Tom Winsor is quoted as saying that confidence of the public in the police has been severely shaken by controversies which have recently achieved public prominence, include those concerning Hillsborough, Orgreave Colliery, Stephen Lawrence, Plebgate, the sexual deception of citizens by undercover police officers, and others. I disagree. I have always taken it for granted that the police were corrupt, liars, bullies, cheats, and racists; their principal objective was to cover up their own wrongdoing. However I am much encouraged by recent developments. Many examples of long-concealed police crimes have been brought out into the open, and the culture of impunity is being eroded. As a result my confidence in the police is higher now than it has ever been before. There are even public opinion surveys suggesting that I am not alone in this - am I?
I would say that that is incredibly harsh. I think most of the police do a great job and one which I wouldn't want to do. Who want's to deal with society's junk all day, and spooning people off motorways? Added to which, it must be galling knowing that people increasingly have little respect for their authority and that the perpetrators are barely going to get a slap on the wrist, even if they are brought to book. What you hear about are the high profile cases where the police are found to be engaged in less than professional activity. Hillsborough was about 30 years ago, as was Steven Lawrence. Is everything far cleaner now? I don't know, but if the handful of cases you cite is all there is to show for 30 years of endemic police corruption, you'd have to think that this supports my thesis. As motorcyclists we are bound to come into more contact with the police than we might like, because essentially, to have any fun, our sport is illegal on public roads. But if the coppers show up here (or in England) I would be inclined to trust them until proven otherwise. It is true that as a middle-class white person, I might be getting a better deal from them than some, but I can only go on my experience. Do I expect them to be decent 100% of the time? No, but it would be nice. But I expect them to be decent far more often than corrupt and incompetent.
Not all of us, those of us who ACTUALLY know serving and retired police officers know that the vast majority of them are genuine people. The problem is that there are some rotten apples and the press these get forms the skewed public opinion. But then I thought that was common sense...
".....The police...." -the shotgun method of generating controversy by being non specific......daily mail-esque possibly? 'public opinion surveys' can pretty much be made by virtue of the questions asked to give any answer you want. So, I guess, based on that you may well be on your own in that one, based on what you've typed/presented.
No, the handful of cases are just a few specimens by way of illustration. A full list would run to dozens, or rather hundreds, of examples. "Respect of their authority" ? What on earth are you talking about? The police are our servants, not our masters - or at least they are supposed to be. Any policeman who imagines anyone does, or should, "respect his authority" is obviously in the wrong job.
What I wrote was " As a result my confidence in the police is higher now than it has ever been before." OK, maybe I am on my own in this. Pity.
I only deal with the coppers 'on the beat' occasionally. For a small number plate offence or my vanity tax as i call it. I find them okay generally as long as you don't bullshit them. I have had dealings with them in my youth. Fairly frequent dealings and again, mostly okay as long as you didn't take the piss. Which I did and got what I deserved. But I was a crazed fool of a kid and unhinged. Often I left them no choice. I also owe a great debt to an old copper who I would go as far to say saved my life. But I am also a Liverpool supporter and the 96 are always on our minds. There are broken parts but isn't there in all institutions?
The vast majority of the coppers I've met have been sound as a pound. It's the lawmakers I have no faith in.
I know what you wrote. It all depends what level you start from, if it was that low originally such that you call "the police" with the characteristics that you did, then maybe it is right you are on your own. Your current level of " confidence" may still be rock bottom ( or marginally above) Others may opinion may already be higher than yours, pre and post your rise in " confidence" . It's only a pity if you think it is, your rising trend may be a small element of encouragement, in general terms. It's all about context and start point.
Living in the countryside I very rarely come into contact with the police and the few times that I have I have found them quite aggressive, rude and talk down to us like little children, twice I have been stopped and nether time was I at fault but was still belittled and sent of without an apology. When I was a lad we had local bobbies that lived in police houses on the estates they new everyone and I had much more respect for them than I do now, nationally though they seem to be getting there act together. Hope the Hillsborough inquiry results in some prosecutions!! Steve
Lets not confuse 'sound as a pound' with 'covering yer ass' Most people will do what they can to protect themselves, and those around them, at points of challenge, happens everyday in every job from the packing line to the highest courst. Police are no different. They are given targets to acheive. No shot sherlock when they bend riles to meet that targets. No different to bankers. They are given powers over other people, also no shit sherlock that this gives many a sense of superiority and arrogance, just as it does the woman in the library who constantly shushes you or the fella who tells you where to park atSainsburys I'm just amazed allegedly intelligent people don't all get this Bit could you trust most of them in your home? Yes. With your wallet? Yes. With your life? Yes.
I think the OP should have a few caveats, or does he really mean that he considers ALL police to be corrupt, bullies etc ? I find most to be fine in my dealings with them although there must be some terrible ones . My trust levels are unchanged, more stories come out these days, that is all.
Coppers ain't squeaky clean, any more than the rest of us. There's a reason for that - they're human, just like us. There are of course exceptions, like my buddy Jed, who tried to sell his police house... No, it's the tools they are given to carry out their job that defines them. And I don't think they're always given the right tools. And there's too many hobby bobbies and not enough real coppers about these days. The kids know that, which is why they play up so much.
does this mean if i know someone that gets busted with an ounce of green stuff. when it comes to court will it still be an ounce or will it continue to be a 1/4 or at best a 1/2.
