What are people's views on the Police?

[tallpaul 10]

I think that if all motoring issues were dealt with by a completely separate section of the police perhaps with a different title, the "ordinary" police would command far more respect from the public in general as they used to. Traffic police do tend to be disliked more than the rest and I think that may well be the case within their colleagues in the force too as they give everyone a bad name.

 

Darbees,

 

Like i've said in my above post.....there are very few traffic cops nowadays...as most of the 'enforcement' is done by cameras.....

 

The reason why there are so many cameras could be that the public once whined and whinged about traffic police...so their numbers were replaced by cameras. Now a camera wont give you a telling off, it wont show discretion, it wont sympathise that you're late seeing your Mum in hospital, it wont tell if you're drunk or if the car is stolen etc....

 

So I'm of the opinion that the public dislike with cameras is very much it's own making..and that's sad.

 

As for traffic cops in general, I think the idea that they are hated by the other cops is a very 1970s/80s idea. I personally, hold no dislike towards my colleagues in Traffic (or Road Policing) as it's now called. The very small numbers that are left do a good job of patrolling the roads and dealing with the blood, guts and tears that are left following 'law abiding people' whose driving has left devastation.

 

How someone enforcing the law can give others a bad name, I don't know.

 

But lets look at this attitude? Would you rather be given a telling off, be it sarcastic or whatever, or would you like 3 points and £60 fine etc.

 

In my lengthy knowledge and experience of the subject, I can tell you that police officers (traffic included, if not moreso), are often more likely to use their discretion in the majority of occasions, for example with speeding.

 

Things like seat belts and mobile phone use are usually ticketed every time, as it's hardly a slip of concentration to pick up a phone and engage in a conversation with someone.

[Darbees 10]

Darbees,

 

Like i've said in my above post.....there are very few traffic cops nowadays...as most of the 'enforcement' is done by cameras.....

 

The reason why there are so many cameras could be that the public once whined and whinged about traffic police...so their numbers were replaced by cameras. Now a camera wont give you a telling off, it wont show discretion, it wont sympathise that you're late seeing your Mum in hospital, it wont tell if you're drunk or if the car is stolen etc....

 

So I'm of the opinion that the public dislike with cameras is very much it's own making..and that's sad.

 

As for traffic cops in general, I think the idea that they are hated by the other cops is a very 1970s/80s idea. I personally, hold no dislike towards my colleagues in Traffic (or Road Policing) as it's now called. The very small numbers that are left do a good job of patrolling the roads and dealing with the blood, guts and tears that are left following 'law abiding people' whose driving has left devastation.

 

How someone enforcing the law can give others a bad name, I don't know.

 

But lets look at this attitude? Would you rather be given a telling off, be it sarcastic or whatever, or would you like 3 points and £60 fine etc.

 

In my lengthy knowledge and experience of the subject, I can tell you that police officers (traffic included, if not moreso), are often more likely to use their discretion in the majority of occasions, for example with speeding.

 

Things like seat belts and mobile phone use are usually ticketed every time, as it's hardly a slip of concentration to pick up a phone and engage in a conversation with someone.

I'm not talking here of the rights and wrongs of these things, I'm just saying why people have this opinion/attitude and yes that probably is wrong too. The fact is that people do have this opinion and if it troubles the police, it's really only them that can do anything about it.

 

As I've said before in our discourses, the police need the public on their side.

[prioryx 10]

For all the police knockers. In one night in this area One stabbing two rapes and numerous domestics.

For the daft idea that policing should be done by, what he is advocating, part time police he does not realise that the basic training for a police officer takes three months. That means that he would not be called upon using his idea for two years. You must be too young to remember that national service was for two years and that you were in the forces for all that time. Not sent home aafter three months and told to come back in two years time.

[tallpaul 10]

I'm not talking here of the rights and wrongs of these things, I'm just saying why people have this opinion/attitude and yes that probably is wrong too. The fact is that people do have this opinion and if it troubles the police, it's really only them that can do anything about it.

 

As I've said before in our discourses, the police need the public on their side.

