To be angry that the Chief Constable chose the words..

[seeker]

"gentle" and "a chatterbox" respectively to describe the two women police officers who were murdered on duty yesterday.

Can you imagine those words ever being used to describe a man?

How about "the two police officers were loved their jobs and were good at it"

Not "were loved" obviously. It's horrible and a tragedy but I think their memory should have been respected without making it a feminine description.

Ah ok having read through the thread- if that is how their families wanted to describe then then obviously who are we to say anything.
RIP :(
And I will now shut up and step away

Get quotes? That is grossly disrespectful. You take time to do a proper interview even if you've only got 10 minutes but you also bear in mind how the Force will look. It shouldn't be beyond the political skills of someone who's managed to make it to be Chief Constable of a major police force.

That he didn't do that suggests to me that he doesn't regard that as important. That tells me something about Sir Peter Fahy and GMP.

okay sigmund, in my opinion the description: bubbly chatterbox, is demeaning.

I worked with Fiona Bone some years ago (not in the police), and the first word I thought of to describe her was gentle (also kind and friendly and well-mannered), so I think in this case that it was an appropriate way to describe her. Such a shocking, terrible thing to happen

limitedperiodonly Wed 19-Sep-12 20:26:44
Get quotes? That is grossly disrespectful. You take time to do a proper interview even if you've only got 10 minutes but you also bear in mind how the Force will look.

I agree, I mean what else do they have to do... like chasing down the scumbags who enabled the murderer.

It shouldn't be beyond the political skills of someone who's managed to make it to be Chief Constable of a major police force.

I suspect, like most huge organisations, there are a team for the family liaison issues

That he didn't do that suggests to me that he doesn't regard that as important. That tells me something about Sir Peter Fahy and GMP.

It suggests to me that policing is complex, and we only see part of it. And also, those who see the world through only one lens will always have a distorted view.

TeaBrick

Terrible.

If I lost my boy, (yes, he's 17 and will always be my boy) in a situation like that, and it was reported that he was a professional that lived for his job, I'd say fuck that.
I'd say he was funny, and clever and witty and caring. And a bit daft sometimes too.
That is his personality,
And I'd rather hear that than such a cold description.
We live in the 21st century, we can use emotions to describe losing our loved ones.
Is it really a feminist thing now to go back to the stiff upper lip, to just say well 'they were brave, and doing their duty'.
It's like going back 50 years.

onemorechap Sir Peter has people. That's all I'm saying.

YANBU.

Honestly, this thread is horrifying

Two policewomen are dead. DEAD.

If it hadnt been started by a regular I'd be calling "troll" by now.

"I don't understand the venomous reactions of some people here. I thought exactly the same as Seeker when I read the article. The words chosen were not appropriate in the context. "Bubbly," "chatterbox," - what's wrong with hard working, dedicated, respected?"

Are you sure you read it? If so, did you just not see this part?

"Greater Manchester Police is in mourning today for the loss of two very brave, courageous colleagues who exemplified the very best of British policing"

And those of you saying "how do you know the families are happy with the wording?" errrrrrrm, because the families came up with the words themselves?

"Get quotes? That is grossly disrespectful. You take time to do a proper interview even if you've only got 10 minutes"

The use of the word "quotes" was all me. I don't think you can really extrapolate what the CC did from what I said, seeing as I don't know him.

Who is to say he didn't do an interview?

Either way the description he gave of her being a chatterbox was from the family/friends not from the CC, it's just that he repeated it.

Personally I think it makes perfect sense to use the description given by those who knew her best, even if it doesn't tick all the feminist boxes.

As for gentle.. how often do we hear the words "gentle giant" ascribed to a man. Much much more often that a woman, thats for sure.

It is a nice sentiment, no matter which gender it has been attached to.

"Get quotes? That is grossly disrespectful. You take time to do a proper interview even if you've only got 10 minutes but you also bear in mind how the Force will look. It shouldn't be beyond the political skills of someone who's managed to make it to be Chief Constable of a major police force.

