Page 2 | ED/A&E number of police officers

timestheyarechanging · 2022-06-10T13:35:57+00:00

I've been in ED for about four hours (it's chaos but I expected that and expect to be here another few hours yet) and for the past TWO hours there have been FOUR police officers here with one woman who is obviously intoxicated drink/drugs and quietly upset but not at all aggressive or abusive. Surely it doesn't take this many male PO to supervise one non threatening woman for several hours. I'm thinking there would be better places for two of them to be?! They're mostly on their mobile phones, not radios! She's not even in cuffs.

Mangogogogo · 10/06/2022 15:56

comealongponds · 10/06/2022 14:38

I would assume they know why there’s 4 of them and are in a much better position to judge whether that’s appropriate than a random person in the waiting room is.

Perfect answer! 👌🏼

Redglitter · 10/06/2022 16:02

Believe me if there are 4 of them there then it's for an absolutely essential reason. They don't want to be there any longer than necessary & there'll be plenty other calls needing their attendance.

Sadly it's not uncommon for officers to spend an entire shift sitting in A&E with people

The other day HALF of my resources were at hospitals. That was 5 cars, 10 officers sitting around while the calls mounted up. Its a nightmare

Nightlystroll · 10/06/2022 16:14

I think you're being unreasonable, op. I'm sure that people requiring urgent assistance don't mind waiting for one of four police officers stuck with a drunk in A&E.

Samcro · 10/06/2022 16:15

Cameleongirl · 10/06/2022 15:54

@pushingpoppies i dunno, we were there for six hours in April and other people do become more interesting after a while. 😂

so true
especially if you are there for hours

Original poster

timestheyarechanging · 10/06/2022 16:21

I take on board everyone's comments. I wasn't judging at all just wondering why so many POs were needed.

Totally understand the protection of the patient.

OP posts:

Original poster

timestheyarechanging · 10/06/2022 16:26

I was concerned for the young woman, I understand the misery of drink and drugs believe me.

I just didn't understand the need for 4 officers standing around for over two hours, tapping on their phones, when they could have been on the streets.

I'm in quite a rough area at the mo and I worry about the lack of police presence and my teenagers!

OP posts:

TheQueensMarmaladeSandwich · 10/06/2022 16:28

MYOB

HTH

antelopevalley · 10/06/2022 16:30

Far more likely to be protecting her. People who are stabbed for example sometimes have the guilty person plus their friends piling down to A and E to find them to kill them. As you can imagine that is a danger not only to the person they want to kill, but to other members of the public.
They will not be there for laughs and giggles. There will be a reason.

CambridgeCambridge · 10/06/2022 16:31

I've seen the alternative - not enough police officers at A&E. I was there with DH (who was very unwell); at one point another patient attacked a member of staff, and most of the other staff nearby went to help, interrupting care for a good number of needy patients (we were in majors). A few more police officers wouldn't have gone amiss....

Nightlystroll · 10/06/2022 16:34

TheQueensMarmaladeSandwich · 10/06/2022 16:28

MYOB

HTH

As the police is a publically funded service, she is precisely minding her business wondering at how resources are being allocated.

HTH to explain her concern to you.

cakebaby · 10/06/2022 16:38

@Georgeskitchen when a sudden death occurs it's not always as simple as someone certifying death. Police act on behalf of the Coroner and gather critical information to enable decision making thereafter. Primarily for police, whether there is 3rd party involvement in the death.

WiddlinDiddlin · 10/06/2022 16:42

If you need to know so badly.. pop over and ask them, I am sure they will be happy to explain.

If you don't fancy that, then I suspect it's none of your business and wisest to assume they have their reasons which you know nothing about, nor need to know.

tootiredtoocare · 10/06/2022 16:48

I'm fairly certain they're not there by choice.