 

I dont think it's the police...i think the government is where the action needs to change..

 

Remember the police do what the government of the day tell them to do...

 

The police do need the public on their side...and i'm glad to say that in my years of experience...and as at today...the vast majority of people are on the side of the police...especially when 'it matter'.

 

Whenever I deal with an A**ehole, my feeling of anger is quickly replaced when I soon deal with a decent member of the public. I'm glad to say the latter is 95% of people in South Yorkshire.

[moorebob 10]

i git my van broken into last night and ive had my ford focus broken into twice in the last two years! these theivin twa*s r out doin this everynight causing thousands of pounds worth of damage every week and making ppls lifes hell an the coppers do nothin! they just get a slap on the wrist and there on there way! were as the general public who pay there taxes an insurance get treated like crap! the police and the goverment just look at the general public as a source of income! an they slap us wiv the $60 fine and three points for creapin over the speed limit! i clocked a copper in a riot van doin 48mph down gleadless hill a couple of weeks back an i got done for doin 37 in a 30 and those 3 points stay on your licence 4 4 years! coppers just see us a easy targets to get there arrest figures and fine figures up every month!while the criminals just carry on doin there thing an gettin away with it! it will never change we will always be the victims an the ones payin the fines that pay for the criminals playstations in prison:rant: :rant: :rant: :rant: :help:

[tallpaul 10]

i git my van broken into last night and ive had my ford focus broken into twice in the last two years! these theivin twa*s r out doin this everynight causing thousands of pounds worth of damage every week and making ppls lifes hell an the coppers do nothin!

 

You can't say do nothing. That's rubbish..and you know it. The cops can do what they can, with the resources available.

What about the parents of these kids having a bit more control? Family values? Respect of other property etc? Society's problems aren't there for the police to clean up on their own. There are other people responsible...as well you know it.

 

You have my sympathy regarding your damaged vehicles, but it's a shame that the blame seems to have landed on the shoulders of the police. Presumably, it wasn't the cops that broke into your van?

 

they just get a slap on the wrist and there on there way! were as the general public who pay there taxes an insurance get treated like crap!

 

Very true..and it's ridiculous. The courts seem to view minor crime as 'petty' and juvenile crime even lower. Yet these crimes are the ones that matter to the vast majority of the public. The hard workers who don't know if their car is going to be safe when they return to it, or whether their Gran will be safe walking to the shops because of the rowdy 'hoodies' that congregate there.

 

The courts are far too lenient on many criminals and it's the public that has to suffer. It's not on...

 

the police and the goverment just look at the general public as a source of income! an they slap us wiv the $60 fine and three points for creapin over the speed limit!

 

The government might view you as that, but the police don't. If you knew your subject, and I'm sure that anger and frustration is clouding your opinion, but if you knew your subject, you'd know that fines raised from speeding offences either go direct to the Government or they go to the Safety Camera Partnerships. These are made up of local government and the police and several other agencies/partners. However, the funding doesn't go into crime prevention, but further speed enforcement.

 

Most of the police officers that i've known over the years see motoring offences as the work of traffic officers only. Those traffic cops, are small in number and their workload doesn't really cause much of a dent in the public purse.

So you'll find it's not the POLICE that see you as an easy target, but instead the Government.

 

i clocked a copper in a riot van doin 48mph down gleadless hill a couple of weeks back an i got done for doin 37 in a 30 and those 3 points stay on your licence 4 4 years!

 

You clocked him? With a calibrated and accurate device to measure speed? Or did you match his speed just to see what he was doing?

 

The copper in the riot van might have been attending an incident that required some urgency. Not enough to warrant blue and twos, but enough to exceed the speed limit. It could be that a violent prisoner required transporting...it could be many reasons.

 

So you got done for 37 in a 30 a couple of weeks back did you? That's unfortunate. Of course your speedometer would have been showing nearly 40mph, for a true reading of 37mph. (As i'm sure you'll be aware). So you chose to speed at 37 in a 30mph zone and got caught? What exactly is your problem with that? Whilst I agree that it's not the worst crime in the world, and i've mixed views on camera enforcement, you were still breaking the law.

