Is anyone else sick of anti police/some of the younger generation in general?

[fizzypop19]

I'm 29 so in no means "old" but I don't know what's happened the past couple of years.

I was bought up to respect police, not break the law. Obviously I have, underage drinking etc yet I've never been in trouble with police. Twitter is full of 17-20 year olds slagging off the police for breaking up protests etc hello we are in a pandemic and I'd really like to be out of lockdown soon?

Was also bought up to not judge anyone by their skin colour, religion, sexual orientation etc I have friends who are gay, black, white, Muslim, Jewish yet none of them understand this whole she/her announce your pronouns stuff, we all just respect each others preferences/views/religions/self identification.

Is anyone else feeling sick of this or am I alone???

[mixedfeelsaboutthispl]

@fizzypop19 all protests ever get violent and out of hand? That's a pretty naive view.

And in my opinion it's your job to try to ensure your kids don't come out as racists, not just "hoping" they won't.

[Fridacaninelo]

so who will you all call when you need help then, if you are anti-police?

Well I tried to call them for help when I was sexually assaulted, followed and verbally abused and they did nothing.

[bananamonkey]

@converseandjeans

I agree with nandakanda that a state with no police control would be a nightmare.

I also think the Bristol riots went out of control when it was a chance to show that protesting/demonstrating could be done peacefully. The defecating was absolutely vile. How is that necessary as part of a protest?

I'd be interested to know what those of you who are anti police would do for example if you were raped in an alleyway, victim of domestic abuse, knifed in the street. If the police are defunded are we going to take things into our own hands?

Also watching some programmes recently such as the paedophile one where police have to investigate awful online images makes me realise what a tough job it must be emotionally.

The new bill is a government proposal - so surely the anger should be directed at Parliament?

I’m not completely anti-police but they don’t seem to do much to help in those circumstances anyway, in fact you may get fined for wasting police time (before you get murdered):

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/shana-grice-murder-michael-lane-police-fine-trevor-godfrey-lewes-brighton-a9026571.html

[FindingMeno]

Its not a new thing.
Many people have had shocking experiences with the police over the decades, including myself.
I only deal with the police as last resort and have never regained trust in them

[Ifyoudontlaughyouwillcry]

I agree.
The police don’t make the laws - the people who you vote in do
The police don’t hate women - there are a lot of women in both junior and senior roles and they are incredibly respected
Society will get the police service they deserve.
Nobody is out protesting when they were running into fight terrorists when everyone is running away.
Nobody is out protesting when they disarm criminals with firearms.
Nobody is protesting when they have to go and deliver a death message to family
The police DO NOT demand respect - they just want to get on with the job.

[SlipperTripper]

Currently supporting my children through a really unpleasant investigation, and the police have been INCREDIBLE. The support for victims and care provided by multiple constabularies has been fantastic. I can't fault any of them.

I often wonder how much involvement with front line policing many of the people bitching and whinging have had, and how much is just being parroted back from other people's versions of events

[Coulddowithanap]

@Bluebird2021

police is like any other profession....theres good and a few bad

driving instructors
shopkeepers
taxi drivers
doctors
nurses
fire fighters......and police....good and bad.

Exactly this.
I respect the police just as much as any profession. There were a few terrible nurses when DH was in hospital but they didn't make me hate all nurses.

[Parkermumma07]

How about we take each person as we find them rather than assuming a whole profession of people are racist, sexist, homophobic and generally awful people.
I have experienced bad and good in all professions but wouldn’t judge the whole of those employed in one profession as being the same.

[Bluebird2021]

@Coulddowithanap I have met some vile healthcare 'professionals' in my time too unfortunately

[EstuaryBird]

I’ve seen both sides. I broke the law with a minor drug offence in 1973 (weed). I was a vociferous protester and ANL activist in the late 70s/early 80s. I’ve seen racist behaviour from A FEW officers at events like Notting Hill Carnival and generally when living in Hackney.

I have also really needed the police on 2 occasions which I am not going to detail...but they were both very serious and one was life threatening. In both these cases the police were flawless, in their actions when needed and in the support they gave me afterwards. Without their speed, effectiveness and professionalism I have no doubt I would be dead.

Everyone will have their own thoughts dependent on their experiences but never assume that you will never need help.

[Oblomov21]

Diane Abbot, is that you?

[DdraigGoch]

the police have a far greater potential to cause damage (both to individuals and wider society) than your average driving instructor or shopkeeper
@stroopwafelgirl medical staff have powers of life and death over their patients. Some are negligent, some are incompetent, some even murder in cold blood. Cases of misogyny, racism and all of the other things listed on this thread cannot be hard to find either (how many women don't get taken seriously by their GP?). The NHS certainly has form for closing ranks when someone blows the whistle.

You never see people go "All Docs are Bastards" though.

Many posters on this thread have stated that we should not give unquestioning respect to police officers. I agree, they are ordinary fallible human beings. If you elevate people to a pedestal and worship them as if they can do no wrong then there is an opportunity for rotten apples to spread through the barrel unchecked. Yet if you try and suggest that the NHS might need reform or that there may be rotten apples among the medical staff, you get burned at the stake as a blasphemer.

