The police force attracts psychos.

Yeah it does tbh. You might get the odd one who wants to serve their community but I'd say that its mostly weirdos who want to bully others

Same with immigration officers etc

That said, i wouldn't call ghostbusters in the event of a crime - you'd just hope you get a reasonably level headed officer if you need one

I agree 💯. See also people who really want to be famous - something is lacking when you need that much validation from strangers and being hassled in public.

So do I, they'll be entering a very difficult workplace culture to navigate. However we need decent police.

Yes, I agree.

Of course the police attract psychos. It gives them access to vulnerable people and gives them the power they crave. It’s nothing new and comes back to the question of who polices the police?

I used to think cop bashing was for conspiracy theorists and cranks, then I was a victim of crime and now I get it. Utterly useless and corrupt liars - in my dealings with a fair few of them over the last 4 years. Gobsmackingly inept.

It really is. I wouldn’t never have had a relationship with someone in the police.

The Stanford Prison experiment has been widely criticised, debunked and accused of being fraudulent. It really doesn't support your case.

I think decent folk entering the police are very very brave.

I don't know who these people are , talking about "Karens" or people who "haven't worked a day in their lives" but if this is the kind of contempt police officers have for the people they're supposed to be serving, is it surprising they're not always held in high regard?

I'm sorry I haven't read the whole thread.

But I do think there's an argument that no one in their "right mind" would seek a career in the police due to the crap they have to deal with (both from the public/plugging the gap left by other services like mental health/and from within).

Therefore it follows it will attract certain types of people, some of whom are sociopaths/those lacking any empathy to sensitivity or those looking for a power trip.

the ones that have truly presented a higher quota of weirdos are special police officers - have worked with a few over the years - some just v odd, others spectacularly creepy.

Or from people who haven't worked a day in their life

The difference is, police are allowed to handcuff you. They're allowed to conduct body searches and use 'reasonable force'. They're allowed to carry weapons.

These modern AI, robot recruitment methods aren't working are they?

Yes, and the reaso these threads appear (and teacher ones) is that those in the profession seem determined not to acknowledge that not every police officer/teacher/nurse is a hero.

Or nurses and doctors, normally at least one thread on here slagging them off. Funny how it’s always the fault of the people who teach our kids, police our streets and look after our sick family and friends in hospital who are the dregs of society. The people who worked throughout Covid. Funnily enough all massively unstaffed, underpaid and under appreciated too. Whereas Karen who works from home in a non entity marketing job is an absolute saint.

Yes, this is my experience too

It does seem that way.

I agree with PP that any position of power will attract people ready to abuse it, but what's really concerning to me is that it seems much more than a few bad eggs, and worst of all, whenever another horrendous story comes out it seems like "everyone" knew he was a wrong 'un and no one did anything about it.

I'd be really interest to see the detail of the recruitment and training processes. Is there anything about "service" rather than law enforcement? Becuase in the (few) dealings I've had it doesn't seem to be there. Even the basically well behaved ones seem to think they're doing the public a favour, rather than serving the public.

I briefly dated a copper. Absolutely nothing would surprise me. To him, criminals were scum and victims were morons. No empathy whatsoever.

DH is American and he says it is way worse over there than here in terms of that. Thinks our police force is fantastic in comparison.

The Daily mail article is about the police in Australia. I've never visited Australia or had any contact with the police over there.

I have unfortunately had many contacts with Police in this country & virtually all have been hardworking, empathetic and caring.

They have one of the toughest jobs in the country. Imagine knocking on someone's door out of the blue to tell them their child has been killed then going to another job to be assaulted, sworn at, spat at then on to another to talk down someone suicidal then on to non-negotiable & non paid overtime to be first on scene to a fatal road collision.

All the time under immense scrutiny from public who thinks they would do better in any of those situations & all the time dealing with ever diminishing resources.

There will always be a level of arrogance among a minority of officers & there should be robust procedures to deal with that.

I have also had many contacts with NHS staff in this country & found repeated failures, lies & cover ups.

The Daily mail will bash the police & will put our NHS 'angels' on a pedestal because it sells papers to people who want to read those articles.