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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think Yorkshire Police are a shit show?

135 replies

CosmicCanary · 13/03/2018 18:57

The recent investigation by WY police regarding comments made on twitter (non threatening and not racially motivated) has prompted me to think about my own involvement with them and the publicised screw ups they have made over the years.

Without researching, what comes to mind is:

Yorkshire Ripper.
So many missed chances. More women murdered.
Womens concerns/alerts dismissed because they were prostitues.

Hillsborough.
Failure to manage the crowd then blame planted at the fans door.

Jimmy Saville.
They knew.
So many raised concerns.
They ignored.
For 30 plus years

Rotherham.
Concerns were raised.
People were silenced.
So many girls became victims when the police should have protected them.

I am sure there are more Angry

My own experience was aged 19 beat up by my bf.
Got home and called the police.
4 hours later I was visited.
Female officer refused to write down my statement as I had been drinking. I had but the beating lasted 2 hours before I escaped and I was very sober by then. She also said it was a waste as I would only go back to him. He had never hit me before and I had no involvement with the police prior to this.
No photos taken of my busted lips, nose or black eye.
A week later I was contacted by a detective who wanted to interview me. They had arrested him the night before for a fight in Leeds. When they charged him my complaint showed up.
They came to my work and interviewed me for 3 hours.

He was charged with the fight and my evidence helped but he was never charged with my assault. That was forgotten. Not seen as important. He was given 3 months for fighting over football. I never heard a thing from them.

I have no trust at all in Yorkshire police and feel they need to be investigated.

AIBU?

OP posts:
Original poster
CosmicCanary · 13/03/2018 21:31

The police don’t decide which witnesses get called to court.

Really?

I was there with her througout the 3 days and they told her in front of me they had decided not to call them as their statements read out would be enough.

Who decides then?

OP posts:
HopefullyAnonymous · 13/03/2018 21:34

The prosecution decide which witnesses to call, and when to just use their statements.

HyenaHappy · 13/03/2018 21:34

Who decides then?

The CPS. The police collect the evidence and submit it, the court proceedings are then decided by the court.

HyenaHappy · 13/03/2018 21:35

Thanks for all you and your colleagues do to keep us safe Hopefully

It’s a dangerous, thankless job but you are appreciated by many.

TheBatPig · 13/03/2018 21:36

Also, I have to say as a victim, where the police lied outright about not being able to obtain statements from witnesses, this was in stark contrast to the effort they made to take witness statements when it was a police officer who was assaulted. It certainly doesn't fill you with confidence.

Original poster
CosmicCanary · 13/03/2018 21:37

Well I never knew that.
They dixnt ecplain that.
They just said we are not calling the witnesses statements are enough.
It wasnt.
It was awful.
Havinv bern there for the 3 days I honestly think her witnesses would have nade a difference.
He gad 5 !! All family members including his wife.

OP posts:
Original poster
CosmicCanary · 13/03/2018 21:38

Sorry. Shocking typing cat was fidgetting Blush

OP posts:
TerranceandPhilip · 13/03/2018 21:53

They didn’t arrest him, instead they asked him to join them at the station which he did

Also known as code g of PACE, but let's not let a pesky thing like the law get in the way of a good rant

Original poster
CosmicCanary · 13/03/2018 22:00

Terrance the police have and do treat people badly. No need to be so patronising about their experience. .

Yes I was wrong to start a thread condeming a whole force but can you not accept that people have suffered at the hands of those who are supposed go help us?

OP posts:
OfficerVanHalen · 13/03/2018 22:07

There were their actions at orgreave, and the way they are currently policing tree protests in sheffield

They seem happy to act as paid muscle for specific political agendas and it’s fucking shit.

gildashairflick · 13/03/2018 22:08

Yorkshire does not have a single police service. Not every police officer or area is shit. Some aren't as good as others, some individuals aren't that good at their job. But it's like any large organisation and there are poor performers who make it difficult for the dedicated and competent staff. Just like the NHS, just like local authorities, just like charities, just like major corporations.
I'm sorry to read of anyone having poor police experiences. I have had mixed experiences over the years. I have reported an officer for serious breaches of power (and was successful) and I have challenged them professionally when required. That said when I had a stalking issue my local service (in Yorkshire) were fantastic and sorted it quickly and decisively. Being a police officer is a very hard job, one that most if us couldn't do. I'm all for scrutiny and good governance but this post feels like a scatter gun approach police bash delving into the history books. Saville was allowed to get away with his offences because many, many organisations turned a blind eye of which the police were just one. I just don't know what the op hoped to achieve.

Original poster
CosmicCanary · 13/03/2018 22:12

I didnt hope to achieve anything sorry I thought I had made that clear?