Flipflopblowout · 10/06/2022 16:49

How do you know that she isn't going to flip and start assaulting you and the others who are sat quietly waiting to be treated? It would need that many officers to control her safely if she has been on spice in a way that they didn't get injured as well.

Mommabear20 · 10/06/2022 18:06

If she's on drink/drugs, she could change in a split second. From witnessing that behaviour first hand, I can guarantee you that you'd be grateful for the extra 2!

RandomUsernameHere · 10/06/2022 18:27

Not sure anyone can tell what the reason is. She could be a serial killer for all we know!

HappypusSadpus · 10/06/2022 18:50

Do you have any idea how many people it can take to control one angry or unstable human in a safe manner? Normally 3 or 4 for a grown adult.

2 for a child.

ShowOfHands · 10/06/2022 18:57

I just didn't understand the need for 4 officers standing around for over two hours, tapping on their phones, when they could have been on the streets

When DH sits in A&E, the tapping on his phone is him communicating with his team, sending emails, allocating resources, following up on caseloads, managing his team etc. I know you're trying to imply additional wasted time by mentioning their phones twice but maybe they're working like DH would be. Or maybe they're stuck there and entertaining themselves. Just like you are.

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 10/06/2022 18:59

Full agree with you. I'm not saying the reason they're there isn't important but surely to God it dosn't take 4 Police officers.
There's plenty of other things for the Police to getting on with . Its not like we live in a crimeless society where they've actually got nothing to do, is it.

Original poster

timestheyarechanging · 10/06/2022 19:12

If she was a dangerous serial killer, I'm sure she would have been in cuffs and she wasn't.

A man was in here with just two POs.

Prisoners are in here with wardens and they are obviously cuffed.

It was just an observation that got me thinking after being here for hours musing....

OP posts:

WhackingPhoenix · 10/06/2022 19:15

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 10/06/2022 18:59

Full agree with you. I'm not saying the reason they're there isn't important but surely to God it dosn't take 4 Police officers.
There's plenty of other things for the Police to getting on with . Its not like we live in a crimeless society where they've actually got nothing to do, is it.

Sometimes it really does take four of them, plus hospital security when a patient REALLY kicks off. We had someone come running into my ward once who smashed the whole place up and then attempted to harm other patients and staff with a metal bar. It took a lot more than four POs to neutralise the situation.

Flopisfatteningbingforchristmas · 10/06/2022 19:17

timestheyarechanging · 10/06/2022 16:26

I was concerned for the young woman, I understand the misery of drink and drugs believe me.

I just didn't understand the need for 4 officers standing around for over two hours, tapping on their phones, when they could have been on the streets.

I'm in quite a rough area at the mo and I worry about the lack of police presence and my teenagers!

Like many jobs there are a lot of emails and ‘paper/computer work’ this is what they are doing when they are tapping on their phones.

BluebellsareBlue · 10/06/2022 19:54

Oh, I didn't realise that you used to be a police officer and were aware of the history of the person that they are dealing with. Do you know if she was in custody for an offence and had to be taken there? Do you know if she's repeatedly tried to harm herself or others? Do you know if she's on some sort of drug that requires more than one officer to detain her if she tries something? Do you know that she is one for false allegations against officers so therefore corroboration is required? No? Then shut the hell up and mind your own business. Leave the policing to the police

XenoBitch · 10/06/2022 20:03

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 10/06/2022 18:59

Full agree with you. I'm not saying the reason they're there isn't important but surely to God it dosn't take 4 Police officers.
There's plenty of other things for the Police to getting on with . Its not like we live in a crimeless society where they've actually got nothing to do, is it.

4 police officers are there, because whatever the situation is needs 4 police officers.
That is it.

SommerTen · 10/06/2022 20:15

On one ward where I worked we had a young woman who had to have 4 carers with her at all times as she would get very violent and aggressive (mainly trying to harm herself).. it was hard to believe if you hadn't seen it as she was so petite and polite.

Like others have said, you just never know the truth of a situation.