To think that police forces having a culture of lies and cover ups?

Rillington · 03/03/2021 23:19

There are some good officers out there. Sadly though there are a hell of a lot of bad ones.

PPNC · 03/03/2021 23:19

I would concur. I always had absolute faith in the system but now complete lack of any faith or trust.

I reported a rape 3 years ago, serious abuse and injuries involved, 3 years of total lies, including in writing saying it’s with the CPS when it wasn’t, losing files then closing the case to cover up the loss.

Still fighting with the help of a wonderful charity but complete disbelief about the victim blaming and incompetence.

Original poster

GivenchyDahhling · 03/03/2021 23:23

I’m so sorry that happened to you @PPNC

OP posts:

VladmirsPoutine · 03/03/2021 23:23

YANBU. As it happens a lot of us learned this as mere children thus nothing you've said surprises me. More often (than not) they make situations exponentially worse. I hope you and your DH are okay.

Original poster

GivenchyDahhling · 03/03/2021 23:32

It’s funny @VladmirsPoutine because speaking to my parents they both - including my lovely, mild mannered mum - both say they would never trust the police. I don’t know if they felt this way when I was a child and intentionally didn’t pass that on, or whether it’s developed more recently.

As I say, I recognise my privilege as a white middle class woman. Im not qualified to talk about the experiences of, for example, black teenage boys in London boroughs - only my own. I am certain that many have it far worse. But my direct experience has shaken me to the core.

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Lemonlady22 · 04/03/2021 00:27

I complained about a police officer. I was having issues with a neighbour who works/ has friends in the police force. A certain police officer kept turning up to speak to me because neighbour had complained about me. One day neighbour and his wife were shouting at me over the garden wall so I went in and phoned the police. Straight away the officer knocked on the door, I answered and said 'that's quick he looked confused,then it came over his radio to visit my address...he quickly turned radio off and was clearly flustered. I asked why he had just turned up, he tried to make excuses and I asked him to leave. Spoke to police complaints as I was sure NDN and this police officer were friends. It was investigated and their conclusion was that they didn't know each other. Funny that he never popped around again!

Lesssaideasymended · 04/03/2021 01:32

YANBU. Living in Northern Ireland I have witnessed and experienced blatant discrimination as a catholic. Police collusion in murders were rife. It still goes on. I don’t doubt it goes on everywhere else too ...even when there’s no obvious divide like Here.

Sapho47 · 04/03/2021 03:40

@GivenchyDahhling

My husband has recently had reason to make a complaint to the police. He has today received the response. In it, the police officer involved has not exaggerated or bent the truth. He has told flat out lies, supported in his account by his supervising Sergeant, to cover up his wrongdoing.

This is against the backdrop of other recent dealings with the police which showed at best utter incompetence, at worst calculated lies designed only to fit a narrow minded agenda to which the truth was inconvenient.

I was brought up to respect and trust the police. Maybe that’s my privilege; or naivety. This has completed destroyed that illusion. Is this systematic? AIBU to say that the police cannot be trusted, and that there is an endemic culture of lying to cover their own backs?

Probably most humans are dishonest to some degree

Especially when thier job/living is on the line.

But equally a time proven and background checked officer is probably less likely to be lying than the guy he arrested/challenged

peak2021 · 04/03/2021 07:37

I think there is more in some Police forces than others. The litany of failures of South Yorkshire Police (Orgreave, Hillsborough, the Doncaster grooming) comes immediately to mind.

Desmondo2016 · 04/03/2021 07:41

There will always be bad eggs in any organisation but it most certainly is not a cultural thing.

Finfintytint · 04/03/2021 07:44

@GivenchyDahhling

My husband has recently had reason to make a complaint to the police. He has today received the response. In it, the police officer involved has not exaggerated or bent the truth. He has told flat out lies, supported in his account by his supervising Sergeant, to cover up his wrongdoing.

This is against the backdrop of other recent dealings with the police which showed at best utter incompetence, at worst calculated lies designed only to fit a narrow minded agenda to which the truth was inconvenient.

I was brought up to respect and trust the police. Maybe that’s my privilege; or naivety. This has completed destroyed that illusion. Is this systematic? AIBU to say that the police cannot be trusted, and that there is an endemic culture of lying to cover their own backs?

You need to escalate the complaint beyond the Sgt.

justanotherneighinparadise · 04/03/2021 07:44

I was a juror in a court case over 40 years ago where a policeman was found to have lied under oath!!! You don’t get much worse than that. My neighbour is a policeman and considers himself a pillar of the community. He also hadn’t abused by lockdown rules 🙄. So they are a law unto themselves.

justanotherneighinparadise · 04/03/2021 07:45

30 years ago

Emeraldshamrock · 04/03/2021 07:48

They can be yes. I wouldn't want to be raising an issue my word against theirs.
There are many genuine great officers, who put their life on the line daily.

Is there a police ombudsman?

Moondust001 · 04/03/2021 07:49

@Desmondo2016

There will always be bad eggs in any organisation but it most certainly is not a cultural thing.

Contrary to almost every impartial investigation of such?

I disagree - there is a worrying culture within the police. Not everybody is part of it, but I know plenty of former officers who have fallen foul of the system when they have stood up against it. And that is the reason they are former, not current. I think the really bad ones are a minority, but they get away with it die to silence and "blind eyes". Such cultures may exist elsewhere too. But they shouldn't, and the public deserve better of the police. If you set yourself up to be the law, then you must be squeaky clean.