general population and as such, generally I don't like many of the actual people, especially when carrying out their duties.Oh, and our eldest passed out as a constable 3 years ago.
I have done a couple of ride-alongs where you can do a shift with a copper.
It's depressing how much of their time is wasted by procedures that could be more effectively managed. EG we went to an accident, driver refused a breath test and was arrested. He had to go to hospital, where they decided to keep him in overnight. That meant two coppers to stay with him until he was released.
It was encouraging how enthusiastic to do a good job most of them were.
In these days where performance is measured in minute detail they have to prioritise acting on jobs where boxes could be ticked and CPS could be relied upon to prosecute.
My overall impression is that they do a good job and I'm glad they are willing to do it, because I couldn't.
It's depressing how much of their time is wasted by procedures that could be more effectively managed. EG we went to an accident, driver refused a breath test and was arrested. He had to go to hospital, where they decided to keep him in overnight. That meant two coppers to stay with him until he was released.
It was encouraging how enthusiastic to do a good job most of them were.
In these days where performance is measured in minute detail they have to prioritise acting on jobs where boxes could be ticked and CPS could be relied upon to prosecute.
My overall impression is that they do a good job and I'm glad they are willing to do it, because I couldn't.
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