I have admitted my post was thoughts in my head with no end goal...i just wanted to say it out loud. Doesnt make it right just makes it my thoughts.

OP posts:
TerranceandPhilip · 13/03/2018 22:16

Terrance the police have and do treat people badly. No need to be so patronising about their experience

I'm being patronising because "their experience" in this case was dictated by the law. They could have found this out for themselves but it's an easier and more popular option to just blame the police.

but can you not accept that people have suffered at the hands of those who are supposed go help us

No not really, mistakes are made because police officers are human. The idea that there is some sort of misogynistic conspiracy at the heart of policing is laughable.

A lot of the time people don't have the first clue about law or procedures. They see a result not going their way and obviously the police are to blame. They don't look at the how, the Why, and the massive limitations within our legal system

Original poster
CosmicCanary · 13/03/2018 22:19

The idea that there is some sort of misogynistic conspiracy at the heart of policing is laughable.

I disagree.

I dont have the head space to debate but you are wrong.

OP posts:
Dljlr · 13/03/2018 22:22

There's a bizarre fetishism of those who work in public services on MN. By all means express support for the people who keep us safe and healthy, particularly considering that their hours are usually long, antisocial and poorly compensated. But yelling down and sneering at every fucking post that dares be critical because of the Op's own - often dreadful - treatment and experiences, and smugly demanding the op recognise the 'brilliant work' such professionals do in nearly every other instance, is virtue signalling of the worst kind. You don't look morally superior, you just look an insensitive, unempathetic twat.

Op, I'm so sorry for your experience with them. I've had similar experiences with my own force, who couldn't give a solitary shit about female victimisation, and whose failure to do so has been highlighted by HMIC consistently. That doesn't negate the fact that individual officers have been helpful in other situations, and with others of my acquaintance; but it's still fact that they fail in that area, sometimes with extremely serious consequences.

Original poster
CosmicCanary · 13/03/2018 22:28

Thank you Dljlr

I am a bit Confused that mine and others experienceses are dissmissed by some who refuse to see that the police have at times done a bad job especially with the most vulnerable.

Again my post was badly written but the point I was poorly making is are lessons being learned? I dont think they are.

OP posts:
TerranceandPhilip · 13/03/2018 22:29

I dont have the head space to debate but you are wrong

I must have missed the memo being passed around to ignore all those female victims. How did you get a copy?

TerranceandPhilip · 13/03/2018 22:33

Again my post was badly written but the point I was poorly making is are lessons being learned? I dont think they are.

And how would you know if lessons are being learned? Best way to find out is to
join up. Forces are crying out for Special constables. For just a few hours a week you can join and show how it's done.

BloodyFreezing · 13/03/2018 22:35

I think the case of the sexual abuse at Mesmac is concerning. West Yorkshire Police funded and worked with them and didn't proceed with complaints against Mesmac that the Council referred to them. Does this kind of stuff not get monitored/investigated by the Independent Police Complaints Commission or some other body?

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/abuse-survivors-charity-yorkshire-mesmac-hit-by-sex-scandal-xbqb3hqbv

twitter.com/mragilligan/status/970324841239851008

Original poster
CosmicCanary · 13/03/2018 22:36

Dovyou what Terrance you have made your point. I was trying to just step away from you but for some reason you have decided I am ripe for you to have a go at.

You disagree with me. I get it. I accept it. Please leave me alone.

OP posts:
Original poster
CosmicCanary · 13/03/2018 22:39

For just a few hours a week you can join and show how it's done.

Sorry I give my free time to the womens aid shelter I dont have time go do the polices job for free. Too busy picking up the bits they leave behind Hmm.

OP posts:
BloodyFreezing · 13/03/2018 22:40

I know a lot of police services are having their budgets cut but West Yorkshire Police can't be that understaffed if they can send officers to the other end of country to interrogate a Mumsnetter for posting some (non threatening) posts on the internet.

If only women got that kind of a response when they got rape and death threats online, eh?

Dljlr · 13/03/2018 22:40

And how would you know if lessons are being learned? Best way to find out is to
join up.

Bollocks. Best way to find out is to access the freely available information from HMIC, who are an independent body that work on behalf of the public to scrutinise policing. I doubt any woman whose been dismissed and sneered at and belittled by the police after their assault(s) would be in any hurry to go jump into working with them.

Original poster
CosmicCanary · 13/03/2018 22:43

Makes you wonder eh Bloody Confused

OP posts:
BlackeyedSusan · 13/03/2018 22:44

I have suffered Dv under two different police forces. one was bloody fantastic, one was carp and refused to take a report.