To think the police aren't fit for purpose

[countingsheep5678]

I am not talking about individuals who put their lives on the line, I'm talking about how police constabularies are run up and down the country.

I have experienced three quite horrible anti social incidents in the 'safe' area of Hertfordshire where I live! One a group of boys threatened to throw my toddler in the river and another a man threatened to smash my 'ducking' car in because I asked him to move a bag out of the road!

I want to speak to a local police officer to explain my concerns and ask if there would be more officers on the street and what they are doing about the anti social behaviour in the area. I managed to speak to someone who took all my details and said they'd pass it onto a safer neighbourhood team.

I asked when I would hear back... he couldn't tell me. I asked if I could speak to someone more senior as I wanted some reassurance quite soon, he said I would have to make a complaint if I wanted to speak to someone more senior. I asked if I could have the number of the safer neighbourhood team... they don't have a number. So essentially, unless I call 999 there and then there are no local police officers you can talk and engage with. I was also astounded by the lack of empathy the police officer I spoke to had. When you've been on the receiving end of horrible situations you want to feel reassured. I have got off the phone feeling more concerned about the safety of our neighbourhood than ever.

Just by luck I have seen my local safer neighbourhood police team are holding a surgery tomorrow... but surely we deserve better from the police? We need more open, direct access to them? Am I alone in thinking this?

'The role of the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) is to be the voice of the people and hold the police to account. They are responsible for the totality of policing.
PCCs aim to cut crime and deliver an effective and efficient police service within their police force area. They are elected by the public to hold Chief Constables and the force to account, making the police answerable to the communities they serve.
PCCs ensure community needs are met as effectively as possible and are improving local relationships through building confidence and restoring trust. They work in partnership across a range of agencies at local and national level to ensure there is a unified approach to preventing and reducing crime.'

Seems to fit the bill (no pun intended) 😊

@Johnnysgirl

They're still crimes, what require investigation and are often a lot 'easier' to deal with considering the amount of cuts the police have had all over the country.

Burglary is a crime for example where I understand why police don't prioritise unless there are circumstances around the crime that make it 'worse' insurance covers the victims losses, and they're so unlikely to actually find who did it, what's the point. Almost a 'victimless' crime of sorts.

As someone who has been burgled I understand the mental impact of having your space invaded, but it's not as serious as other crimes and definitely harder to investigate.

@PollyRockets but I find this logic so bizarre. If someone commits loads of burglaries and gets away with it, they then go on to commit more crimes and worse crimes! This country is seen as a soft touch that's why Burglaries and cat crimes are at an all time high!anti social behaviour is prevalent as kids feel invincible and powerful! This country is a mess to be honest!

@MintJulia does each constabulary have one?

yes, I think so.

The police then typically actively investigate once they escalate to crimes where there is a chance of success.

It's called time management

Would you spend a whole week on a task with a less than 5% chance of success or spend 1 day on a task with a 80% chance of success.

Major crimes are obviously treated outside of this but they usually aren't investigated by 'regular' police officers

Of course we need better services and a police force instead of a service, but it won't happen for years. It's been allowed to become this bad
and it won't change, not without more money pumped into it etc. I can't see that happening

I understand completely and I feel the same. Currently saving to move back to Lnd as although serious crime is much worse there, I, as a person minding my own business, never felt as unsafe.

@countingsheep5678 I see that too, an almost robotic manner. I think it's a lack of understanding that the people they're dealing with will be emotionally affected most of the time and in some cases actually traumatised. Not only that but a tendancy to question everything and turn things around on the victim..."What makes you say that?", "Are you sure that's what you saw?" etc. Obviously that doesn't apply to everyone in the Police service, I'm sure there are some lovely people in it for the right reasons but something seems to have gone horribly wrong with the system.

@puddingandsun totally this! I am actually moving back after Christmas! Xxx

@PollyRockets so for example a teenager saying they want to throw my toddler into the river (unprovoked) what would happen then? Just ignore this? I wonder if this was the same teenager that other mothers said was seen throwing rocks and killing a duckling? Do we not investigate that either, do we only investigate when said disturbed teenager hurts a child or adult or worse? Hence, the police force is not fit for purpose! Doesn't matter if it's under funded, it's not fit for purpose!

We need another emergency service for welfare cases.

My dh is a police officer and spends a huge proportion of his time on looking for missing people (usually elderly or mental health related), making welfare checks, attending those having a mental health crisis etc.

He's off today but as we speak in our village there is a missing elderly man, helicopter is up, several police cars are driving around and there's many officers on the ground looking.

These are of course important issues but we need another emergency service set up to deal with 'non crime' related issues.

@Wickywickyyow this is horrendous! When they started implementing 'care in the community' this is when this type of policing will have gone up!

Thanks for clarification, and for further pushing me to voting Tory for the first time.

Tory voters never change, but many of us historical labour or socialist voters are turning, thanks to your totalitarian principles on the radicalised left.

Yes, similar to above, my business was burgled nearly £4000 of goods taken, insurance was sorted within a week, but the police are next to useless, initially not wanting to attend, then coming out and we've heard nothing since. It scares me to think what would happen if it was serious. I feel for individual officers as they want to make a difference but have been thwarted by years of underfunding & cuts.

Police here are bizarre. Couldn't get anyone to come out for hours when my DF was attacked and bitten by a crazy person in the street. Yet have been bothered by the police for; walking in an area used by prostitutes, for walking with a bike in the city centre, for walking home in an area where people had been throwing snowballs...

@whentheraincame

Yawn

Wow 😯 so they were too lazy to take finger prints from the cans ! Crime does pay !

@SirenSays infuriating

Unless he did throw your child into the river or seem like he actually would what crime has been committed!?

Would potentially be harassment but that's a minor offence.

@FrazzleDazz so sorry for your break in! This is exactly how I feel. Not all police officers are awful but the police forces are run appallingly

@PollyRockets I can see from your posts that you're one of those people who wants anyone who upsets you arrested. Pathetic, learn to stick up for yourself or make enough money to move to somewhere better.

For example a teenager saying they want to throw my toddler into the river (unprovoked) what would happen then? Just ignore this?

No idea about this but as a teenager my boyfriends friends were arrested because they joked about nicking a man's pizza as he walked past.

Is policing what others say online a bit of a hobby horse of yours, @PollyRockets ?
You seem quite an advocate of this being a major use of police investigation time.
Very peculiar.

@PollyRockets but you'd rather someone who offends you on twitter is investigated? Very odd!