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[Nickbat]

..is probably at an all-time low.

It doesn't help when you compare these two stories (story shamelessly stolen from Dr Richard North's excellent blog).

First, the gruesome murder of Joanne Butler:
 
The IPCC said several hours before her murder on the evening of January 3, 2006, Miss Butler rang 999 twice within minutes, but no police officer was available to attend her address.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1362062/Police-did-NOT-Joanne-Butler-murder-house-despite-999-calls.html

Second, the news that police are going to set up road blocks to check whether drivers have been smoking in their company cars (by sniffing ashtrays and looking for dog-ends).

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/news/8355435/Roadblocks-set-up-to-catch-drivers-smoking.html

 

I really do wonder what is happening to our society. Soon, the police, for which I have in the past had a great deal of respect, will become seen as an enemy rather than a supportive friend. It is largely the fault of politicians, of course. 

[HolyCount]

You are right Nick ... the police have become impotent political pawns and that slippery slope is becoming ever steeper.

[albitz]

I PM,d Zulu a very interesting article on this subject a few days ago, if I can find it I will post it up.

Here we are, its by Brian Gilbertson, a former commander in the Met.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-1361052/DAVID-GILBERTSON-Why-police-rude-Because-trained-be.html

[Dishevelled Den]

.........// I really do wonder what is happening to our society. Soon, the police, for which I have in the past had a great deal of respect, will become seen as an enemy rather than a supportive friend. It is largely the fault of politicians, of course. 

It is largely the fault of politicians, of course.

I would agree but would add that it's mainly that of the police as a collective, particularly Chief Officers and the malign influence of ACPO (Association of Chief police Officers)

Law enforcement and public safety are rapidly being sidelined by the requirement for the police to enforce government diktat under the auspices of concern for state security in the increasingly violent times we are presently bearing witness to.

During the course of a meeting just a few years ago I said that we (the police) were in peril of allowing ourselves to be the main facilitators of the forthcoming police state - I was ridiculed for it.

Upon examination of where we presently are as a body, I see little to suggest that my comments were at all excessive.

[HolyCount]

Excellent article Albs and, Zee, you were spot on.

[Del Boy]

Being brutally honest, not all coppers are that bad, you get your idiots, but no more than in any other job in my opinion.

[albitz]

Agreed Del, but the big worry is the people at the top who make policy, decide on the direction of policiong training etc. they appear to have an agenda which isnt much to do with fighting crime, and too much to do with left wing politics imo.

[Nickbat]

Excellent article, Albs, thanks for posting.

This may seem a little irrelevant, but I have noticed increasingly in fly-on-the-wall police programmes (e.g. Road Wars) that upon first contact with a member of the public, it is no longer a case of "Good Evening, Sir", but rather "Awight, mate?". Soon they'll be using "innit" at the end of every sentence. A small point, but indicative, I feel, of the younger members of the police wanting to be seen as trendy. The use of Sir or Madam indicates a certain respect. After all, at the end of the day, the police are our servants. Anyway, I hate being called "mate" by someone, wearing a high-viz jacket, whom I wouldn't know from Adam. Maybe I'm just old-fashioned.     

[BigAl]

ACPO (Association of Chief police Officers) - is a private company

[Mart280]

Ten to fifteen years ago we would have laughed at the thought of the old bill stopping people in company cars to see if they had been smoking, in another ten to fifteen years they will be stopping anyone and doing the same, they need to start getting their priorities right.

[razzo]

respect is earn't not demanded

[edwardmickey]

With over 4m calls per year, police will undoubtably get some wrong. This incompetent call taker's screw up is unforgivable. When tesco screw up, they run out if bread. When police screw up, the results can be catastrophic. But police get 99% of things right but that don't make good headlines, does it?
When the Daily Wail recently reported how a bloke died while trapped in his car because the fire brigade's control room personnel failed to despatch a unit over a mix up, nobody conclude that fire fighters are all useless. I agree that respect for the police is at an all time low. But everyone thinks the police is a good idea as long as it's not themselves getting policed. Add to that; everyone thinks they know how the police should operate but in reality, they have no idea!  The recent police shooting of the barrister in London who was armed and out of his face on alcohol illustrated this well with comments like, "they should have let his family talk to him" and "they should have shot the gun out of his hand" and "why didn't they shoot him with a tranquilliser.". Drivel but thats what people really spout.
As for smoking in cars, this is Daily Wait $hit stirring. Sure, the council will be enforcing this law but show me the evidence of police attendance before I believe it!
I call some people mate, I call some Mr x, other sir or madam. Depends on the situation. I've had a complaint for being too formal when addressing a motorist before. You see, people don't like being policed, fact of life, I expect this but always remain professional.
Rant nearly over!
This age old argument about sticking someone on for doing 35 in a 30!  If the threat of getting a ticket weren't there, people would do 40 or 50. It's been proved when cameras were switched off. I accept people think there's better things to do. They always do until it's their loved one hurt or killed. Same with drink drivers who spout on about catching proper criminals as they're led to their cell As do wife beaters who think that the odd slap is acceptable. As do paedos who think there's no harm in downloading child abuse images.  Thing is, we police the law, whether you happen to agree with that exact law or not, they're legislation created for a reason and needs to be enforced, by police or council workers or VOSA or whoever!
 

[Banjax]

I doubt any dwindling council or police resources will be spent enforcing the smoking ban in company vehicles.

Utter tosh, non-story. 

[Nickbat]

Thing is, we police the law, whether you happen to agree with that exact law or not, they're legislation created for a reason and needs to be enforced, by police or council workers or VOSA or whoever!
 

Which is precisely the point I and others made earlier made. If you're made to enforce petty laws, you are the ones made to look petty, not the dopey politicians that dreamt them up. 

[aaronjb]

Only tangentially related, but I switched over to Heart FM this morning and heard their 'anti terrorism' advert again..

You know the one; "if you see something suspicious like people hanging around or looking at cameras, call the anti terrorism hotline!"

Which all sounds very .. "Be a good citizen. Inform on your neighbour." - I can't remember if it's reminding me of 1984 or Brazil, though.