Cable Forum - View Single Post - Do you feel well served by your local police force?

11-11-2009, 15:59

Had to have a think about this one because i don't think it is as simple as yes or no. To answer you directly Gary no i don't feel well served by our local police now that makes you happy but ask another question on top. Question being do i blame the police or the government and thats where the grey area is because i am not happy but i do not blame the police.

In my town being honest we don't really have a local police service we have whoever is spare after leicester has been sorted in terms of officers on duty and i have had this told to me by more then one or two serving police officers. I have also had many lengthy discussions with friends who are serving in the police and know exactly how completely demoralised they are and how much THEY feel they are failing local people and they are genuinely unhappy about it.

What we need is less obsession with statistics which as far as i am concerned have lost all relevence under labour as the systems are so manipulated to give the right statistic. Case in point police giving cautions for serious assaults as has been highlighted this week on one program but has been raised a few times before. Are the police happy about that, not any of them i have spoken too but government wants it that way so they are stuck.

I would like to see more police on foot rather then every officer i see in my town being a fleeting glimpse as they pass in their cars. I am not stupid we have to have officers that can respond quickly but a car passing by is not as effective as an officer or two walking the streets getting to know the people and being trusted by the local community. Thats what we have lost in the UK i honestly couldn't give you the name of my local police officer i havn't got a clue and no one else on my road has either ( yes i have talked to most of the residents) we havn't been told or notified.

Policing is a partnership between the police and the community but when the only time you see the police in person is when they are visiting you it is hard to build a trusting relationship with them so that you could pass along local info on what is going on and the police need that to police local communitys better. Anyone these days seen talking to a police officer is assumed to be doing something wrong so lets get back to the old days where i could stop and have a chat with a familiar local bobby in a social way so that speaking to a police officer was the norm and didn't mean you were in trouble or a grass.

If it is more normal to be seen talking to a police officer information will be more freely given and the people doing it won't have to fear they are easily identified because most would be speaking to the police it is the best way to keep local bad apples in check. Right now thats the biggest problem we have local bad apples are out of control running around influencing those on the outskirts of criminality because we're all individuals and there is no strength to counter them as there was once.

11-11-2009, 15:59	#57
RizzyKing Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Do you feel well served by your local police force? Had to have a think about this one because i don't think it is as simple as yes or no. To answer you directly Gary no i don't feel well served by our local police now that makes you happy but ask another question on top. Question being do i blame the police or the government and thats where the grey area is because i am not happy but i do not blame the police. In my town being honest we don't really have a local police service we have whoever is spare after leicester has been sorted in terms of officers on duty and i have had this told to me by more then one or two serving police officers. I have also had many lengthy discussions with friends who are serving in the police and know exactly how completely demoralised they are and how much THEY feel they are failing local people and they are genuinely unhappy about it. What we need is less obsession with statistics which as far as i am concerned have lost all relevence under labour as the systems are so manipulated to give the right statistic. Case in point police giving cautions for serious assaults as has been highlighted this week on one program but has been raised a few times before. Are the police happy about that, not any of them i have spoken too but government wants it that way so they are stuck. I would like to see more police on foot rather then every officer i see in my town being a fleeting glimpse as they pass in their cars. I am not stupid we have to have officers that can respond quickly but a car passing by is not as effective as an officer or two walking the streets getting to know the people and being trusted by the local community. Thats what we have lost in the UK i honestly couldn't give you the name of my local police officer i havn't got a clue and no one else on my road has either ( yes i have talked to most of the residents) we havn't been told or notified. Policing is a partnership between the police and the community but when the only time you see the police in person is when they are visiting you it is hard to build a trusting relationship with them so that you could pass along local info on what is going on and the police need that to police local communitys better. Anyone these days seen talking to a police officer is assumed to be doing something wrong so lets get back to the old days where i could stop and have a chat with a familiar local bobby in a social way so that speaking to a police officer was the norm and didn't mean you were in trouble or a grass. If it is more normal to be seen talking to a police officer information will be more freely given and the people doing it won't have to fear they are easily identified because most would be speaking to the police it is the best way to keep local bad apples in check. Right now thats the biggest problem we have local bad apples are out of control running around influencing those on the outskirts of criminality because we're all individuals and there is no strength to counter them as there was once.