Who actually has to do the police work
read an article yesterday about a young lady who had her iPad stolen , immediatly reported to the police , who appeared not to be interested, as it happens she had that wonderful were is my iPad / iPhone app so was able to trace it to the very house , on phoning and informing the police they just said "well you are lucky just knock the door and ask for it back" 
This incident was taken up on radio 2 today and a phone in was set up , very surprised that this was a regular thing and is happening very often, one lady said she traced her iPad and the men who had hers was in a dreadful house and with. nasty looking dogs around
so who are supposed to do there job , what the heck are they there for
Comments
-
That has to make it into the Daily Mail. Mind you, quite rightly so. Perhaps a hint that you might advise the Police Complaints Authority of 'accessory to theft' since they are aware of the crime and location of the stolen goods.
0 -
Theft is a CRIME! I'm afraid that the 'quality' is being drained from every facet of life. In my day, there werent any PCSOs ( what a joke!) an arrest would have been made and charges brought. I cant say for certain that the magistrates would have done their job and perhaps that's the problem- why bother if no one else cares?? Disgusting and a dereliction of duty as far as I am concerned . If I was the senior officer, heads would have rolled and it wouldn't have happened again. I wonder what would have happened had she knocked on the door and been told to 'go away' in expletives!
0 -
Tell them your armed and on your way round to collect it, then see how fast they respond.
0 -
I take many of these sorts of stories in the press with a pinch of salt as they are more interested in the headline than the substance. The press are in a powerful position and they could have contacted the Chief Constable to check the "facts" It seems very
strange to me that a police officer would suggest sending a member of the public into what could be a dangerous situation. I would want to know more before making a judgement.David
0 -
If you have a burglary or theft, just tell them part of a uniform was amongst the items taken. This seems to set all sorts of alarm bells off, and gets a much better response, SOCO, follow up etc... Not that much happens beyond police of course. Our criminal
justice system and sentencing is no longer fit for purpose and could do with overhauling, especially where deaths are linked to driving offences.0 -
Theft is a CRIME! I'm afraid that the 'quality' is being drained from every facet of life. In my day, there werent any PCSOs ( what a joke!) an arrest would have been made and charges brought. I cant say for certain that the magistrates would have done their
job and perhaps that's the problem- why bother if no one else cares?? Disgusting and a dereliction of duty as far as I am concerned . If I was the senior officer, heads would have rolled and it wouldn't have happened again. I wonder what would have happened
had she knocked on the door and been told to 'go away' in expletives!Write your comments here...Excellent post Merve.
Regards Kennine
0 -
Article was not just in the tabloids, other news sources Took it up , it was even taken up in the phone in on BBC 2 with Jeremy vine ,
many phoned in with similar stories and from many walks of life and different areas around the u k
we all know the police are scaling down on a lot of crimes even if you have had a burglary and it was an empty house and no persons was hurt they come when they are ready / available
0 -
Merve mentioned PCSO's or plastic Policemen as they are known within the service. Almost no powers and very little training, they were introduced by a Govt trapped by their promise to increase Police patrols. But how to do it without increasing the spending
on the Police? That was the problem!The solution was quite simple. De criminalise traffic offences and pass the responsibility for enforcing parking etc to the local authorities. ( But dont give them any money to do it).
That way you can sack all the Police paid for Traffic wardens (Do you remember the yellow hat bands). Then you can use all the money you save on traffic warden wages to create the new PCSO's. You can save even more money by skimping on their training and
paying them not very much. Then you can con the public into believing that Police numbers have gone up when actually they havent!That is NOT a fantasy story because I was senior enough in the Police Service at the time to know what was happening! Policing on the cheap! But the idea failed because the public soon learned that the PCSO's had no actual powers that a proper Police Officer
had and the criminal soon learned that too.TF
0 -
But to return to the main thread. I have to accept that the situation as related was totally unnaceptable. I regret to say it but the service that I once loved has lost its way.
