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Original poster

Do you still trust the police?

380 replies

Soubriquet · 12/08/2023 18:38

When I got with my dh 11 years ago, he would laugh when I said I trusted the police. That they were someone in a position of power, who I felt I could trust. He never tried to sway me, just said, ok..you’ll see.

Now…I don’t. After everything they has happened over the last few years..Rotherham, Wayne Couzens, the girl with autism and other shit like that, I do not trust them at all.

OP posts:
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6
LunaNorth · 12/08/2023 19:02

No I don’t.

catin8oots · 12/08/2023 19:04

I've just literally had them round for a domestic incident with my ex. Left ten minutes ago.

He threatened to burn my house down but I'm the only witness so they can't do anything.

Last time he held a kettle of boiling water over my head and pushed me to the ground. They arrested him and he denied it so they could t do anything.

Waste of time and public money.

Fantina · 12/08/2023 19:04

I think like anything it is about knowing your rights. I had a very aggressive and young male PC come to my home and demanded to speak to my DS who had been accused of bullying another child in the local park.

My DS has been there with the mother of another boy so I knew her version of what had actually happened.

This PC wasn’t at my door to establish any facts, he was planning to intimidate my DS over behaviour he hadn’t taken the time to ascertain whether it was true. I declined for him to speak to my DS and said as he was under the age of criminality he could not compel me to let him in without a warrant. He left and didn’t return.

catin8oots · 12/08/2023 19:05

Sorry for the merail

SirChenjins · 12/08/2023 19:05

No, not at all. Both my grandfathers were police officers and I was brought up to trust them - but that’s all changed. I know there are decent officers but there are far too many awful ones with many who belong in jail.

TonTonMacoute · 12/08/2023 19:06

Not any more I'm afraid.

My husband was assaulted, he caught most of the attack on his phone (which identified the aggressor) plus there was a witness. They said they didn't have enough evidence to prosecute and they lied to us about what the witness said in their statement.

I do know some older officers (late 40s early 50s) who are getting out as they feel they get zero support from their seniors.

Herejusttocomment · 12/08/2023 19:07

Yes, I had a lot of help from the police as a victim, dealt with them at other times too and they have always been very helpful. I'm an immigrant for reference, just to give you an idea of privilege and such things.

MrsTerryPratchett · 12/08/2023 19:08

Fantina · 12/08/2023 19:04

I think like anything it is about knowing your rights. I had a very aggressive and young male PC come to my home and demanded to speak to my DS who had been accused of bullying another child in the local park.

My DS has been there with the mother of another boy so I knew her version of what had actually happened.

This PC wasn’t at my door to establish any facts, he was planning to intimidate my DS over behaviour he hadn’t taken the time to ascertain whether it was true. I declined for him to speak to my DS and said as he was under the age of criminality he could not compel me to let him in without a warrant. He left and didn’t return.

Of course it would be great to know our rights.

However, it really should be the police who know, and defend, our rights.

I know certain legal frameworks very well for work. I deal with vulnerable people and could roll over them if I wanted. But when I am in conflict and tell them the law, I also say, "don't believe me though, never believe someone in a position of authority about your rights" and I direct them to legal advice. Where I direct them is free and I hate meeting them in Court because they are excellent. I want to be kept honest. Why don't the police?

MrsTerryPratchett · 12/08/2023 19:09

Herejusttocomment · 12/08/2023 19:07

Yes, I had a lot of help from the police as a victim, dealt with them at other times too and they have always been very helpful. I'm an immigrant for reference, just to give you an idea of privilege and such things.

Female white immigrant or black immigrant?

You don't have to answer but I've lived in three countries so I know my experience is very very different to ESL black immigrants.

VegetablesFightingToReclaimTheAubergieneEmoji · 12/08/2023 19:10

On the whole yes. It’s a thankless job
do I trust them to take an interest in anything low level?
no.

LadyKenya · 12/08/2023 19:14

No, sadly I have witnessed, and know of too much racism that people I know have had to put up with, from the police.

Alargeoneplease89 · 12/08/2023 19:15

Yes I trust them, the majority are good uns and have a difficult job dealing with Joe public. The only issues I have encountered are with female officers and their intimidating behaviour but wouldn't tar the whole force.

I had to call them alot as a child as my mum was an abusive alcoholic and they were very helpful. I have recently been pulled over on the motorway in the early hours and again very professional and had no issues with getting in his car to carry out checks.

