Police apologise to Simon Weston

Russ · 26-03-2012, 23:39

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-17510871

Although completely sick and thoughtless, this doesn't surprise me in the least. I worked for South Wales Police 20 years ago and heard jokes made by officers about him back then.

MalteseFalcon · 27-03-2012, 00:21

As usual, a minority of brain dead policemen (or women) show their moronic, totally out of order views in public and get the decent coppers a bad name.

Whatever they said about Simon Weston is sick, and I hope the officer(s) involved lose their job(s).

Russ · 27-03-2012, 06:12

I disagree that it's a sacking offence. To think getting caught telling a joke would undo potentially years of criminal-catching is stretching it a bit. I say "caught" because this sort of thing happens a lot in the force. Their job is so stressful that a lot of their time is spent extracting the urine.

Derek · 27-03-2012, 06:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkC1984

As usual, a minority of brain dead policemen (or women) show their moronic, totally out of order views in public and get the decent coppers a bad name.

Whatever they said about Simon Weston is sick, and I hope the officer(s) involved lose their job(s).

You've never told or repeated a bad taste joke then? I know I have on many, many occasions. There may even have been a cruel nickname attached to the Glasgow airport bomber that was used more often than his real name.

To be honest yes it's sick and not particularly funny but is repeating a rather old joke when you are off duty a sacking offence? It's not like he said it to a burns victim he was dealing with at work or went out his way to abuse Mr Weston in person or via direct message.

Peter_ · 27-03-2012, 06:33

If not sacked the office/s should be demoted at the very least and given foot patrol duties as well, it has nothing to do with stress and they know it.

As it was posted on Facebook which anyone can see it is nothing short of bullying and should be treated as such, no one should be allowed to use the internet in this way, as a public servant the officer/s should have known better.

Russ · 27-03-2012, 06:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Derek

You've never told or repeated a bad taste joke then? I know I have on many, many occasions. There may even have been a cruel nickname attached to the Glasgow airport bomber that was used more often than his real name.

To be honest yes it's sick and not particularly funny but is repeating a rather old joke when you are off duty a sacking offence? It's not like he said it to a burns victim he was dealing with at work or went out his way to abuse Mr Weston in person or via direct message.

His 'crime' was to have been caught, so to speak. As you know, the police have 'canteen culture' where this sort of thing goes on but it's important to stress that probably any workplace, job or profession will have the same thing going on behind the scenes. The fact he was a police officer shouldn't make this any worse.

**Maggy** · 27-03-2012, 08:17

One thing I do know.I would never ever like to have to deal with the carnage that the police see and deal with on a regular basis..from multiple pile ups,smashed trains,rape, muggings and the most senseless killings and vile behaviour that the worst of society produces.

Telling jokes and banter is one way of a group dealing with all this.I wouldn't like to see someone lose their job over forgetting that they wee in a public forum and that such jokes and banter should be kept to the group and out of the public domain.

carlwaring · 27-03-2012, 08:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter_

As it was posted on Facebook which anyone can see..

Only if the relevant account was completely public, which they aren't by default. So no. That's wrong. I agree with the rest of your post though

27-03-2012, 09:56

Not that big a deal ,distasteful and stupid to do it on facebook yes ,but sacking offence definately not .I bet Simon Weston told a few sick jokes in his time in the army

Peter_ · 27-03-2012, 18:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by carlwaring

Only if the relevant account was completely public, which they aren't by default. So no. That's wrong. I agree with the rest of your post though

Well he was stupid enough to allow enough people to see that content.

carlwaring · 27-03-2012, 18:55

True, but not the same thing as it being "public"

(In hindsight, possibly a little pedantic

)

Peter_ · 27-03-2012, 18:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by carlwaring

True, but not the same thing as it being "public"

(In hindsight, possibly a little pedantic

)

I now work for one of our largest banks and could easily be caught out by a stupid comment, so I am quite aware of what can happen with a Facebook post and why I will no post the actual bank name on a public forum.

27-03-2012, 19:09

Take any job with higher then normal levels of stress and strain and you'll find ways those people deal with it that would offend the "i am offended on behalf of everyone else" brigade. Sacking this guy is a completely ott way to deal with it and would serve no real good other then to kick out someone who might be a very good police officer. It's one of the biggest things that nark me about the UK these days you've always got some idiot just waiting for a reason to get on their soapbox about this and that on behalf of people most of the time they never bother with.

carlwaring · 27-03-2012, 19:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by RizzyKing

It's one of the biggest things that nark me about the UK these days you've always got some idiot just waiting for a reason to get on their soapbox about this and that on behalf of people most of the time they never bother with.

Absolutely agree. Which is partly how things like the Ross/Brand thing got blown out of all proportion a few years back.