The rot set in many years ago, when various changes turned what was once a vocation into something that became nothing more than just a job - like any other job!
The application of ordinary employment "equal opportunity" regs, did away with height, the knowledge of acceptable written and spoken English, and good old firm and strong discipline attitudes. Instead of the traditional rank structure everyone became a manager. The beat PC became a beat manager, The Sergeant the shift manager etc etc. No one was responsible for leading, leadership became a lost art, and with it went discipline.
Today the Sergeant or "Sarge" is referred to by his Christian name, and so too very often, is the Inspector. When someone does try to enforce discipline, or just doing their plain duty, they are accused of Bullying and a grievance is taken out!
Police stations have been closed, the service has moved away from direct day to day contact with the public that they are there to serve and protect. Unless draconian steps are taken soon, to bring back some of the old values, the situation will become very serious.
To the criminal any sign of weakness in resolve is a factor to be exploited. Public order will be one of the first things to break down.
What is needed is that very old fashioned and unnaceptable to many, word LEADERSHIP!
TF
0 -
Someone bumped our vehicle while it was parked and like a good citizen I decided to make a report using the non emergency line.
I was given a right round around after waiting on the phone for 20 minutes and then being told I have to report it in poerson at the nearest police station whcih just happened to be clsoed anyway. I gave up in the end.
At least now we know why crime figures are dropping and that is because reporting a crime is made very difficult!
0 -
Merve mentioned PCSO's or plastic Policemen as they are known within the service. Almost no powers and very little training, they were introduced by a Govt trapped by their promise to increase Police patrols. But how to do it without increasing the spending on the Police? That was the problem!
The solution was quite simple. De criminalise traffic offences and pass the responsibility for enforcing parking etc to the local authorities. ( But dont give them any money to do it).
That way you can sack all the Police paid for Traffic wardens (Do you remember the yellow hat bands). Then you can use all the money you save on traffic warden wages to create the new PCSO's. You can save even more money by skimping on their training and paying them not very much. Then you can con the public into believing that Police numbers have gone up when actually they havent!
That is NOT a fantasy story because I was senior enough in the Police Service at the time to know what was happening! Policing on the cheap! But the idea failed because the public soon learned that the PCSO's had no actual powers that a proper Police Officer had and the criminal soon learned that too.
TF
Write your comments here...No, anyone who cares about how we are policed will know that you speak the truth TF. Plastic Policemen are an insult by Blair. A waste of time and money. We need proper bobbies and quality proper training, You pay peanuts you get monkeys!!
0 -
But to return to the main thread. I have to accept that the situation as related was totally unnaceptable. I regret to say it but the service that I once loved has lost its way.
The rot set in many years ago, when various changes turned what was once a vocation into something that became nothing more than just a job - like any other job!
The application of ordinary employment "equal opportunity" regs, did away with height, the knowledge of acceptable written and spoken English, and good old firm and strong discipline attitudes. Instead of the traditional rank structure everyone became a manager. The beat PC became a beat manager, The Sergeant the shift manager etc etc. No one was responsible for leading, leadership became a lost art, and with it went discipline.
Today the Sergeant or "Sarge" is referred to by his Christian name, and so too very often, is the Inspector. When someone does try to enforce discipline, or just doing their plain duty, they are accused of Bullying and a grievance is taken out!
Police stations have been closed, the service has moved away from direct day to day contact with the public that they are there to serve and protect. Unless draconian steps are taken soon, to bring back some of the old values, the situation will become very serious.
To the criminal any sign of weakness in resolve is a factor to be exploited. Public order will be one of the first things to break down.
What is needed is that very old fashioned and unnaceptable to many, word LEADERSHIP!
TF
Yes yes yes!!! The service has been dumbed down like everything else and look what we have ended up with!!!
0 -
A couple of years ago, I rang the non-emergency number when I saw a group of youths rolling huge snowballs and then placing them across the road, blocking it.
The lady taking the call said they were rather busy and couldn't I go and have a word with them myself?
I didn't trouble them further.......
