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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think that some of the cops on "Police Camera action" type shows dont do the police any favours?

23 replies

bogeyface · 19/09/2012 01:11

Road Cops or something is on, H is watching it, and something happened that I have seen several times before that makes me feel uncomfortable.

The guy had pulled over a kid who was speeding and had had a drink but not enough to be over the limit, a half of shandy was mentioned! He was being a smartarse and trying to face out the copper. The cop had a word and said, in a nutshell, dont be a dick to the police to try and make yourself look big in front of your mates as you will end up arrested and you will end up looking stupid, alright? The lad crumbled a bit and said ok, all was fine, lesson learned etc But then......the cop said "you're a bit pathetic arent you?" to which the lad mumbled yes. Then they sent him on his way.

Why? Why say that he was being pathetic, they both knew he was, so why say it? I have seen things like that before, saying "You are being an idiot arent you?" or whatever. It doesnt help the situation, it may well inflame it, and makes him look like a power crazy arsehole.

AIBU?

OP posts:
NellyJob · 19/09/2012 01:13

was it Thames Valley by any chance?

Original poster
bogeyface · 19/09/2012 01:23

It was Nelly, just had to wait until the next "instalment* to check.

Are they known for this kind of thing?

OP posts:
wannabedomesticgoddess · 19/09/2012 01:29

YABU.

Sounds like he was being pathetic and it was the officers way of reminding the lad that the police are to be respected.

To much disrespect nowadays.

Original poster
bogeyface · 19/09/2012 01:39

BUt he had already done that Wanna, why take it that one step further?

Why tell a drunk and aggressive man that he is being an idiot? He is already being aggressive so why make it worse?

They do sometimes make a bad situation worse, and surely that is the exact opposite to what they should be doing?

OP posts:
TapirBackRider · 19/09/2012 04:17

It's easy with hindsight to see these things, or as an onlooker. He obviously thought he was doing/saying the right thing at the time - even though you saw it on camera, it would be heavily edited, and that officer is the one who was dealing with it.

Tiredtrout · 19/09/2012 04:47

Why shouldn't an officer tell someone they are being an idiot if they're being an idiot, it's often done instead of a ticket. Alot of these programmes are heavily edited.

I was on one once before I even knew the crew were around they were filming what we were doing, it was a drunk unconscious teenage girl. We were there half an hour trying to get her up and find her parents. They showed 1 minute of us appearing peeved with her, not us taking her home with her being sick over herself and our van then having to sort the van out.

Could we not have a day or two off from the criticism after yesterday's events in Manchester?

TapirBackRider · 19/09/2012 05:10

Tired - My dh was involved in a documentary series, he got to wear the vest cam whilst out on shift - his force had insisted on final say after it was edited, and pulled out because of how it had been edited, portraying decent & professional officers as idiots and mouthy arseholes.

Dh is up for earlys now - sitting watching the news for the latest updates; he cried when he got home last night, just so terrible for their families, friends and colleagues.

Tiredtrout · 19/09/2012 05:13

I'm up for earlies to, not sure I really want to go in

RattersReward · 19/09/2012 06:20

In light of the fact that two young police women were brutally murdered yesterday please can we give police threads a rest for a while?

TroublesomeEx · 19/09/2012 06:23

But he was being pathetic.

We've spent too long in this country 'understanding' and 'respecting' people who are choosing to break the law.

That lad chose to get in a car after having a drink, he chose to drive like a dick, he chose to risk the lives of every other road user he came into contact with that night. I think pathetic was very restrained actually.

He'd have got a hell of a lot worse from me.

TroublesomeEx · 19/09/2012 06:24

Oh I had no idea about that Ratters. That's dreadful.

RattersReward · 19/09/2012 06:29

In Manchester a wanted murderer made a false call to police claiming a burglary was taking place. The two young women responded. On their arrival he fired around 10 shots at them, then threw a hand grenade at them. One died at the scene, one in hospital.

TroublesomeEx · 19/09/2012 06:32

I'm so sorry to hear that.

Isityouorme · 19/09/2012 06:34

Op, YABU. Why should police take abuse .... Er they shouldn't.

RattersReward · 19/09/2012 06:35

It is horrific.

wannabedomesticgoddess · 19/09/2012 09:48

Tbh I think the OP should ask for this to be deleted. No need for it right now.

The police have one of the hardest jobs out there and I can honestly say that despite the dire editing on these shows, I have always admired how they handle each situation.

They never know from one minute to the next what they will be faced with, yet they still handle it all so well.

Really sick of people on here having a go because they said this or that. They are the police. They arent supposed to be your best mate.

My heart goes out to the families of the two officers.

NellyJob · 19/09/2012 09:59

Are they known for this kind of thing?
Thames Valley do often come over as a bit thuggish/gung ho on those programs, but who can blame them really?

TroublesomeEx · 19/09/2012 10:06

The police, by the very nature of the job, deal with the scummiest, least respectful/respectable, thuggist, violent, least law abiding members of society.

They have to maintain their position of authority. Sometimes that means they can't be all woolly and kind.

If people don't like the way the police speak to them when they've broken the law perhaps they need to stop breaking the law.

The police get a raw deal a lot of the time. Yes, sometimes individuals make mistakes/misjudge a situation/are corrupt but to suggest that someone falls into one of these categories because they called a drink driving lad "pathetic" is pushing 'understanding' a bit too far.

NellyJob · 19/09/2012 10:09

yes they are probably sick of dealing with pathetic little scrotes and sometimes say it like it is.
It's hardly up there with police brutality is it?

aldiwhore · 19/09/2012 10:13

Sorry but you said in your OP he'd had 1/2 a shandy, then you say "why tell a drunk an agressive man he's being pathetic".

The police deal with scrotes all day every day, and usually if someone is okay with them, they're okay back. BUT if you're a tit to a copper then they are going to have zero tolerance.

I remember my brother (who is lovely mostly) whining that a copper threw him on the floor and cuffed him tightly when he got arrested for drink driving... at first it sounded a bit harsh, until my brother admitted he was absoluetly wasted (cannabis) and called the copper a wanker... well all sympathy left the building at that point.

TroublesomeEx · 19/09/2012 10:17

thuggish not thuggist. I might have invented a whole new -ism there!

TapirBackRider · 19/09/2012 13:05

Tired and all other serving officers here.

It's the fact that you do go, even after terrible things like this happen that show the true bravery and courage that police officers have.

Again, my thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the families, friends and colleagues of these brave officers - and with every officer out doing their duty.

OhDearNigel · 19/09/2012 13:18

OP, I have dealt with drink drivers who have claimed, on being asked "have you had a drink" to have had only a quick pint 3 hours ago - then blown 3 times over the limit.

It may come as a shock to you but criminals lie

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