 

I'm sure you wouldn't be so relaxed about the facts if your loved ones had been knocked down and killed on a road by someone doing 37 in a 30zone.... Would you be saying....well he only just creeped over the limit....no harm done?

 

The points are active for 3 years incidentally. They remain on for 4, but are only countable for 3. Just so you know.

 

coppers just see us a easy targets to get there arrest figures and fine figures up every month!

 

So you got arrested for speeding did you? I think not. The police don't have "fine figures" as you eloquently put it. I'm sure you're still smarting from having been caught breaking the law......but you really need to write the facts rather than the opinion from the pub.

 

while the criminals just carry on doin there thing an gettin away with it! it will never change we will always be the victims an the ones payin the fines that pay for the criminals playstations in prison:rant: :rant: :rant: :help:

 

Yeah, I agree.... There isn't enough punishment for the criminals...and often the public (ie: speeding drivers) are left with immediate justice in the form of fine/points. I don't like it any more than you. I deal with some really nasty individuals in the criminal world..and do so with the thought that people like yourself are sleeping better at night. It upsets me to read that you're not happy with your police force.

[troubledjoe 10]

i git my van broken into last night and ive had my ford focus broken into twice in the last two years! these theivin twa*s r out doin this everynight causing thousands of pounds worth of damage every week and making ppls lifes hell an the coppers do nothin! they just get a slap on the wrist and there on there way! were as the general public who pay there taxes an insurance get treated like crap! the police and the goverment just look at the general public as a source of income! an they slap us wiv the $60 fine and three points for creapin over the speed limit! i clocked a copper in a riot van doin 48mph down gleadless hill a couple of weeks back an i got done for doin 37 in a 30 and those 3 points stay on your licence 4 4 years! coppers just see us a easy targets to get there arrest figures and fine figures up every month!while the criminals just carry on doin there thing an gettin away with it! it will never change we will always be the victims an the ones payin the fines that pay for the criminals playstations in prison:rant: :rant: :rant: :rant: :help:

 

spoken by a person that obviously hasn't read any of this thread! i refer to my initial post when i mention people that are uneducated in their knowledge of the police and spout nonsense!

[moorebob 10]

i was following the riot van on my sports bike back from work which has a electronic speedo and he didnt have his lights on, he didnt even indicate to turn right at the bottom of the hill. i used to go out riding at the weekends with a bike copper and he used to double the speed limit in most places, had a tiny number plate and a stupidly loud exhaust and the sad thing was he would be out the following day pulling bikers over out near owlerbar for speeding and having small number plates and it didnt even bother him!

i dont hate the police and i dont fully blame the police for not putting these theives in jail, obviously its the goverment who i should be pointing the finger at but im not because just as i and u and the police know these theives will just keep commiting crimes and getting away until there in prison, police forces should be urging the goverment to lock these theives up if there caught stealing but there not! the police no the names and faces of most car theives and they no unless there locked up they will keep offending! get them in prison get them off drugs and try an educate them so when they come out they can have a fresh start! everyone has there own opinions of things and im not gonna slag people off for speaking how they feel.

[JonnH 10]

Yeah, I agree.... There isn't enough punishment for the criminals...and often the public (ie: speeding drivers) are left with immediate justice in the form of fine/points. I don't like it any more than you. I deal with some really nasty individuals in the criminal world..and do so with the thought that people like yourself are sleeping better at night. It upsets me to read that you're not happy with your police force.

 

Okay, i appologise for my comments, i too am frustrated as i've just got a NIP... My first ever speeding offence and i'm gutted.

 

But that copper (okay, maybe it's a different one each time) goes past same time each weekend with the siren on, whats that about?

 

Reading what you said, I honestly didn't know that it was civvies that did those jobs. It just seems to me that everything is against the motorist these days and not enough is done about 'Proper' crimes if you see what i mean!