That he didn't do that suggests to me that he doesn't regard that as important. That tells me something about Sir Peter Fahy and GMP."

limited, I usually agree with a lot of what you say but I am really perplexed by this... I doubt very much that the family, within 24 hours of losing those poor women, were in any fit state to do even a 10 minute interview. Peter Fahy had to do a horrible thing and pay tribute to two of his force killed on the job, less than 24 hours afterwards. That he made a relatively heartfelt statement (and he DID talk of their police work, I quoted above!) is not to be scoffed at.

Just because he is CC of a major police force, doesn't mean he can't speak with compassion and tenderness about two dead colleagues. Was he supposed to remain stony-faced and just talk about their work? Fuck that. Remember what a nobber everyone thought the Queen was when Diana died and she wouldn't utter a single personal nicety about the mother of her grandsons? A bit of compassion and a few kind words and you're making all sorts of judgements about him and his police force? Seems a bit unfair to me. We've had someone who worked under him on this thread saying what a good leader he is, yet a lot of you are judging him on this?! It's awful and pathetic.

"'Bubbly chatterbox is demeaning.'

Shouldn't you prefix that with 'In my opinion..'. It doesn't sound like the general consensus then, and is less likely to upset people."

Amen to that.

limited Of course he has people, but what the heck was he supposed to do when presented with quotes from the family and friends? You said getting quotes is disrespectful and they should have "interviewed people". Have you considered these people might have been complete and utter shock and may not have been particularly eloquent?

This thread is really really pissing me off now. It really is fucking desrispectful to those poor officers and their families.

I not so long ago had a phone call to tell me a 17 year old close family friend had been killed. I actually have very little memory of the next 24 hours. The shock was appalling. I have no idea what I said or did. Maybe the "quotes" used were the "best" ones available, how do any of you know they weren't?
Maybe they should have just made up their own "politically correct" quotes, just to make sure no one is offended.

Excuse typos I'm livid and now hiding the thread

Why is it wrong to be called a chatterbox?
It's said out of affection, she probably was talkative and funny and maybe even got taken the piss out of as does happen in many close knit professions.
But they cared about her, it was the way they saw her.
I'm still so not getting this thread, some poster's remarks are just to me.

And I haven't had to look far to find an instance of a male soldier killed in action described as "bubbly"

"Wroe was deployed to Afghanistan on 1 July, shortly after his 18th birthday. He is survived by his parents, Michael and Claire, and sister Demi, from Holmfirth, West Yorkshire.

His family said in a statement: "Our son Thomas was a brave young soldier, who is loved by his family, girlfriend and friends.

"We can't believe you have been taken so soon from us. You will always be in our hearts for ever and ever.

"You would light up the room with your smile and bubbly personality. Our world will be a duller place without you. We are so proud of you son, on all you achieved and we are grateful for every special thing you gave us. We will always love you Tom"

That was about one of those poor two soldiers killed in Afghanistan last week.

And another one:

"
Melanie Williams, head of Royds Hall, which PteWilford left in 2007, said he was a "friendly, polite, happy and caring" pupil and would always be remembered by the school with pride.

Pte Wilford was just 16 when he joined the Army and Cpl Hartley, a former student at Earlsheaton High School in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, was 17 when he enlisted, the paper reported.

Pte Wade?s mother, Lisa Billing, along with her daughter, Stacey, hugged each other as they silently read the floral tributes left outside the family?s home in Warrington by a steady stream of visitors.

Friends of the soldier said he had been ?really excited? at the prospect of becoming a father soon with his girlfriend, Emma, and described him as a ?happy and bubbly person"

Thanks for that Bupcakes.
That is so sad.
I fear it's a losing battle here though, there are certain people on this thread that only care about their own agendas.
Real feelings and honest emotions is wrong on the rad feminist agenda.
It's almost Orwellian and quite frankly I'd run a mile from them.

Absolutely disgusting thread.

Mumsnet at its worst.

I am angry at the cowardly piece of scum who pre-meditated and carried out this horrific murder

I am not "angry" at Sir Peter Fahy for quoting friends and colleagues of these victims especially as I watched his press conference live and I thought he delivered the police statement exceptionally well as you could clearly see and hear the emotion he was holding back as he spoke about these officers

2 young lives have been cruelly taken that it what is important here not whatever words were used to describe these officers

Of course family and friends can say anything they like. Of course they can and should.

However, the Chief Constable and other senior police officers should consider their words.