Do you still trust the police?

[Soubriquet]

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.

DH is a police officer and a lovely person and I obviously trust him! But the stories he tells me about underfunding, inexperienced officers, incompetent decision making etc make me wary of the police service as a whole.

What if someone self harms in front of the police? Surely not a crime

I mean there's definitely bad apples but I can't see how the job doesn't impact you. I'd hate to do it.

I've called 999 a few times & they've have been ok.

I stopped having any respect for the police when my late dp got assaulted by my neighbours & the policeman who came out said it was the law of the jungle & there would be repercussions if we reported the neighbours.

No. I would have to be in a terrible situation, like very life threatening, before I’d risk inviting the police into my life.

The police are out of control. Too many psychopaths and bullies have been allowed in. Yes there are lovely police but there are also many men who apply to the job for the thrill of abusing women / racial minorities in their power. I have even met a police officer (socially) who boasted about how he beat up a handcuffed man in custody for insulting the police officer’s wife.

Too many stories like this one.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/police-cell-rape-iopc-inquiry-manchester-b2387754.html

The police application process needs to be more like the army and security services: they need to assume that psychos apply, find through psychological evaluation and stop offering them jobs.

Having watched a kid of the fly on the wall documentaries I now know that police interviews are a means to get evidence to use against you. So I would only ever give a No Comment interview and my partner feels the same.

in terms of trust as in do I think I’m going to get raped or sexually assaulted by a policeman? No I don’t think anything like that. I’d also be bloody grateful to see a copper if I was in a scary situation and required help.

Name change for this one …. A met police officer that took photos of murder victims worked for my DH. He was sacked for stealing from the canteen. My DH said he was married with a young baby or children, can’t remember now but said it appeared he did it for the thrill of being able to get away with it. I remember it really well because we were thinking why would you risk your job to steal porridge?! Not to mention he was on a really good salary. Anyway, fast forward a year or so and there he was in the news. At the time I questioned why the bank didn’t press charges but DH said it’s easier for them just to sack somebody (of course, nothing to do with him but HR) but actually if they had pressed charges he wouldn’t have gone on to become a met police officer I suppose.

Not one iota. The whole system is corrupt. I have friends who serve and the feeling is mutual

I think people don't trust the police until they want them, it is a played on simplistic model of being 'current thing' until it effects them personally (see Oxford raids) and spate of robberies in Bristol.

The police can do better and it is a quick easy come back to blame the current government etc, but it has been battered by years of activistes as well, it was only a few years ago where yet another american import was introduced where protests where unironically shouting 'just don't shoot' at UK police.

Remember the 'dogwhistle' of highlighting a slippery slope of baklavas being a common trend, go onto any city forum and see it in action, yes the police need to do more, but the blame is on the activists who will plead innocence

Labour will win the next election and bring in tougher controls, and the likes of the Guardian and vocal online 'left' will welcome it and ignore the fact that if the Tories brought it in would be considered and -ism.

For a major crime, yes I'd trust them. For the police to work their asses off to find out who robbed my house and bring them to justice, no trust in that whatsoever. They don't have the manpower or inclination.

I'm a civilian in the police

Yes, I trust them

I see the disciplinaries and dismissals for the smallest of infractions
I see the hours they - and us - work unpaid

Every December, the mounds of Cmas presents for those families burgled on Cmas eve.

The wellbeing resources put in place because of the higher than average mental health issues and suicides

The anger and distress at the likes of Wayne Couzens

There are about 230,000fte police and civilian staff. The vast majority signed up for the right reasons and maintain that standard

I have to deal with the British Transport Police occasionally. Most of them are absolutely awful people. Rude. Arrogant. Sexist. Ableist. Occasionally racist. And totally incompetent.

My dealings with the Met he ave been similar. I really feel like we're on our own now, unless we say a hurty word then they are right on it.

* The police application process needs to be more like the army and security services: they need to assume that psychos apply, find through psychological evaluation and stop offering them jobs.*

probably won't be enough applicants though.

Can I just add that his previous employment would not have given a reference so I don’t know what screening the met police do when recruiting

I never did.

This. Just this.

No.

Last year, I was driving on the motorway and forgot to turn my lights on - (first time driving at night since lock down and thought it was darker then usual!) So they pulled me over and he asked (though it was politeness- I don't think you really have a choice) me to get into the police car ( I was a lone female in my early 30s and of course read about Wayne couzens and had no hesitation). The police officer was polite throughout considering it was completely my fault and I feel if you are polite, they are. Anyway, I took a breath test and was negative and was allowed to go on my way, he said I wasn't the first to forget to turn my lights on tonight.

I feel he could have easily gave me points or been off with me.

He checked my insurance/ mot / took name/ Dob/ address. I feel quite embarrassed being pulled over for that and was never patronising and made me at ease, even though he was a tall muscular guy and I'm short and skinny - I never felt threatened .

I saw a MN thread shortly after this event with the OP in the same circumstances and couldn't believe she wouldn't get out of her car.

Absolutely not. They have been caught covering up grooming gangs where I live so I wouldn't trust them one bit.

What? That's awful, was it in the news?
Why on earth would anyone cover up that?

Never have.

No, I never have and I wish I could.

Do you never watch the News?

I find a sunflower lanyard useful @XenoBitch for when I'm out in public in case I get triggered (CPTSD, BPD) and I have no one with me. Also remembering I am entitled to an appropriate adult like a support worker with me.

I honestly try not to go round causing mayhem. I really do. To breathe deeply and remember my emotional regulation and distress tolerance skills. Mindful breathing... I had a nasty experience as a child where I had to be examined by a police doctor, and so I feel triggered around the police. I know they were only doing their job and it wasn't their fault but they did nothing to put me at my ease when I was too young to understand my mistake and why I was there. I had blocked out the reason. I just remember feeling so ashamed that they had to poke me about like that.

Yes, every day but not this - which force was it?