Do you know a decent police officer?

[Whatistheanswer2023]

AIBU to ask?

My personal experience someone who I went to Uni with who joined the Met. Thank god he got found out.

He bullied me at Uni, picked on me. Attacked me once. I was horrified when he joined the Met. He got kicked out for throwing someone down some stairs and then kicking them.

He moved abroad and now works in the US. Still in enforcement. Honestly a totally evil person. He made one year of my Uni life a misery.

he was racist and a misogynist. Total God Complex too.

Why are people like this allowed into the force then tolerated?

Yes. One our friends is but he's leaving soon as he's sick of the endless admin and has hardly any time to do actual policing.

This^

I have close friends either in or retired from the police. There are children of close friends in the police. I have relatives who are or were in the police.

There are bad individuals in all walks of life unfortunately.

Just remember, police officers will be the ones running towards trouble when the rest of us are running away……..

I do DBS checks. Trust me there are just as many vile people who are doctors, teachers, social workers, childminders, nursery workers and vicars.

And that would be a useful addition to the debate if any of those professions carried a warrant card that allowed them to arrest you.

I think it's called whatabouttery ?

Whew!!!!!

-at last we’ve moved off nurses

Our local ones are great. I feel very sorry for the decent ones, being tarnished by the rotten few.

I have dealt with many lovely police officers, male and female

There is a Met policeman in my wider family. I have no reason to suspect anything beyond my normal cynicism of men.

The most thuggish boy in my year at school joined the police decades ago. Even then he was boasting about his thuggery.

I have only had one reason to have contact with the police lately. They were useless.

There are of course bad apples in most professions...nurses that kill babies, teachers that groom children, carers that steal from old people. All people who are suppose to be trusted but we have numerous examples of them.

Yes, my friend. She is one of the loveliest, kindest people you could meet.

I've had few interactions with the police, but they have all been positive. I've reported witnessing an accident and they were great. I called them out because my late husband was threatening to kill me - they were there within 4 minutes, took him away and were kind and supportive to me and also to him (he was very drunk, it was the end of a long descent and no, I didn't allow him back). And lastly I had to give a witness statement of a racist incident and again, they were courteous and professional.

But that wasn't the Met.

My ex was in the police it's hands down the worst relationship I've ever had he wasn't even uniform just answered the phone. He was friends with a lot of police officers and call room staff.

The whole industry (not even sure if that's the right word) was just incredibly strange. Open affairs, open racism and sexism. Everyone stuck together like glue so I can see why things don't get found out quickly or easily.

Officers and call staff having sex in police cars or store rooms on night shifts. They would take it in turns to take time off on full pay for months with "stress" it was an open joke that there was no stress involved. Managers were as bad and did the same thing. Secret words to mean different derogatory things about women or people who weren't white over the radio. Officers attacking prisoners and it being covered up. Drugs ! I could go on.

There were a couple of women officers were nice enough I couldn't say anything bad about them. On the whole the whole place was toxic.

I'm so glad to be out of it. I remember a few years ago coming on here under a different name and most people defended the police so it's nice to see that at least some people are beginning to have their eyes opened to what they are like.

I know loads of decent police officers.

I know alot who go above beyond their role in supporting people.

I also a know a few not decent police officers and had experience of both.

You do need a huge mix of personality strengths to suit different roles in the police so maybe that's why recruitment may fail to spot the arseholes? No excuse in not spotting the downright dangerous.

Yes. My cousin. He is a thoroughly decent sort who is more likely to sort things out with words than violence. He happens to be quite tall and imposing though so if you didn't know him you wouldn't know he's incredibly calm and reasonable chap.

I met another thoroughly decent fellow recently after an incident at our property. He was lovely and exceptionally reassuring

Yes, I know several.

Its like all work forces, you have the good and the bad.

I'll stand corrected on the newer officers.

Most over forty didn't have to be all that bright to gain entry.

Of course. In particular a couple we are friends with. They are both good, decent people and great friends. One works in child protection and I wouldn't do her job for quids.

They were absolutely gutted about Wayne Couzens and no doubt they will be about Carrick too.

Know a few yes decent people

I've had a lot of horrendous experiences with the West Yorkshire police and never met a decent one.

Yes I know four MET officers – all family members - all good people.

My èx fiance was in the met. He didn't cover himself in glory i a relationship sense (affairs, cowardly and dishonest at the end) but he was good at his job and genuinely wanted to help people.

His colleagues were a mixed bag, some outright arseholes but I guess that's true in any walk of life. I agree it's very incestuous - he cheated with a colleague and I know there were several affairs going on amongst them. I have a really good friend who worked with the police in a civilian role for a while who said the same, so many affairs!

I suppose any profession with an element of power will attract a percentage of people wanting to abuse that. In one school I worked in, I was bullied almost to the point of breakdown by some of the nastiest and most insidiously vicious teachers (and Head) I've ever had the misfortune to come across. A colleague experienced the same, and the person who took over my role later contacted me to tell me she had received the same treatment too. Terrifying that such people would be drawn to that career, although in fairness they only seemed to want to exercise their power to destroy colleagues at least and not the young children in their care.

Yes, my nephew. Absolutely straight and honest.

I know of at least one decent male police officer. He was my neighbour growing up and, after doing a degree, ended up as a very high ranking officer in a northern constabulary.

Know a decent police officer? I am married to one. He is the most decent guy you'll ever meet, very dependable. It's such a shame that some give the rest a bad name.

Interesting. I think there are some genuinely good people that go into policing for altruistic reasons to only do good, but reckon they are in the minority, and a v small minority at that.

The rest…I’m not an expert but I would guess they’re fairly inadequate people with fascistic tendencies. I don’t mean they’re actual fascists, they could be on any part of the political spectrum in terms of their personal politics, just that they’re the type of people that appeal to a higher authority to justify they’re actions, buy into the ideas of hierarchy, paternalistic etc.

I have one friend my age in the police & I have the utmost respect for her, she is extremely devoted to her job and works very hard. I also know a 25 year old police officer who is incredibly able academically & socially and overtime I’m sure will contribute a huge amount to the Met.