To all those wondering why police aren't investigating crime

@Graphista

"@Psychonabike are you genuinely trying to say you don't class addiction as a health issue and a Mh one at that? I find that shockingly prejudicial from someone claiming to work in Mh - but I'm also not entirely surprised given my experience with Mh staff too - and I'm not an addict but I've been bluntly blamed for my own Mental illness by so called experts"

Nope I'm not saying that, not even close. I don't think I actually referred to addiction at all.

First -the acute incidents that the police respond to and bring to psych hospitals for assessment are usually related to behaviour in the context of acute intoxication and that's what I was referring to. Yes, there'll be some overlap with addiction but addiction isn't the reason for presentation in that moment.

Second- addiction is a health issue of course, but it isn't one for the acute psych services that the police bring people too. It's a separate service in almost all parts of the UK.

Where addiction is the underlying reason for behaviour that brings someone to the attention of the police, there are less acute routes to support and treatment. Addiction, by definition, is chronic. So there are usually other more acute reasons for someone being picked up, detained and brought for emergency psych assessment.

I guess that if you can't get a stolen car back because it will be out of the country in a jiffy, then it isn't really feasible to spend a lot of time taking statements because someone's range rover has gone missing.

For me more education about Faraday pouches and the most effective security measures will be most helpful. In my area, many expensive cars are stolen. Even with CCTV footage, there is little chance of catching the criminal, so I think those metal posts which pop up on the driveway so you can't drive the vehicle away, are a sound idea. Robbers only steal cars round out way. I don't think breaking into a home to get the TV is a vogue anymore - unless the person targeted is extremely wealthy and used to keep their valuables about their person.

The police are exceptionally well and broadly trained to understand human issues and mental health problems and social problems. They are great at talking people down. They are great at multi-agency liaising. They sit on safeguarding panels. They have the skills to cope with life and death situations, so we should be grateful they do. As one poster said, social workers don't work after 5pm. GPs are invisible. Everything is done over the phone at many practices. They deal with social problems because they are 24 hour service. Hospital security guards are very good too, and acquire a lot of relevant and useful understanding. They work 24 hours and are good at keeping vulnerable people safe.

"The issue with those jobs is there are only 2 people there - and if they not admit sex took place , but one says it wasn't consensual and the other says it was - how do we prove it ? That's why the cos have very low numbers running with rapes . Because that will be the next thing that gets shouted about . So thought I'd preempt it . It would be nice stay loosely on topic ."

You are part of the problem. What a fucking disgusting post. In addition to the minimising of sexism racism and homophobia It's very very telling that you say you've never seen anyone you've worked with ever say anything racist/homophobic/sexist. Literally unbelievable. I would bet good money this is what you are dismissing as "Good natured humour and banter". Like your hand waving dismissal of women "shouting about rapes" and not staying on topic. Right.

9-5? Ahahahahaha.
50 hour fucking weeks and answering emails at 6.30 on a Saturday morning thank you, and that's just older people's services Also almost all LAs have out of hours teams and mental health crisis cover. It's just not enough to deal with the tide, is all

This implies that 100% of crimes are attended to, when we know that’s not the case (unless maybe where you work it is?)

A pp has mentioned ‘non priority calls can wait’ - what are non priority calls?

I have many examples of crimes not attended to, but the most recent one is my neice being assaulted by a bouncer. He dragged her out to a side street, smacked her head against some metal railings along the way, and left her there only when people from a back alley bar came running up, presumably hearing her screaming. Who knows what he was intending on doing if those people didn’t turn up, but she still ended up in a&e after passing out, with a concussion and a black and blue face. The police did not even attend to take a statement from her. She was told to ask the clubs if they had CCTV (albeit by the call handler, not a police officer). They had the name of the clubs, presumably they should have been investigating themselves, not sending an assault victim back out to do it herself. The bouncer is still working there I assume, with access to plenty more victims who might not be as ‘lucky’ as my niece.

Other incidences I can think of, a friend being dragged into an alley and robbed, verbal assaults, physical assaults, criminal damage. Okay some of these may not be as urgent, but surely the 1st example is?

It’s all very well being defensive, and I do agree on some of the points made on this thread, but can you not see why the above would alter people’s perceptions of the police? If it had been you, or your child, or close friend, what would you think?

I think it’s incredibly difficult being on the front line - having never done that job. I can’t imagine.

I have worked in mental health and the services are still so limited, so I’m not surprised. I do think there are not enough ‘half way’ places, not in patient ward, not ‘care in the community’ but structured settings, where people can live for some months that are not right in the middle of busy towns where there is too much that can go wrong for people. Places like the retreat - where there is some peace, big gardens, activities.

And also just lessening inequalities. Mental health problems are worse when society is unequal.

I reported my ex for sharing intimate images - they invited him for interview and refused to take his phone from him.

I reported him for harassment they declined to do anything at all.

He reported me for stealing recycling bins that he had had delivered to my house - they sent an officer to my house to investigate

He reports me for sharing intimate images. I am arrested very publicly spent 12 hours in cells. Phone taken for 6 months. Despite the people I am accused of sharing images with making statements that it didn't happen

He reports me for harassment because I spoke to someone about a small part of what was going on that inadvertently involved this person - I am invited for formal interview.

The police are a disgrace. They are inherently sexist and misogynistic.

Complaints fall on deaf ears.

This thread is thoroughly depressing.

Perhaps those who think it is so simple to fix/improve service/better response times should join and show everyone how much better they can do it.

And no. I’m not police but I come in contact with them regularly (dealing with mental health issues that end up being our responsibility sadly) and I can’t praise them highly enough.

Yes there are bad apples but I would wager that happens in most professions. It is unfair to make sweeping judgements - most are doing the best they can and go above and beyond.

Just to back up what I was saying about salaries I’ve just seen this in the local paper, I am assuming it’s very region specific from what others are saying.

Starting salary of 33k sounds good and if you are Met you get free travel.

Where I am and as is the case for most of the UK officers start on 24k, well they did until 4 weeks ago now it is about 25,900 per year.

Pension contributions are high and there's no way round this you either pay the full amount or you opt out.

Bottom of the pay scale take home pay after deductions if you have a student loan etc is around £1275 a month. For risking your life every day.

There's not a great deal you can do.

Its just the point that the reason why police can't get to the crimes which are reported - is that we have loads of other non-crime related mental health and safeguarding incidents which are tying us up.

And we can't simply ignore them. The buck stops at the police as we can't pass it down to anyone else. Paramedics are too stretched to attend, so they send it to the police - who can we pass it off too? Mental health crisis team are too stretched to attend, so they send it to the police - who can we pass it off too? Social services............. and the list goes on