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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To hate the police?

268 replies

DrHolmes · 07/02/2013 17:32

BF was pulled over by an unmarked police car today. He got out of his van and was told he was not wearing his seatbelt and they issued him with a £60 ticket. I came home from work and he told me the story and told me he was wearing it. He has a beeper that goes off every few seconds if he doesnt have it on and no one would drive about listening to that. I know he is telling the truth. If we appeal it then we put our case forward and then goes to court but if the fiscal find the police in favour we will have a higher fine. But i do not want him to pay the fine because that is letting them away with this. Corrupt filth. Not sure what to do :/

OP posts:
WeAllHaveWings · 07/02/2013 20:02

dh was spot fined £60 for not wearing a seatbelt when he was wearing one. I am 100% certain he was wearing it as he is one of those drivers who does not feel comfortable driving without one on.

The police said they spotting him, across a roundabout, crossing his left arm over to the seatbelt and pulling it on when he saw them. He wasn't, he had a cold and was wiping his nose on the back of his hand BOAK!

It was a pain in the arse paying the fine as a court case would have meant time of work, probably at an inconvenient time.

Do I hate all police? No, I believe they made a genuine mistake and its a pain it cost us, but they are just doing their job (one that can be extremely tough at times and I could never do).

My SIL had many dealings with many different police officers over a period of 3 years while she was a victim of an on-going crime and they were brilliant with her. I was there during visits from police officers, statement taking and the eventual court case (where unfortunately the verdict was a very frustrating not proven) and every police officer I met was very helpful and supportive.

YABU to hate the police.

MrsWolowitzerables · 07/02/2013 20:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

slhilly · 07/02/2013 20:06

I'm sure that there are many fine police officers. However, I think people are downplaying the serious, extensive and longstanding issues of police abuse that occur in this country. The fact that it's worse in other countries is irrelevant. What matters is whether it's bad on an absolute scale. To my mind, there are four major problems:

  • there have been some really serious abuses of power, eg hillsborough, sus laws etc...
  • in part this is due to a damaged culture. I imagine a Francis report for the police would be just as grim reading on this point, and in particular would be highlighting the defensive and closed mindsets that are very prevalent. These mindsets are unsurprising and tough to eradicate given that...
  • it is obviously in criminals' interests to try to get off by making false accusations, so distinguishing the real police misdeeds from the false claims is tough, and this is made worse because...
  • becoming a police officer is an enticing career choice for bullies. And some bullies are quite good at pretending not to be bullies for the purpose of recruitment and retention tests.
Plomino · 07/02/2013 20:07

Holly .

They get them from a cross section of society at large . That's why we have quotas to try and recruit to , so as to try these days to accurately reflect society. . If you don't like it , that says a lot , doesn't it ?

You know what ? I'm fucking sick of being pulled to bits by people who have absolutely NO concept of what I do . I don't walk into their places of work , tell them they're shit, corrupt , filth , and I could do their job better and for a lot less money. You want to change it ? They're recruiting for specials . Have a go .

WillSingForCake · 07/02/2013 20:07

Very ill-timed thread, with the current court case of those two police officers who tragically lost their lives protecting the public.

Your generalisations are ridiculous, and are making you come across as extremely thick.

Flossish · 07/02/2013 20:08

My Dh is a police officer. He's got far too much other interesting stuff to do rather than stop people unnecessarily.

Do come and update us after the appeal, won't you??

OP, you sound ridiculous. I hope you were just aiming to get a response, as otherwise you sound unhinged.

Original poster
DrHolmes · 07/02/2013 20:12

vicar It was an unmarked police car so I'm not sure what they were?

Can you tell me what the process is for appealing/the liklihood of wininng/losing? There were 2 policemen and only my bf. He did argue it a bit then realised they weren't changing their minds.
I also called our areas non emergency police line and complained and the woman I spoke to said she'd write a note against the ticket number to say we were going to appeal and that note will show up on the notes if it goes to court so hoping that will be in our favour?

OP posts:
HorraceTheOtter · 07/02/2013 20:13

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

AmIthatWintry · 07/02/2013 20:16

I like youwiththeface's response.

Honestly, "corrupt filth" Hmm OP, sorry, but you don't know what you're talking about.

....and as for the poster upthread who thinks the Mark Duggan case was down to corruption. WTAF.

AnneElliott · 07/02/2013 20:19

I don't need to say YABU up generalise as everyone else has already done that. I work with loads of Police officers and while some are definately in the wrong job, the vast majority are doing their best and came into the job to protect people.
I go think the Policd themselves need to do better at getting rid of the bad apples but that is happening slowly. Appeal it if they made a mistake but I can't see why they would make it up.

AmIthatWintry · 07/02/2013 20:19

Oh, just caught up with the thread and note that the OP phoned up and complained.

The beef is between the police and your bf. You phoning and complaining makes you sound like a possessive mother.

Original poster
DrHolmes · 07/02/2013 20:22

No, I called up to complain it was unfair and asked for advice on what to do. Don't see the big deal?

OP posts:
Flossish · 07/02/2013 20:24

If it was an unmarked police car then even more reason for him doing something wrong to make them stop him IMO.

