CF asking for key worker discount

[rumblingtumtum]

Tonight I was in a small independent restaurant when a police officer (inspector rank) came in to collect a takeaway order. He was wearing full police uniform, as he was paying he asked if they did key worker discount "because some places do".

This really pissed me off. Firstly, he was in full uniform, if they did a discount they would have offered it.

Secondly, he has been on full pay for the whole of this pandemic, the restaurant has been closed for months.

Thirdly, him asking puts the staff in an awkward position, police are supposed to represent authority.

I would like to point out that I am also a police officer and I would never ask for discount like that. I think it pissed me off so much because I feel his actions have a negative impact on the representation of 'The Police'.

AIBU to be so pissed off or was him asking ok and I'm being irrational?

I'm away for the weekend so not in my own force area. I know in my force area there has been a lot on the intranet about not taking advantage of free goods and discounts as we have to be impartial, so maybe that's why I was so annoyed seeing someone of rank blatantly ask.

• I'm slightly concerned that so many police officers think that shopkeepers or the public in general would be so intimidated by their mere uniform that they would feel obligated to provide a discount. Until someone has behaved criminally a police officer is just another person in another outfit, nothing to fear I would've thought. Or I would hope.* ^ i agree with this

Until someone has behaved criminally a police officer is just another person in another outfit, nothing to fear I would've thought.

What point have I confused here?

I am going off the police tbh,
the police themselves who believe they should be feared when in uniform, regardless of situation.
and of course the op who is so annoyed with this particular police officer, while she is away from home and not even at work.

you cannot compare this to a nurse, keyworker, asking for a discount, by this whole uniform argument.

@CrowdedHouseinQuarantine but plenty of police on this thread have said they are not to do this as stated in their code of conduct (or whatever they call it)

embarrassment to the police force

@CrowdedHouseinQuarantine
you cannot compare this to a nurse, keyworker, asking for a discount, by this whole uniform argument.

are you now agreeing with the OP cause upthread you said

good for him
dont ask, dont get

The police are feared by too many people but they shouldn't be and something needs to change. The system is broken.
It has become so Us and Them that the police officers on this thread are aware themselves that their uniform is a badge of fear. That is wrong. They should be able to go into a shop and ask for a discount in uniform without the person being asked feeling intimidated.
Perhaps I phrased it badly before.

@gigglybiz

It's pretty eye opening & to then attempt to deflect when their post is replied too, 🤔

If this is aimed at me, I'm not ashamed of anything I've posted. I haven't tried to deflect.

and of course the op who is so annoyed with this particular police officer, while she is away from home and not even at work.

what does this even mean? the OP is a police officer. If she thinks a fellow officer is acting inappropriately why is it only relevant if she's not on holiday & at work?

Again as you said upthread show some tolerance

@SecondStarFromTheRight are you white though you didn't answer my question?

Wow that's a volte-face @SecondStarFromTheRight

You literally posted this

Until someone has behaved criminally a police officer is just another person in another outfit, nothing to fear I would've thought.

and then this

The police are feared by too many people but they shouldn't be and something needs to change. The system is broken.

@SecondStarFromTheRight

If this is aimed at me, I'm not ashamed of anything I've posted. I haven't tried to deflect.

I thought your post was pretty tone deaf & came from a place of white privilege which I then said to you.

Your reply was I should ignore your post & take issue with the police. That's deflection.

[quote gigglybiz]@SecondStarFromTheRight are you white though you didn't answer my question? [/quote]
Believe it or not I don't have to answer personal questions on a public forum.

i dont think i have changed my mind @gigglybiz

@SecondStarFromTheRight

The police are feared by too many people but they shouldn't be and something needs to change. The system is broken. It has become so Us and Them that the police officers on this thread are aware themselves that their uniform is a badge of fear. That is wrong. They should be able to go into a shop and ask for a discount in uniform without the person being asked feeling intimidated. Perhaps I phrased it badly before.

I would say that they are aware the uniform can cause fear and not want that to happen therefore shouldn't be asking in uniform

YABU the emergency services have had a discount service waaaay before COVID. It’s called Blue Light. The military have one too called Defence Discount. Nothing to do with the pandemic and it’s not a “key worker” discount, like I said. This has been in place for years and years.

@SecondStarFromTheRight no you don't but you have so that's answers @CrowdedHouseinQuarantine question about why I mentioned white privilege. Love the way you have ignored all my other points!

Yanbu
Dh is an officer he'd be mortified. He has a blue light card and barely ever uses that, usually just if he can online. he wouldn't ask ad hoc for a random discount just because he's an officer. It's wrong, it's not allowed and it creates an imbalance of power.

I totally agree with you OP. Cheeky bugger.

@CrowdedHouseinQuarantine I think you're missing the point, who said police think they should be feared? The issue is that while on duty in uniform they do have powers the public don't have and due to that there conduct should not be able to be interpreted by anyone as seeking favour/sweeteners/gratuity just because they are wearing uniform.
Many have explained on the thread how some people in society may not feel comfortable saying no to a uniformed officer. The issue is the officer should not be putting the person in the situation to make the choice.

@LioneIRichTea I can only assume that you haven't RTFT as it's already been explained why it's not the same as using the blue light card.

@alphabetsoup1980

Of course you're being unreasonable. He was only asking!!! If the answer is no, it's no!! Move on! 😂😂

The problem is that "only asking" is directly contrary to his public duty and liable to get him strongly disciplined, if not sacked.

He was a CF but YAB a wee bit U to be annoyed. He was just chancing his arm.

YABU , he asked , they can say yes or no , end of

@Tistheseason17

YABU

He asked if there was a key worker discount. Pre-Covid many places offer this including my local Indian independent restaurant.

They can reply, "no".

I think it is more odd why you are so offended by something that is none of your business and did not involve you.

But the Nolan principles say, very clearly, ""Holders of public office ... should not act or take decisions in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves, their family, or their friends." So this was directly in contravention of those principles.

The notion of a "key worker" discount is a bit of a nonsense anyway. The definition is very wide and includes, for instance, journalists involved in public service broadcasting and lawyers. As a lawyer myself, I wouldn't dream of trying to claim a key worker discount.