Police that can’t be trusted

As young mums, we were accosted by a flasher and the police asked what we were wearing! When my neighbour’s high school age daughter reported a flasher, they told her mum that she should have followed him so the police would know where the flasher lived. If I hadn’t been there, I wouldn’t have believed it. This was in the 80’s.

back in the early 1960s my older sister married a policeman and they lived in police flats. I was 16 and used to go on the bus to visit her some evenings. When i left to go home another officer was outside in his own car and would offer me a lift home....he would try to give me a kiss before I got out of the car. I never allowed it. very very shy and innocent.... there is another sister who visited on a different day..... and I mentioned this to her just recently and she told me he used to do that to her aswell...... we never told anyone at all. Duncan was his name. Should have told my brother in law really.

Whitewavemark2

Run away advised a woman police officer.

Didn’t work for Charles de Menzies did it?

He got shot dead.

One of the reasons why that happened was because Cressida Dick wanted the task force to travel from Brixton to N London for a briefing and she refused to stop the traffic in the area where de Meneses lived.

Apparently the police did a dawn raid on Couzens' house, arriving sometime after 5 am but waiting until after 7 am, thus giving him time to delete his phone records.

There was a former wife of a police officer on J Vine on Thursday morning. Apparently her husband was violent towards her. She reported him to the police who visited her with a female liaison officer. She was intimidated by them and they implied that she could lose her home and her children. She eventually divorced him and she he remarried. She met his widow after he died who said that he'd been violent to her as well. This does seem to be a pattern - that if a wife complains she is ignored.

On the whole the police are to be trusted. However, there is a significant minority for whom the power vested in them goes to their heads. I lived in Brixton during the riots and some of the police were extremely arrogant in their behaviour towards the public, in particular the black community. (Not sure whether I can use that description).

There have been reports in the media today of a chat group which Couzens was part of:

"Two Metropolitan police officers allegedly involved in a chat group that included Wayne Couzens that swapped alleged misogynistic and racist messages have been left on duty after being placed under criminal investigation, the Guardian has learned.

The two Met officers are said to have been part of a WhatsApp group involving constables from three forces that is under investigation after Couzens’s phone was seized following his arrest for the murder of Sarah Everard in March"

Yes how do we know she was being arrested for breaking Covid regulations? How did the press know? They are not unknown for filling in gaps of knowledge. Was lip reading established?

how do we know she was stopped for covid reasons

WE don't need to know how........ silly questions.......

lemsip, there's no need for that reply (or is it 'Ask a silly question - and get a silly answer' time?)

It's valid to wonder how anyone would know what reason/excuse was given. I doubt the conversation was recorded.

Not a silly question at all. The media are telling us that's what it was, so to wonder how they knew this is perfectly logical. Maybe he , Couzens, told the officers who interviewed him? otherwise its hard to understand where the media got this information from.

I am amazed that his overriding need for power over a young woman led him to think he would get away with it. The cameras in peoples cars, showing a tall person showing him clearly trying to convince her, which was his warrant card, and handcuffing her. Right down to claiming a gang made him do it. Poor, beautiful, girl met a monster. We all know his life sentence will be hell. Justice is served

Galaxy

It's been reported in the press Lucca.

I know, but how is it known ?? Is there a recording ?

Listened to Any Questions this afternoon. One of the contributors said that any solution should be disregarded if the sentence began with ‘Women should ……’

Let’s remember that many police officers do a good job in very trying circumstances. Recently, my daughter had cause to contact the domestic violence unit. Two police officers arrived and she logged the incident but didn’t currently want to take it further. She told me they were vey kind and understanding, doing a great job.

I’m in no way excusing this evil man, nor his mates who were involved in the WhatsApp group. These mates should be drummed out of the force.

Police recruitment needs to examined together with the whole culture of misogyny.

I agree that the police have a really hard job but I also think there is a plenty of space for improvement - as there is in any huge organisation.

There is no room for complacency - ever.
Someone should be assigned to examine past failures and suggest improvements.
My DS applied to join the police a couple of years ago but failed the medical because he was found to be colour-blind.
You would think that someone who is intelligent, compassionate and brave should have a role in our police.

For the first time since the reduction in police numbers, I have just seen two coppers on the beat.

I wondered if it was part of his confession Lucca. Looking at some reports it does say 'it is thought he used lockdown rule breaking'.

Unfortunately people who want to do bad things to people are attracted to jobs where they have authority, power or access to those they want to hurt. Think teachers who abuse children, members of the clergy (including nuns) who are abusive to children, scout leaders who take children camping, sports coaches who have authority and access to opportunity, police officers who deal with vulnerable people. Honestly the list goes on so I think it's wise to keep a sense of proportion. The police force (like any large organisation) is a microcosm of society with the added attraction to evil people that it gives power and access, a bit like Shipman had as a GP. I've not had a lot of dealings with the police but those occasions that I have, I've found them kind, efficient and considerate. I had to phone 999 earlier this year because a close relative with mental health issues was threatening to commit suicide and I was a long way from them. it was the most difficult call I've ever made and the police were fantastic. yes, of course there's always room for improvement, but FGS let's not ignore the good work they do. Most members of the police are dedicated, hard working competent people and there are a few who are not

Good to see your post foxie48. My work an personal experience of the police has been overwhelmingly positive. I was saddened to hear officers phoning Any Questions todaymtalking about how demoralised they feel. They could fill the JGV driver gap, earn more and not face abuse

Well said, foxie48.

I don’t think any of us would disagree with your post, but there is no doubt that the Met has a huge amount of work to regain trust. This is just one thing and the most appalling amongst a huge amount of issues over the past 10 years or so.

Trust has been gradually eroded. The black community, women, and others have all cause to feel distrustful and the police need a complete reform in order to get back on the sort of footing we all should expect from our police.

I’m in Greater Manchester, where we have a new chief constable appointed as our force is in special measures. Andy Burnham our Mayor, said on any questions today that one of his agreements with the new CC is that burglary will result in a police visit. In recent times, it hasn’t.
My father was a police officer. He took burglary seriously because in his view it was like a serious assault on the person in view of the emotional and psychological damage it caused.

Iam64

I’m in Greater Manchester, where we have a new chief constable appointed as our force is in special measures. Andy Burnham our Mayor, said on any questions today that one of his agreements with the new CC is that burglary will result in a police visit. In recent times, it hasn’t.
My father was a police officer. He took burglary seriously because in his view it was like a serious assault on the person in view of the emotional and psychological damage it caused.

Years ago we were burgled and it stayed with me for a long time. Every day when I came back from work I wondered if I’d be met with more devastation. You’re right? It’s such an invasion and you don’t feel safe for a long time.

I heard Andy Burnham today. I could really get behind him.

You’re right!?

Yes, Andy has grown into his role hasn’t he. Much more grounded, experienced and believable than when he lost to Corbyn. I often think if only he’d won. The country would be in better shape

68 police officers have been killed since 1900, the list excludes
more than 300 killed during the troubles and officers killed in
car crashes, so my husband doesn’t count.

Annie I didn’t know that statistic.I worry about our SIL all the time.

Yes you worry lemon , i am in turmoil because my younger
granddaughter who graduated with a degree in criminal
psychology has applied for a position in the force, not joining the force,