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?

@countingsheep5678

How dreadful but you had the suggestion to "make a complaint". Find out the name of a local inspector and write a letter [not an e-mail etc] to that named individual saying what you feel is wrong. If you get no answer or action then follow it up. Clearly mark the letter "COMPLAINT" as so often they simply say "you did not make a formal complaint"

You can feedback in Hertfordshire to neighbourhoods team here.

www.herts.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/wsi/watch-schemes-initiatives/echo/echo-community-feedback/

However in our area you can email in too and i find them really helpful.

It's me again !

Police officer . SNT don't have a direct line because they'd spend most of they're day on the phone to people instead of being out on patrol or dealing with crime .
What happens is when you report something for the snt to look at it will go to a tasking queue . The tasking queue is often very busy with over 50 incidents to pick up . When I was a snt cop there was me and one pcso for the area I had responsibility for .
That was only 3 years ago .

Someone will get in touch - but it may take a while . We pick up the tasking queue in between warrants , days of targeted action , dealing with prisoners for shoplifting etc .
We need funding . And more officers. And more cars. And basic equipment. When I was on response I had to scrape the ice off the windscreen with the cars log book . No scrapers . No nothing . It's depressing.

DH is a PC.

He works hard, puts up with all sorts of shit and comes home some days/nights over 3 or 4 hours late because he isn't lazy and is doing the job he loves and is paid to do. We sacrifice so much as a family with young DC for him to still be able to do this job and he is very good at it.

DS is a detective and also does the same, if not more, given the nature of her job.

I think what my point is, they aren't all lazy before people start tarnishing them all with the same brush.

This!!!

Thank you for what you do 😊 DH is in the same position as you, having a lot less time with us/young DC too due to being kept on jobs a lot longer than the shift is.

Well yes. The Police are MASSIVELY underfunded by our incompetent government.

I’m afraid there just aren’t enough of us. As for “hiding behind desks” our force has massively cut back room staff so that budget can be used to have the appearance of having more front line officers. But who do you think is fulfilling those admin tasks now? Yep, front line officers. I would love to “get out from behind my desk” more often, however not keeping up to date with paperwork is one of the things we are measured on and hauled over the coals about.

Are those admin tasks even necessary? How often do you find yourself filling in forms for your force and the CPS which essentially duplicate the information in one another; or which include information that is not strictly necessary and would be included in the statements if it were? How long do you spend on hold to CPS Direct for minor crimes that used to be dealt with by police solicitors?

Obviously I understand that these are out of your control, and that the power to do away with paperwork lies with ACPO ranks, the CPS and the Home Office.

In Canada, an officer will be back on the streets within an hour of bringing a prisoner in. How long does it take you? I've heard figures around the six hour mark before. In fact, for minor stuff the Canadians will deal with it on the street and just bail the person on the spot to appear in court on Monday.

Of course they aren't. They never have been. I find it bemusing that so many people are finding out what some people have known their whole lives. You'd have better luck jumping off the Eiffel tower and flapping your arms in an attempt to fly than finding a good, hard-working police officer.

Insurance might cover most of the value of what was lost but it won't do anything about the sense of violation that you get, knowing that your home isn't the safe space you thought it was.

What will do something about that? Criminals knowing that there is a very real chance of being caught, prosecuted, and ending up behind bars for a substantial length of time. Therefore making them reconsider whether it's worth doing in the first place.

The House of Commons.

There are plenty of hardworking police officers. How often have you worked a shift from 7am till 11pm when you should knock off at 4 ? I have . And I've taken victims to court on my days off , in my own car , at my own expense. I have one a fridge freezer. We are human you know ?

• gave not have

I've worked more overtime hours for nothing than you've probably had hot dinners .

I wouldn't regard the incidents you refer to as asb, they're more like assault and I'd treat them as such when you speak with the police.

If they weren't busy dancing round bloody pride stuff and bending their knees, they might find time to actually solve a crime!

What you define as assault and what is written in statute regards the law I'm afraid are two different things.

You do realise mass gatherings like pride have to be policed ? The fact they are policed in a civil good natured way is not a bad thing ? I work with many colleagues both male and female who are gay . Like in all other walks of life .
Why the bitterness ?
Being a police officer right now is akin to trying to push treacle uphill.
There are a handful of cops going out each day to deal with 100 + incidents . That's without immediates ir emergency call outs . If you want better policing then lobby for better funding .
You can't give good quality policing on a shoestring. Even tho the majority of my colleagues try .

Can I share this with you ....

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We are human you know?

If only some of them thought that the same of the lives they ruin on a daily basis. Some of them children who never mentally recover. I have absolutely no sympathy for the police. Not even the size of a grain of rice. They have ruined the lives of so many people and continue to do so as some kind of hobby sport.

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And finally .

That was from uk cop humour in tribute to Andrew Harper who died in the line of duty . Flayed alive . Dragged behind a car at 30 mph . 3 hours late off his shift when he answered a call to a
Burglary in progress.

Please stop demonising all police officers .