To show you what the police actually face in the course of their duty

[baggiesmalls]

fb.watch/lKKA2uMzFn/?startTimeMs=40000

This is already in the public domain .

I see a lot of negative comments about police and some of it , rightly so.

But this sums up for me what the job is about .
And why normal everyday men and women , like me , join the police service .

The bravery shown here is commendable .

Thanks for taking the time to watch .

Still avoiding addressing the ‘coloured’ terminology?

Always think of the letby trial and wonder if all nurses feel they are viewed as murderers.

I was a nurse and no I never felt that people would view me like Beverly Allit but then nursing does not have a culture of covering up for colleagues who should not be in the job. I have reported concerns about one colleague and, in a more senior position, I have received reports about colleagues who either lack competence or fail to uphold professional standards. All reports are investigated thoroughly and escalated to the NMC or dealt with through disciplinary or performance management.

Yes there are bad apples in every job and even with the best recruitment and screening processes some will slip through the net. It's how a profession deals with those people that matters.

Here you are trying to persuade us that policing is a difficult and dangerous job, I've never been in any doubt about that, when you should perhaps spend more energy calling out the arseholes in uniform.

I suspect arseholes get away with it because they are protected or because there is a culture of fear. If the police force dealt more effectively with its bad apples you wouldn't be here trying to win us over because you would still have the public support you (general you) have lost.

If you have lost the respect and support of so many members of the public when you use to have it all then perhaps the problems are with the police force rather than the public.

OP, posting the video wasn't a problem, although perhaps posting in Chat would have been better than the often more challenging AIBU. It seems you expected or wanted only posts commending the bravery of the officers in the video and recognising the commitment of police officers in general including yourself. Most of us don't need to watch a video to know the challenges that some police officers face or that there are some dedicated police officers who do their best and joined for the right reasons. However, most of us also know the very serious problems and failings within the police service on institutional and individual levels. A video is not going to make people forget that. As you've been around here for a long time, you should know that people will post opposing views and experiences, especially in AIBU, and that certain statements that others believe not to be true, and the use of outdated, insensitive or offensive terms, will be challenged - this is Mumsnet, not a police station. Perhaps you have been in that culture for so long that you have become enmeshed in it without realising. You will be due to retire soon, I imagine. Also, in my experience, there is still support on here if you look in the right places.

I've just read through this entire thread and only person you have shown any empathy for is a fellow police officer.

And you have summed up exactly what one of the main problems is in professions like policing. Too many excuses for those (unnumbered in quantity) who don't act morally, legally or even at a very basic level of compassionate humanity because they are providing a service we should all respect and be grateful for regardless of their behaviour and regulation of it.

I am a police officer, joined as soon as I could after leaving school. I was always intending to and when a girl at school committed suicide when I was only 14 & when a student in my brothers year was stabbed to death it just made me want to be one even more especially as police came into school and were amazing. It never, ever occurred to me that anyone would question my values or credibility because of my career choice and it still baffles me now. I joined to help people and because I feel that as a relatively privelidged person, fortunate enough to be able.to do the job I should. I have been in for years and in that time I have never known any of my colleagues to be a bad apple. It used to really upset me that people could be so horrendous to us but now I have learned to just let it go or it would've made me either ill or driven me out of my career and in that time those who I have helped, suicides I have been to, attempt suicides including a young woman on a roof who is still alive now, serious assaults etc have all made some of the harder day to say stuff worth it. I love working with families that are away from their abuser and I know I am good at helping them as I make sure I know what help is out there for them and how to get it. Not everyone has access to that information and for them the police can make a huge difference. What I have found is that people who are genuinely having a horrific experience are never rude or derogatory, but often those who are guilty of an offence or have bad character in some way are.

