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.

We are not all fellow police officers so our opinions are varied op. You have your opinion and are not happy with any detractors it seems

What is the point of making this an aibu?

What harm does asking do? Personally I think all blue light workers should get an automatic discount - I am not one of them and I could not do their job.

YABU, he only asked as some places do, get a grip.
I'm more worried that another police officer would really give a toss, tbh.

@CrowdedHouseinQuarantine

We are not all fellow police officers so our opinions are varied op. You have your opinion and are not happy with any detractors it seems

But it’s bizarre that people don’t seem to be able to comprehend that a policeman in uniform asking for a discount isn’t appropriate. They seem very hard of thinking or imagination as to why it isn’t comparable to a nurse or student.

Honestly these men and women put themselves in danger to keep the public safe. They deserve discounts.

Personally I think all blue light workers should get an automatic discount

What does this even mean? Businesses that already have low margins have to automatically give discounts even if that leaves them struggling. Not every business is Amazon!

If he wants a discount, he should go to one of the places that offers them.

YANBU. I'm not a police officer but I work with lots of them. And I think any Head of PSD would not be happy with officers doing this.

Honestly these men and women put themselves in danger to keep the public safe. They deserve discounts.

And they already do get discounts & often free travel. Are you saying that every business has to give every key worker discount?

It is a straight breach of the police Code of Ethics which states that they should not compromise or abuse their position.

It is sad things like this still occur and which undermine confidence when the police are already over criticised.

What is the point of making this an aibu?

It probably wasn't the point but it's been enlightening to see how stupid so many people are.

It is sad things like this still occur and which undermine confidence when the police are already over criticised

It’s weird that the UK police in recent months have been vilified and attacked over something that had hee haw to do with them.

Yet when a clear instance of an ethics breach and the potential for abuse of power comes up, they’re roundly defended and the OP, a fellow officer, is told to mind her own business.

I agree with you OP. He has been lucky in that he has been able to work throughout, some businesses won't survive and I think it is time the discounts stopped. There are other groups in much greater need.

You sound really resentful of this man and his position OP. I can’t believe you considered saying something to him! I must be missing something because I can’t understand what is wrong with what he did. He asked whether there was a discount that he qualified for. There wasn’t. That’s it.

@TrickyD

Where is Superintendent Ted Hastings when there is such blatant corruption to be investigated?

OP you’re right. As a member of the public I don’t think this is appropriate at all. Restaurants are struggling and they need all the money they can get. Police officers in uniform should be beyond reproach.

because I can’t understand what is wrong with what he did @Cissyandflora have you actually read any of the reasons why it's deemed wrong?

Agree with you op, YANBU. This was a clear attempt at abuse of privilege, which you should report to this officer’s force.

I notice some pp’s asking if the op has never asked for a discount, because of key worker/police status. This is irrelevant, if it is done so somewhere where a discount is clearly displayed and advertised. The op is clearly not a CF, trying to get discount, where none is given!

I run a small business and people keep asking for discounts because they are this worker or that worker. As you point out OP, they have been on full pay throughout while I had to shut for three months. It's awkward and embarrassing to have to say no, especially if they try and argue. I can't afford to give these discounts and still make a proper living. Prices are set as they are for a reason.

Logically, if it is actually fine to do this, he won't get in any trouble when it's reported, will he?

So if you believe there's no problem with individuals using their police rank to put the squeeze on local businesses you should also believe there's no problem with reporting him. Cause it's fine, right? Totally fine.

@Dominicgoings

YANBU. I’m also a nurse and the whole ‘free stuff’ thing pisses me off. Admin/managers/wfh NHS staff absolutely took the piss IME. Mind you the whole ‘front line key worker’ badge pisses me off as well.

An officer in uniform should not be asking about discounts.

Agree. Fair enough if they were actually involved in front line care! Someone I know, who only works 1 day a week in admin (and didn’t work at all for 3 months due to Covid), pushed their way to the front of a queue at a supermarket, flashing her nhs badge, as she didn’t want to wait. Meanwhile my friend, who works in a Care Home (and had moved into a caravan, to continue her job and keep her family safe), had to wait even longer in the queue after a 10 hour shift!

YANBU. In my job we are not allowed to benefit from things because of our job - we have to declare discounts and so on - so to ask because you are a key worker is not on. I count as a key worker but am not entitled to discounts because of it and would never dream of asking. It'd be nice to get one but that's life, I get paid for my job just like everybody else and there are too many people who classify as key workers to give them all a discount.

nhs admin workers get so much vitriol against them on this site, more so than the deserve
and more so than police, very much undeservedly

But it’s bizarre that people don’t seem to be able to comprehend that a policeman in uniform asking for a discount isn’t appropriate. They seem very hard of thinking or imagination as to why it isn’t comparable to a nurse or student.

so we all have to agree with the OP
right, understood
how boring

• so we all have to agree with the OP right, understood* how boring

You don't have to agree, but if you struggle to comprehend just accept you're wrong & stupid 😛