 

I still think it'd be an idea for joe public to spend perhaps 1-2 years in the police force, even if it's only a community support but what do i know, i'm just stupid Obviously there are experts and specialists but it might give the public an insight that the police do actually do something for the community it serves

[tallpaul 10]

Okay, i appologise for my comments, i too am frustrated as i've just got a NIP... My first ever speeding offence and i'm gutted.

 

I can fully understand that. It's frustrating..and i'm sure you're honest enough to say it's the first time that you've been 'caught'...as opposed to the first time you have committed the offence.

 

Reading what you said, I honestly didn't know that it was civvies that did those jobs. It just seems to me that everything is against the motorist these days and not enough is done about 'Proper' crimes if you see what i mean!

 

I know exactly what you mean. You had to fork out £60 and suffer 3 penalty points on your licence. Meanwhile, a criminal breaks into someone parked car and steals a stereo. When he's caught, if it's his first offence he'll be eligible for a caution. Written record, no points, no monetary fine.

 

It's not fair, not fair at all...and I agree with you 100%.

 

I'm sure you'll be aware that it's not the police that set these rules...It comes from other 'bodies'. You'll find that most cops are delighted when someone they catch received a custodial sentence. I'm personally over the moon...as despite the fact that they are hardly likely to be suffering hard labour in prison..they are very likely not to be out stealing.

 

I still think it'd be an idea for joe public to spend perhaps 1-2 years in the police force, even if it's only a community support but what do i know, i'm just stupid Obviously there are experts and specialists but it might give the public an insight that the police do actually do something for the community it serves

 

Of course that is possible at the moment..with the Special Constabulary. A person only needs to donate so many hours per month to the role.

[tallpaul 10]

i used to go out riding at the weekends with a bike copper and he used to double the speed limit in most places, had a tiny number plate and a stupidly loud exhaust and the sad thing was he would be out the following day pulling bikers over out near owlerbar for speeding and having small number plates and it didnt even bother him!

 

Yep, hypocrisy at his highest. Disgusting. It further proves my earlier statement though..that many cops aren't interested in motoring offences (ie: prosecuting people for them). This is what blows the theory that cops are only out to target the motorist...as so few of them actually engage in traffic enforcement.

 

i dont hate the police and i dont fully blame the police for not putting these theives in jail, obviously its the goverment who i should be pointing the finger at but im not because just as i and u and the police know these theives will just keep commiting crimes and getting away until there in prison

 

You're absolutely correct John. Very much like in the opening sequence of BBC1 classic "Porridge", criminals do see prison as "an occupational hazard".

I must admit though, we do put more people in prison, per head of population than any other European country. You're right though, there should be more inside. An educated opinion from a man in the know suggests that over 200,000 people need to be in prison to make a big difference in the crime figures. (Currently there's 80,000)

 

police forces should be urging the goverment to lock these theives up if there caught stealing but there not!

 

I'm afraid the higher ranks of the police force quickly become 'managers', 'human rights experts' and, dare I say it, 'politicians'...so quickly realise that the government of the day does what it likes. I mean at the moment, MPs are trying to get a £40,000 per year pay rise..and it looks like they'll get a big portion of it.

 

the police no the names and faces of most car theives and they no unless there locked up they will keep offending! get them in prison get them off drugs and try an educate them so when they come out they can have a fresh start!

 

I agree 100%. In my experience you only need to send 3 or 4 'prominent' criminals to prison to see a real drop in a city's crime figures.

 

However, my experience allows me the unfortunate knowledge that they rarely spend long enough in prison...and prior to getting there...they are often realised on bail time and time again....allowing them to commit further crimes before they eventually get sent to prison. Once in prison, many of those crimes will be 'written off' by the authorities as it wont be in the 'public interest' to pursue them..as the criminal is already inside. Eh? I think au contraire ! It's very much in the public interest. Perhaps that way, the criminal can have his/her sentence increased...

[tallpaul 10]

On this subject.....you'll find the 'bigger picture'...is far more distasteful than you think.

 

What about the rights of the criminals? The right to legal advice, the right to appeal, the right to this that and the other?