[DdraigGoch]

@Parkermumma07

How about we take each person as we find them rather than assuming a whole profession of people are racist, sexist, homophobic and generally awful people.
I have experienced bad and good in all professions but wouldn’t judge the whole of those employed in one profession as being the same.

This

[Oblomov21]

I was severely bullied by a senior woman police officer, on several occasions, for the 3 months from the beginning of our case. And bullied again when I was finally questioned, with my solicitor sat next to me. My solicitor made a formal complaint about her.

[Warsawa31]

I think they are open to criticism without that meaning they can't be called upon to do their job when needed.

Personally I've never had an issue with any particular officer but the institution had lost massive amounts of public trust over the last year. So many incidents of them not using discretion or common sense and being over zealous. That being said the decent interactions never make the news do they.

I don't buy the whole "we are under staffed" argument though - police have support staff and many more officers per population than in the 80's. So it's a question of how the resources are used I think - they always seem to have time for petty offences with a decent chance of conviction though.

[weleasewoderick23]

My ds lives in the centre of Bristol and there was a vigil outside his flat on Sunday. According to him, the police turned up mob handed with horses and dogs for what was, originally about 80 people. It was all peaceful.

Then it kicked off, as it would appear some troublemakers started attacking people and the police ploughed in very aggressively. What annoyed my ds most of all was, after it calmed down, the police were around the back of his building high fiveing each other and laughing and joking about how many people they had roughed up. This wasn't reported nationally, by the way.

I only have my ds's version of events obviously, but he did video some from his window and it was shocking: more police than protesters, lots of loud speakers and barging people with horses.

I used to have some respect for the police, but not now. I shouldn't have been surprised by what happened but I am shocked. Why would anyone trust the police? They're a load of bullies.

[Chimeraforce]

I'm more sick of police officers assaulting, raping and murdering women. I don't respect the police. I'm old. Their hands are tied by political correctness so they abuse their power over weaker easier targets. I would be happier to arm myself tbh.

[BiBabbles]

If you're sick of it, change your social media so you see less of that and more of other things. You can be just as well informed as to what's going on in the world and not be inundated with that type of content.

Yeah, it'd be nice if my children never take part in a violent protest - if it meant that there wasn't ever a need for it. A lot of the rights we have now are results of people having clashed with the law, sometimes violently. Sure, some of the actions are unneeded -- on all sides, but the state is protecting and paying for some of those unneeded action.

That said, I've been to dozens of protests and have never been in one that got out of hand. I've been to Pride events where they are still protests, fighting with others to be who we are. I think it's a bit difficult to be both anti-protest and to be pro-people being who they are.

With the recent Vigils, there was one in Nottingham that went quite well, some problems when unrelated activists tried to take it over, but they were dealt with by the organizers. After the Vigil, the police lit their own candles on the display. It can be done, but are those who do that as well supported and incentivised as the ones causing harm? That's the issue. How do we ensure those that as a society we are entrusting with those additional powers are properly being monitored because if we don't, it gives control to those bad applies to spoil everyone else.

I'm not anti-police, they - and the law - are systems within a network of many other systems. Like all of them, they require vigilance against corruption. I do not think that vigilance is appropriately carried out and I think that carries risks. I wouldn't call them unless I was ready and willing for someone to be hurt because they have the legal powers to do that if they see fit and it's very difficult to get recourse when that goes wrong. I've chosen to take that risk once so far.

I often wonder how much involvement with front line policing many of the people bitching and whinging have had, and how much is just being parroted back from other people's versions of events

I'm glad you've had a good experience. There are already plenty of stories throughout this thread of those who haven't. Tell us which you find to be bitching and whinging and who judge to have an appropriate complaint.

[BridgeFarmKefir]

Avon & Somerset Police literally lied about officers being injured in the clashes on Sunday & Monday in Bristol. They've had to come out today and admit officers were fine. Their heavy handed approach on Monday in particular was horrendous. It was a peaceful protest in a public space. I'm a law abiding citizen and no no means a 'young person' but my trust in the police wanes by the day.

[Pyewackect]

Totally agree with you. The Police are enforcing the law. And the law is one drafted by democratically elected government. I personally think budget priority should be focused on law enforcement and the prison service. If you break the law you are going to jail. That should be the reality of it.

[weleasewoderick23]

@BridgeFarmKefir I'm glad you saw it too and the bullshit about injuries to the police. It's really shaken my ds up.

[weleasewoderick23]

@Pyewackect that applies to the police too. No one is above the law.

[DeeCeeCherry]

Strange dog-whistle - police, trans (the pronouns thing) & all nations shoehorned in too (I have friends from every race and nation).

If at all you do have friends of all nations they'll be speaking their mind when you're not around as they know you just don't get it.

& today the police withdrew their allegations that officers suffered serious injury and broken bones at the Bristol protest.

Can't think of any reason to have such devotion to an untrustworthy organisation that claims to be here to uphold the law