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.

@rumblingtumtum. Looks like a lot of people on this thread set a very low bar for the police.

Uniformed police officers are NOT comparable to students.

@rumblingtumtum I have family that lived with police corruption (parents are immigrants). They would never feel they could say no in a similar position in the UK.

I'm grateful you get it but it's quite disheartening so many people don't & obviously it comes from such a place of privilege that they can't see any possible issues.

good for him
dont ask, dont get

He didn't ask if they were part of the BlueLightCard scheme. I'm quite concerned that people don't understand the difference between the BlueLightCard scheme and abuse of position. I'm assuming the posters who don't know the difference are not officers. If they are I'd suggest they put a call into psd and clarify the difference.

completely get you op he just shouldnt have done it-hope they didnt feel too bad saying no

www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-7-principles-of-public-life

He didn't ask if they were part of the BlueLightCard scheme

But he did say “because some places do”. The reason they do is because of the card scheme, largely.

Was he threatening?
Did the person serving say yes or no?
What was his reaction?

Why is it relevant that he’s been working on full pay throughout the pandemic?

I’m absolutely aware of police corruption (advance search me and look at my recent posts about institutional racism) but this is not it.

I'm grateful you get it but it's quite disheartening so many people don't & obviously it comes from such a place of privilege that they can't see any possible issues.

Or they're just as dim as an energy-saving lightbulb?

I have a friend who occasionally reminds me when I'm mad at someone or other, "so-and-so likely isn't BAD, they're just really, really stupid."

I concur @Butchyrestingface but how depressing people are so stupid?!

Why is it relevant that he’s been working on full pay throughout the pandemic?

It's already been stated what the connection is. Many eateries in the hospitality industry have struggled to survive (with others going under) due to what has happened.

For someone who is on a full-time wage (no-one is suggesting that he has been furloughed) and is likely to be among those who have LEAST suffered financially during this time, to start asking for discounts is a poor show. Particularly when the restrictions have started to lift.

And that's without getting into the stuff about any perception of duress because of the uniform.

It's not worth getting so angry over.

YANBU. No matter what the officer's intentions, if he goes into a shop or restaurant and asks for a discount, there is the implied threat that if they don't give it they won't be a priority in the event of problems. I fully appreciate that this officer may have had no such intention, but what is important here is the impression being given to the staff and others in the premises. If I saw something like this happening, I'm afraid it would take a lot to convince me that the officer wasn't using his position and his uniform to ask for a favour, and that is simple corruption.

Enders 1 I understand that was not the same scenario .My point is that Emergency Services discounts have been freely offered up by the Govt because of the pandemic.The only reason I have referred to my experience eating out, was that the Officer in the Indian take away thought the restaurant may have forgotten to offer up a discount! I dont feel there is any similiarity to bribes .special favours that would maybe normally be seen as inappropriate at all in this instance!

So many in the hospitality industry are on the point of collapse due to what's happened, and those who have been on a full-time wage throughout should be the last to ask for discounts. Especially now when restrictions are beginning to lift.

Exactly this.

The other side of the coin is that, by asking for a favour, the officer is putting himself in a position where he may be under an obligation to return the favour. As set out in the Nolan principles of public life:

"Holders of public office must avoid placing themselves under any obligation to people or organisations that might try inappropriately to influence them in their work. They should not act or take decisions in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves, their family, or their friends. They must declare and resolve any interests and relationships."

I feel cheeky now - have spent the last 10 years asking random places if they have a student or NHS discount! To be fair I haven’t the last few months (even at Nando’s) due to the pressure eateries are at but wouldn’t judge someone else for asking.
A surprising number do offer them, I saved loads at TM Lewin. I agree it’s a bit different if you’re police all kitted out but I had (perhaps naively) assumed that they were asking if there was a standard discount available, not asking for a favour.

We’ve had quite a few people on FB trying to negotiate/claim key worker discounts from local businesses, getting a bit bolshy about it and demanding to know why they would NOT get a discount...

It’s grabby and embarrassing IMO

I totally agree with you, OP.

I moved back to Mexico from Ireland in the 1990s and remember being surprised at Mexican police paying their bills in restaurants, because the Garda never did.

Completely off track but people keep mentioning PSD. What does that mean?

You've hit the nail on the head @Pobblebonk

@dottiedodah

* was that the Officer in the Indian take away thought the restaurant may have forgotten to offer up a discount*

Or maybe they couldn't afford to offer one?

However still irrelevant, are you saying that no one in this workers position (small independent not Nando's) may feel uncomfortable or even able to say no to an uniformed police (not nurse or student) officer asking for a non advertised discount?

@Spidey66 Professional Standards Department - they investigate complaints against police and breaches of conduct. The police are expected to abide by specific rules of conduct.

@PinkDaffodil2

Students are not holders of public office. They are not subject to the Nolan Principles of public life as they have no power over fellow citizens.

It's tbh getting a bit weird to me that so many people in this thread can't see the difference.

It's tbh getting a bit weird to me that so many people in this thread can't see the difference.

Yes to this @jolokoy

was that the Officer in the Indian take away thought the restaurant may have forgotten to offer up a discount!

Trolling?