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Original poster

Been waiting for police for nearly 5 hours

180 replies

Realitea · 03/03/2022 01:52

I called 999. They know if I call what it’s about and I need urgent police assistance
That was at 9pm
Called back at 10.30 - assured they’ll visit and said they’re busy
At what point do I give up? I have to be up in 4.5 hours for work! Not that I feel I could sleep anyway after what happened.

OP posts:
Jvg33 · 03/03/2022 08:38

@Notagoodnight

The threat posed by my son isn't insignificant either. However If he was the other side of a locked door I wouldn't be calling the police, if he started making attempts to get through the locked door talking about me poisoning him again, I would.

But you're right my comment may be unfair depending upon backstory. But in first glance Hmm

A woman died in Derbyshire recently because of a stalker. She reported him numerous times to the police. The stalker was fired from his job due to sexual harassment to the woman he stalked. Stalkers are an emergency. They have become mentally ill.
Useranon1 · 03/03/2022 08:43

it’s highly likely that there were only two officers covering a particular area.

But not for a whole county surely @Averyproperteaparty? Or am I really off the mark?

With 1000 officers in the force, even if half are on a rest day or leave, 100 are training, 200 on special projects that's still 200 on duty. Not 2.

Anubias44 · 03/03/2022 08:48

This reply has been deleted

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BlondeDogLady · 03/03/2022 08:55

@Useranon1

I would be making a complaint OP on the basis that the policy have clearly lied to you! There were not 2 policy officers for your county last night.

Even the smallest county force is over 1000 police officers. Unless 96% of them were off last night, there were more than 2.

My DH is a Police Officer. There have been numerous times, when he and a colleague have been the only Officers on Response for several towns.

You can't count Officers that aren't in armour and on response - there are loads that do desk jobs that cannot be sent to 999 calls, they don't even have the equipment, like stab vest, baton, gas.

UnconditionalSurrender · 03/03/2022 08:57

I am so glad you are safe OP.
The real scandal here is that there are so few police. This is not a police issue this is due to the cuts over all public sectors under successive Tory governments. Everyone just assumes phoning 999 will get them an ambulance or a police person and until they need one have no idea how badly the cuts have affected things. A woman with a stalker outside should have had a police person there immediately. I'd like to live in a country where that is possible.
Then you realise that the country is full of shit like this

Unfortunately, the 'police' have an aversion to dealing with real criminality, especially if it involves leaving their mobile 'safe spaces'. If however, task involves marshalling Pride events, you'll find a small army of rainbow uniformed flag wavers, will be there in a 'gender fluid' instant

BlondeDogLady · 03/03/2022 08:57

@Useranon1

it’s highly likely that there were only two officers covering a particular area.

But not for a whole county surely @Averyproperteaparty? Or am I really off the mark?

With 1000 officers in the force, even if half are on a rest day or leave, 100 are training, 200 on special projects that's still 200 on duty. Not 2.

This is so off the mark it's funny. 200 Officers on response? LOL.
UnconditionalSurrender · 03/03/2022 08:58

And by that I mean people posting this sort of bigoted stuff.

fairylightsandwaxmelts · 03/03/2022 09:00

@Useranon1

it’s highly likely that there were only two officers covering a particular area.

But not for a whole county surely @Averyproperteaparty? Or am I really off the mark?

With 1000 officers in the force, even if half are on a rest day or leave, 100 are training, 200 on special projects that's still 200 on duty. Not 2.

But being on duty isn't the same as being out and on response to crimes like this.

Some will be traffic, some at the custody suite, some on the phones, some in the office doing paperwork,m

MintyFreshBreath · 03/03/2022 09:21

Bloody hell, a stalker. I take it that’s your ex-partner. Not asking you to confirm or deny btw. Is there any chance you can move? This must be terrifying and the police sound as much use as a chocolate teapot.

YetAnotherSpartacus · 03/03/2022 09:34

Someone said on here that it’s like murder in slow motion and that’s exactly how it feels. I don’t think there is any help until something awful happens and by then it’s too late. I feel like a sitting duck and god know how my dd must feel

Yep. I had a neighbour harassing me once and the police helpfully gave me tips about how I could stop provoking him by being very quiet and avoiding him and also 'asking a bloke to stay with me' and told me to call them back 'when he bashes you so you have something to prove it'. This was in 2002.

All the best OP.

Theunamedcat · 03/03/2022 09:50

@YetAnotherSpartacus

Someone said on here that it’s like murder in slow motion and that’s exactly how it feels. I don’t think there is any help until something awful happens and by then it’s too late. I feel like a sitting duck and god know how my dd must feel

Yep. I had a neighbour harassing me once and the police helpfully gave me tips about how I could stop provoking him by being very quiet and avoiding him and also 'asking a bloke to stay with me' and told me to call them back 'when he bashes you so you have something to prove it'. This was in 2002.