These are not usually 'beat' bobbies - ie, they have continuing work loads and don't particularly want additional jobs to add to their work load.

amillionyears · 07/02/2013 20:24

DrHolmes, you have not answered either of my questions.
Lets hope your bf is going to be better at answering questions.

slhilly · 07/02/2013 20:26

Plomino

"Holly "
I'm guessing this was for me

"They get them from a cross section of society at large . That's why we have quotas to try and recruit to , so as to try these days to accurately reflect society. . If you don't like it , that says a lot , doesn't it ? "
Like any job, the person spec for a police officer is meant to rule out some people from the role, because not everyone can do it. Reflecting the ethnic and gender mix of the population is a completely different thing from this. And incidentally, the police have a terrible track record in reflecting community diversity, worse than almost every other public service and considerably worse than many private sector organisations too. Dal Babu has just retired: see what he has to sayon the matter

"You know what ? I'm fucking sick of being pulled to bits by people who have absolutely NO concept of what I do . I don't walk into their places of work , tell them they're shit, corrupt , filth , and I could do their job better and for a lot less money. You want to change it ? They're recruiting for specials . Have a go ."
This is exactly the defensive mindset I was describing. There are many other jobs that have very high stakes and huge pressures. Healthcare is an obvious example. Defensive mindsets in health were one of the causes of MidStaffs. They were a cause in Hillsborough too. They need to be addressed, by the system and by the people within it. Reflective practice is vital

cumfy · 07/02/2013 20:28

It may be worth trying to find out if they had video in-car.

It seems likely they are are traffic police and therefore more likely they had video.

Original poster
DrHolmes · 07/02/2013 20:28

They were sitting on a road off the main road and my partner was going over the roundabout.

My bf has no reason to lie to me. If he hadn't actually been wearing his seatbelt and came home with a ticket I wouldn't be screaming and shouting at him! I'd just say that's what he gets for not having it on.
We can afford the fine but because it is unfair and he was wearing his seatbelt he's going to appeal.

OP posts:
thegreylady · 07/02/2013 20:29

I agree absolutely.I haven't trusted the police since I was stopped while driving Dh's new[secondhand] car. I had the tax disc for the old car [traded in] face down on the dashboard and the just expired disc for the new car was displayed.I had all the documents and was on my way to the post office to tax the car-it was the day after we had bought it[paid 8pm Sunday stopped by police 11am Monday].
I was accused of fraud!
The worst thing was when the young policeman told three separate lies in court and was believed.I did stupidly say in court;"Until today I have taught my pupils to respect and support the police. I will never do that again."
This was 24 years ago and I have never forgotten or forgiven them.

Original poster
DrHolmes · 07/02/2013 20:29

cumfy - thanks, will look into that.

OP posts:
JaquelineHyde · 07/02/2013 20:32

Yes, yes that's right the police are all corrupt arseholes.

Every health care worker is negligent and uncaring.

All care home workers are abusive

and

All men of the cloth (particularly Catholics) are peadophiles.

Now if we apply this rule of generalisation to Mumsnet posters based on your OP we could conclude that...

All MNers are ignorant, offensive cunts.

Hmm Probably all feels a little bit silly when you think of it like that doesn't it op?

thegreylady · 07/02/2013 20:33

I have,however met several kind and helpful policemen since we moved house. So I must qualify and say I don't hate 'the police' just the two young liars who were out that Monday morning.

Plomino · 07/02/2013 20:33

Slhilly

You guessed wrong . And fwiw , I used to work under Dal Babu . I have heard quite a lot on what he has to say . On many , many subjects .

ComposHat · 07/02/2013 20:33

"Fuckin with me cause I'm a teenager
with a little bit of gold and a pager
Searchin my car, lookin for the product
Thinkin every nigga is sellin narcotics"

Original poster
DrHolmes · 07/02/2013 20:35

Amillionyears - My bf has never lied to me or his parents or friends in the 3 years I have known him. He doesn't need to. He is a good guy. Nice, genuine and quiet. He works for himself and is slowly building up his business. We live in a small town so anything to give him a bad name/ruin his career is really worrying. He needs his van for his business.

To answer the justice is a joke quesion..well, I just think it is. There's cases in the papers everyday about people doing terrible things and getting little to no time. Then people doing smaller things with pretty harsh sentences. Doesn't make sense to me.

OP posts:
ThatVikRinA22 · 07/02/2013 20:38

ok
first - seen - you just answered your own questions as to why he got off with a caution - no victim giving evidence means no case. so thats that. not the polices fault - not tbhe courts fault - but if the victim wont give evidence then there is absolutely sod all anyone else can do - we convict on evidence - that was the thing lacking here if no one will give it.

second - plom - ignore ignore ignore. I think i am starting to realise - indeed i had my own thread last night where i had to sit through a hairdressing appt while the salon manager slated all police because he got stopped for no seat belt....this is the most thankless job i have ever ever done. Im thankful that not everyone thinks this way - but people dont like getting caught doing things they shouldnt and who do they blame? the people who caught them. obvious innit? no one blames themselves....its never their fault.

third - OP im sorry - but your DH is lying. If a plain car stopped him for no belt - he likely had no belt. I am willing to bet that it was a plain traffic car (the sneaky beaky ones) and it will have video evidence available - do think carefully about whether your DH is being honest with you or not - if he thinks you would be cross then he isnt gonna tell you is he? you said yourself you would be screaming at him.....
i am betting my bottom dollar that he wasnt wearing that belt - am waiting with baited breath for that video evidence to come out at court....

and now i will bugger off before my hackles go up.