0 -
I can remember about 20yrs ago, a senior police officer telling me when i needed some additional help with an organisation I was involved with,not a problem,we will just open another tin of specials
,I bet it could not happen now,as in this area they could not afford it,I will ask next week as we have a meeting,,one of the main problems in this area is youth crime,as they are bored and nothing to do?0 -
Actually I don't have a problem with "specials" at least they were to a great extent properly trained and as a result had powers etc.
My problem was always with the PCSO's or plastic policemen. Not much training and very few powers. They were just the Gov'ts way of getting Policing on the cheap. This is a classic instance of the folly of trying to get a vital service on the cheap.
TF
0 -
Yes, The job encourages that route because it allows the organisation to take a good look at the candidate before they accept them.
Once again its a reflection on the way modern employment rules have changed things. In my day there was a day of stringent interviews and tests, many of them stressful. then if selected you were on 2 years probation during which you could be chopped at any time and several were!
Today the various Forces are worried about EO regs etc, on the stressful tests, and of getting sued etc. In addition it is much more difficult to chop probationers during the 2 years than it used to be. Hence the modern practise of watching the performance of PCSO's and specials etc for an extended period before you let them in to start proper policing. Once again though the result for the public has been Policing on the cheap for all too often a brace of poorly trained and inexperienced PCSO's is all the local station has available.
My old bosses will be spinning in their graves to see what has become of the service.
TF
0 -
Actually I don't have a problem with "specials" at least they were to a great extent properly trained and as a result had powers etc.
My problem was always with the PCSO's or plastic policemen. Not much training and very few powers. They were just the Gov'ts way of getting Policing on the cheap. This is a classic instance of the folly of trying to get a vital service on the cheap.
TF
Write your comments here...and the specials got stuck in with the regular officers! Always found the Specials good solid blokes and very capable. It would be better to blow the PCSOs out and with the saved money ( which won't be much I grant you) pay for
real police officers. Yes- Blairs Folly!! (amongst others!)0 -
Theft is a CRIME! I'm afraid that the 'quality' is being drained from every facet of life. In my day, there werent any PCSOs ( what a joke!) an arrest would have been made and charges brought. I cant say for certain that the magistrates would have done their
job and perhaps that's the problem- why bother if no one else cares?? Disgusting and a dereliction of duty as far as I am concerned . If I was the senior officer, heads would have rolled and it wouldn't have happened again. I wonder what would have happened
had she knocked on the door and been told to 'go away' in expletives!Write your comments here...Excellent post Merve.
Regards Kennine
Write your comments here...nice to see you around Ken!!
0 -
Some months after being 'involved' in a crime and the police deciding to take no action I was questioning this with one of the arresting officers who told me off the record that it was quite usual as the offence was not one of their funding targets, and due to budget cuts and staff shortage they have to target their resources to achieving their funding and political targets.
0 -
Its time for a branch & root review of policing ( or lack of it)> Lets get back to basics. Before anyone says it- its not lack of funding but the creeping in of non essentias and the "hide away" from it culture. Cut down the number of forces,get rid of the
"Prof administrators"and the politically appointed top "Yes" men.0 -
In the BSAP we had Police reserve known as the A Reserve and they were fully uniformed officers with the same powers as us.
We then had the Field reseve who were mostly armed and operated in dangerous areas out in the field. They were mostly farmers and had to endure attacks on their homesteads and landmines.
Lastly we had the Air wing which consisted of private pilots with their own aircraft who did various duties around the country such as casevacs, moving people, goods etc.
The A reserve had to do examinations like the regulars to get promotion however they were not paid except for away from home duties and similar. The A reserve and the B reserve were all volunteers.
Sadly the ZRP who took over are a total disgrace to policemen worldwide!
0 -
On a personal level, I had a company take money from my debit card that they were not orthorised to. I went to the police and they were not interested but gave me some bumph on how to stop fraud. the bank,(would you believe it) were more helpfull and got
my money back.0