All the best OP.

Yes its the old chestnut " when he hits you then we will have evidence" "it's just your word against his that you didn't invite him to your home" "yes we know he took the window out to gain access but he thought you were in trouble because you blocked his number you could have been hurt" " he is just showing concern for his children we don't find over 100 calls excessive" "perhaps just answer the phone to him"
BlondeDogLady · 03/03/2022 09:50

The Police Officer want to go to everything. It's extremely frustrating when you just don't have the bodies available. Blame Teresa May for the Police cuts.

HeadPain · 03/03/2022 09:59

Only 2 police officers working in the whole county overnight? Shock

EvilPea · 03/03/2022 10:02

Apologies if this has been mentioned and I’ve missed it. Have you spoken to www.suzylamplugh.org/ to see if there’s anything more they can support you with?

NarrowHippedVixen · 03/03/2022 10:41

@HeadPain

Only 2 police officers working in the whole county overnight? Shock
A relative of mine is in the police and says it's regularly like that.

One call can take up hours.

LizDoingTheCanCan · 03/03/2022 10:58

Ten years ago we had a 24 hour police station in our town, with response officers based there as well as a front desk open to the public.

Now the closest station is 12 miles away, and the response officers that once covered our town, now cover half of the county, a population six times greater than what they used to cover.

LizDoingTheCanCan · 03/03/2022 11:03

The lack of mental health services/ funding is also a massive issue. A neighbour of mine has periods of severe mental illness, and probably once a month the police visit because she is at risk of serious harm. They will be there for hours (over five on Sunday), because mental health services don't have anyone to come out, the s. 136 suite is already in use, and they cannot leave her in such a state.

It's not the woman's fault that she's unwell, it's the lack of community health care that means the system only picks people up when they're extremely unwell.

Original poster
Realitea · 03/03/2022 11:07

@LizDoingTheCanCan that is very similar to this case.

OP posts:
OverByYer · 03/03/2022 11:16

@LizDoingTheCanCan

The lack of mental health services/ funding is also a massive issue. A neighbour of mine has periods of severe mental illness, and probably once a month the police visit because she is at risk of serious harm. They will be there for hours (over five on Sunday), because mental health services don't have anyone to come out, the s. 136 suite is already in use, and they cannot leave her in such a state.

It's not the woman's fault that she's unwell, it's the lack of community health care that means the system only picks people up when they're extremely unwell.

This is spot on and a daily occurrence for police across the UK.
Averyproperteaparty · 03/03/2022 11:34

@Useranon1

it’s highly likely that there were only two officers covering a particular area.

But not for a whole county surely @Averyproperteaparty? Or am I really off the mark?

With 1000 officers in the force, even if half are on a rest day or leave, 100 are training, 200 on special projects that's still 200 on duty. Not 2.

Yes you really are off the mark. The situation is absolutely dire. As quick as officers are joining they are leaving and there are rafts of officers retiring as they reach the end of their service. The new recruits that are there are clueless. Unfortunately they can’t teach experience. It’s not their fault.

@Anubias44 what a bullshit comment. There are officers putting their lives on the line on a daily basis and being assaulted and injured on a regular basis. In every profession there are people who seem to dodge hard work and the Police are no different in that respect, but these are rare. There are thousands of brave and dedicated officers keeping us safe on a daily basis. It’s not a perfect profession and there are problem officers but your comments are wide of the mark.

PigeonLittle · 03/03/2022 12:54

There was a recent show on BBC iPlayer about stalking, the victims were being supported by a charity to help them assess safety etc. It might be worth seeking extra support seeing if there may be any CCTV grants etc.

You must be exhausted Flowers

Luckypoppy · 03/03/2022 13:09

A complaint isn't a criticism of the officers dealing with you. It's a criticism of the lack of policing. I would do it purely from a safeguarding and protecting of lives perspective and keep pushing it.

Useranon1 · 03/03/2022 13:19

Can anyone mocking me actually explain where the other 998 police officers are then? I ask as my brother is in West Yorkshire police and doesn't recognise this '2 officers for a county' situation at all!

Cablefable · 03/03/2022 13:53

@Useranon1

Can anyone mocking me actually explain where the other 998 police officers are then? I ask as my brother is in West Yorkshire police and doesn't recognise this '2 officers for a county' situation at all!
There's zero chance it is 2 officers for an entire county. Perhaps patch, call category or whatever but absolutely not.
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