SadOrWickedFairy · 12/08/2023 19:15

No.

And neither do retired Police Officer relatives or the ones they served with which shows just how far the Police have fallen.

coreas · 12/08/2023 19:16

I have recently been pulled over on the motorway in the early hours and again very professional and had no issues with getting in his car to carry out checks.

That would absolutely terrify me.

Proudgypsy · 12/08/2023 19:17

Haha no, not at all. And neither would you if you'd been told time and time again by police that it's fine to be thrown out of somewhere purely because of your ethnicity, when you're behaving like every other person there.

jlpth · 12/08/2023 19:18

In court as a juror, I saw shocking incompetence and general don’t give a shit attitude from a police officer. I even saw the judge wince as the police officer gave evidence. It contributed to the defendant being found not guilty. He 100% did the crimes. Sex crimes. He’s on our streets. There were 3 other officers who were competent and decent. But this one man really fucked everything.

I would judge on a case by case basis, but unfortunately no, it would not be a case of trusting them by default.

HermioneWeasley · 12/08/2023 19:19

Absolutely not. The incident with the girl with autism this week was absolutely chilling. Similarly the Met sent 6 officers to remove Julia Long (approx the size of a sparrow) from an Accenture diversity event.

they have allowed themselves simultaneously to be fully of vile misogynists and be the police arm of Stonewall and Mermaids. I personally know good individual officers, but as an institution - no.

Poorlilthing · 12/08/2023 19:20

Alargeoneplease89 · 12/08/2023 19:15

Yes I trust them, the majority are good uns and have a difficult job dealing with Joe public. The only issues I have encountered are with female officers and their intimidating behaviour but wouldn't tar the whole force.

I had to call them alot as a child as my mum was an abusive alcoholic and they were very helpful. I have recently been pulled over on the motorway in the early hours and again very professional and had no issues with getting in his car to carry out checks.

@Alargeoneplease89

how long ago was it that you were pulled over? And how did you bring in the police car whilst they did checks transpire? Did they invite you in the car?

AMessageToYouRuby · 12/08/2023 19:21

I would have said I've never trusted them. Am from a mixed background, grew up in Hackney, with mainly friends who are not white, I've never had a good experience with them, my DH and DC unfortunately have experienced the same and have seen horrific, disproportionately violent behaviour from them. This is decades in the making.

But then Wayne Couzens came along and I realised I must have had some trust in them because I would have probably complied with his instructions. Now, no chance.

TheYearOfSmallThings · 12/08/2023 19:22

Up to a point I trust most of them to mainly follow their own procedures.

But when I think about the people I have known who joined the police (although not in the UK as I don't know any here), they are no better nor worse than other people, which is to say mixed. They chose it because the job and pay and conditions suited them, and they didn't have better options. So I don't feel any particular respect for them, and I have no trouble believing many are lazy or dishonest or crooked. I also know from my own experience that they are no use at all when you call them because you actually need help.

And I don't think it is confined to any one force or nation either. I think it goes with the nature of the job, and will be found in every country to the extent that they can get away with it, so any notion of "rooting it out" is delusional.

Clymene · 12/08/2023 19:23

Not at all. They are corrupt, ideologically captured, harbour and protect rapists and paedophiles, and are institutionally racist, homophobic and misogynist.

The only person who should feel safe around them is straight white men. The rest of us are at risk.

UpsideDownYou · 12/08/2023 19:32

This reply has been withdrawn

This message has been withdrawn at the poster's request

stbrandonsboat · 12/08/2023 19:38

Absolutely not.

At best they're a joke, at worst they're dangerous.

BlondeBimboGirl · 12/08/2023 19:38

No, not one bit. I deal with them quiet regularly in my job and can honestly say I haven’t met one who I have respected or who I thought acted with an ounce of professionalism. Smug and egotistical

On a personal level, a family member suffered a very distressing, traumatic death earlier this year. Due a few factors we had police involvement and the way they treated us and our trauma was disgusting. Not a single ounce of empathy, spoke to traumatised family members like dirt, they were NO help at all and made the most difficult of teams even more difficult. Anyone can be a police officer, putting on that uniform doesn’t make them special and I have no respect for them in the slightest

Sexnotgender · 12/08/2023 19:38

Not even a little.