Police Officer Shot Dead in Croydon

[Magicpaintbrush]

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-54293111

My DH is in the Met and came home on the verge of tears after night duty this morning, so demoralised, so cut up by the loss of another police officer who was just doing his job.

So many officers put their lives at risk daily, like the officer who has tragically died last night. But so many members of the public dehumanise police officers, seeing only the uniform, forgetting they are human beings too who work so hard and often in horrific circumstances - the media only reports half the story often - and that they have families and friends who love them. The powers that be, government et al, don't value them and treat them like disposable shit.

I am so desperately sorry for the police officer who has died so tragically, and his family. This is the kind of danger that officers face and they are not appreciated or looked after by the higher powers who send them out there to face these dangers, they just aren't.

That's awful. Hope your DH is okay 💐. So much more needs to be done to protect the police. They're human too. How many more must die on duty before the government does something?

That goes for any emergency worker as well

Absolutely, all emergency workers face risks at work. They should all be valued.

There has been a noted increase in aggression, violence and entitlement from the public in recent years. It's frightening.

The officer was a woman it has now been reported. Truly awful - as you say, police officers are human beings with families.

Dreadful news.

That’s horrendous. Quite shocking.

Horrific. The vitriol aimed towards the emergency services is horrendous. There needs to be much, much harsher punishments for anyone that attacks/abuses someone just doing their job.

I don’t understand how a suspect was taken into a police station without having being searched in the first place - I’m gobsmacked that was allowed to happen.
My god, that is awful. The poor officer And their family.

the media only reports half the story often
What is the unreported half?

This story is tragic and no one should ever lose their life in this way. At face value it seems like the suspect managed to conceal a gun throughout his search and then it was revealed at the police station - if this is full of incorrect assumptions please say.

@wowfudge It was not a woman.

I see that politicians, Home Secretary and so forth, are expressing their shock and sadness but I have to be honest and say that I think it's just words, and I don't think they are sincere, I don't honestly think they genuinely care at all. They are just saying what's required, like they always do.

DD is 13 and several of her friends "hate the police", call them vile names and even wish terrible harm on them and their families. She says nothing. She understands institutional and individual racism, understands the issues and is as politically motivated as her peers. But she also has a father who has been in the police service her entire life. She has seen him weep, rage, question and worry over his fellow officers and the dangers and heartbreak they face.

The thin blue line has never been so stretched or misunderstood.

That poor officer and their friends, family and colleagues.

"the media only reports half the story often
What is the unreported half?

This story is tragic and no one should ever lose their life in this way. At face value it seems like the suspect managed to conceal a gun throughout his search and then it was revealed at the police station - if this is full of incorrect assumptions please say."

I meant generally, not about this incident in particular, sorry that wasn't clear. I just mean that I know of incidents that are reported in the press and are often worse in reality than is reported, and people don't always realise how many traumatic things police officers are routinely exposed to because it doesn't get reported. I only mentioned this in terms of how grateful we should be for all that they do, because often we don't know the half of it. Didn't mean to suggest this incident specifically.

This.

No words really, just deep sadness on reading this, not even watched the news this morning.
999 family here, we've lived this pain, several times now. Only to live it again and again, as do so many emergency service workers each time another family loses someone they love, to such as this.

'don’t understand how a suspect was taken into a police station without having being searched in the first place - I’m gobsmacked that was allowed to happen.'

Because people are human and mistakes happen? because criminals find ways to commit crimes?

Awful tragedy.

A cursory search when arrested will not necessarily find all articles hidden. You can’t search someone’s underwear, for example and a full search will only be conducted whilst within the custody suite and only when authorised and necessary.

So I’m not going to criticise as it’s easy to do so when you aren’t a police officer and think a pat down will magically reveal everything.

My concern would be around the handcuffing of the prisoner, our training is that all prisoners should get handcuffed to the rear and interested to see how this affects officer safety training in England.

I’m heartbroken for the officer and for the ones who will live with guilt, no matter how this happened.

'A cursory search when arrested will not necessarily find all articles hidden. You can’t search someone’s underwear, for example and a full search will only be conducted whilst within the custody suite and only when authorised and necessary'

Terrible. I bet most of us presumed police officers would have the authority to do a thorough search once in custody.

Honestly, it always seems to be about the criminals rights.

@Magicpaintbrush I hope your DH is ok, and I send all my gratitude and best wishes to him and all emergency workers

My DP is south London met police and knew the officer who has died, he sounded like a great officer and one who was passionate about policing and in the job for the right reasons. DP is devastated, as I suspect many many officers are.

He has heard several versions of events via work colleagues but the true story is not known yet.

A tragic outcome, however it happened.

Utterly tragic. My thoughts are with the officer’s family and colleagues.

This is so awful. Yes the police get it wrong sometimes, yes some officers let the side down but most of them are doing their best with limited resources and huge pressures. We in a society where we can call 999 when in danger and a complete stranger will come and help us. For that we are lucky.
My thoughts are with the poor officers family

Read this with horror this morning.

to all MN police officers and MNers with family serving.

I know this is only words, but if it helps at all, I always do see police officers as human beings with family and friends who love them.

I can recognise, at the same time, that not all individual officers are angels and there can be institutional failures. There's no contradiction in saying this, and I absolutely take my hat off to those who do a good job.

Thank you for what you do.

Sashh I'm sorry for any negative experiences you've had. Perhaps this wasn't the thread to air them though. Have some respect fgs.