As an example of what we deal with, let me describe a few shifts to you all. I'm now in a role that deals with criminal investigation but for this I'll go back to my response days. Just finished my fourth night shift in a row. I have tonsillitis, have been walking through a grave yard for a couple of hours in the snow and it's coming up to 5 am. I have been looking for someone who's missing and he has sent some messages on text after declining our phone calls, not confirming he's okay but taunting us, saying he would attack us when we found him and that he has a claw hammer. Still, he has to be found of course and my 5 ft 3 self and my 5 ft 3, lesbian, black, female colleague are all there is to keep eachother and him safe because a serious crash has happened down the road and the rest of the team are only just getting relieved after 7 hours of assisting the serious crash department as 2 people have died. That includes arrests, recovering the vehicles, traffic control ( being abused by people delayed from getting to where they want to go after being first on scene to two dead people in their 20s ) and driving to their families houses to break the news. Eventually, the missing man is found and all chaos beaks out. I'm spat at, scratched, hit, my colleague is called racist and sexist slurs and he threatens to kill us. All I have realistically is my pava spray or baton to help him but I can't reach for it because I can't let go of him as he's been reported missing and that's a job ender if he gets away. Eventually all is dealt with when other officers turn up and take over to get him checked out at the hospital. We have so much writing to do, we head indoors to dock our body worn cameras so the footage uploads onto the system and everything we have seen and, done and said can be watched and essentially scrutinised. We need to also write up what had happened and it has to be spot on. It's about 5 am now and early turn in my force doesn't start until 7 am, so we had until they were in to get our admin done and head home. In that time anything else that happens is for us to go to, no matter how much we have on that has to be documented today. That includes arrests of domestic abuse perpetrators, thieves, sex offenders, people on drugs full of strength and energy, road traffic collisions, missing people, dead people, you name it we have to be ready to go. I am unable to swallow by this point, flinching from the pain in my throat and I haven't eaten at all. My hands are freezing and unable to type and just as we get to the station gate in the car another call comes in, this time 'borderless' so far out of our patch meaning we are covering another area with no resources as a real last resort. Off we go again, colleague driving after all that at high speed, having to stay awake and make sure she is driving quickly to get there but safely as any driving related problems are dealt extremely seriously. We arrive, new born has been attacked by a dog inside a house and the parents are more interested in fighting police than us helping the child. The baby ends up being taken to hospital which is quite a bit of time after we arrive and only one parent is permitted to go in the ambulance with the baby by the paramedics. We then drive the other parent, again at speed, with lights to get them to the hospital incase the baby dies. The entire journey, the parent tells us how shit we are, what a disgrace we are, what they think of police, what they read about police, what they hear about police, every bad experience everyone they've ever known as had with police and seems to be oblivious to what we are doing doing them at that very moment. We stay silent given what has happened and their emotional state, still it hurts. Get to hospital, way out of our area as they have the resources to help and the parent is just as horrific to the nurses. By the time we leave and get back in it's 10 am. We were meant to be off duty at 7 and it's now well into my first of only two days off. I still have admin to do, body worn video to dock, loads of writing for the job we have just been to and even though I've been up all night every detail has to be perfect given how serious it is. Those officers on the early turn shift need details and want to talk to us in person, I've missed the chance to even call my GP for an appointment at the 8 o clock call in time and I now have to drive home, safely and sleep. I drive home with the radio off trying to decompress quickly as I need to sleep and my mind is so alert recalling every little detail and questioning if I did little things right like remembering to send my statement to the early turn team. I sleep all day and have just the next day to enjoy my life, family, friends etc. My parents look old when I see them and I feel so spent emotionally, physically and so lonely really. On the next day when I get back in, I'm informed of a complaint that has been made against me by someone I didn't call back about an investigation that has been allocated to me. I didn't even know about the investigation because I was not at a desk at all on my last shift, I was dealing with all of the above. In the complaint they say they're contacting the MP and the local news. It's someone reporting a hate crime - a serious matter and the sort of thing I'd love to sink my teeth into. As it's a hate crime my supervisors are all over it wanting a great job done, but I haven't seen it because I was on my days off. The complainant has assumed my lack of contact means I don't care about hate crime and because of the perception of police they complain before I even have a chance. I can't tell them exactly what I was dealing with that took precedent, so instead I have to call them and feebly apologise for not contacting them sooner and instantly they hate me, make the assumption that their point is proven and here we go... I tell them I will do my best to see them during my shift that day but there's always a chance I will be pulled away to something. I'm also desperate to retire from duty and go home sick because I'm still so unwell but I know we have hardly anyone in today. A couple are in court and that leaves the team with 7. I tell my skipper I need time to see the person that has complained and explain why, they agree it's important and to give me time but then there's a priority shout meaning an officer is in trouble and asked for help on the radio. Everything is dropped and we head out, only to find that a sex offender has beaten my colleague and a member of the public to a pulp after they tried to arrest them for an offence. They've got away, colleagues unconscious and needs medical attention and the offender needs to be located immediately and arrested. Now, given that one officer has ended up this way on their own they won't be replaced by just one officer, a whole team is needed to find them. Every single person available is then pulled from whatever they're doing to find this person in one tiny part of the ground we cover. Meanwhile the radio keeps going and the dispatcher is asking who can attend the opposite side of the patch we cover to deal with some youths throwing rocks at passers by. We all want to, but can't. There's only seven of us, in pairs and a trio searching for this one man before he seriously hurts someone else or himself so we ask for other areas to help. The dispatcher resources someone from 24 miles away to attend. They make way and by the time they get there, the youth have stopped and left. The poor sod who called it in has given up and left after waiting for police they were told would come for 20 minutes. That person now assumes that police never come when they call and assumes its because they don't care. The day carries on like this, I never get to call the person that has already complained or change their view. I stop at a local mcdonalds to use their loo because the station is too far away and I'm on. I'm I'm agony, throat is on fire too and I dare to buy myself a hot drink- not for a break, to have on the go. Someone in the queue behind me tells me 'stay busy love' and I have to just ignore it because what can I say back? It's the sort of thing the escalates and ends up on here with a majority of the posters talking about how I deserve all rudeness and hostility because of my job. The person reporting the youth throwing stones that police never got to would use this sighting as evidence. Time for mcdonalds but no time to come when police are called about asb. I get home, check my phone and my nan, Joan has died. I cancelled last time I was meant to see her because I was off late dealing with someone who has been arrested for drink driving. They still drink drive just without a licence. Their whole family hates police and says and does whatever they can to discredit the service. My nan loved the police and was proud of me but she's gone now and I know I have nobody I can talk to about it.
The next day, first call I'm sent to is the sudden death of an elderly female, on her own in her chair. I'm the only one available to go and it hits me hard. Afterwards, I'm sent to someone who doesn't know my life, obviously and i have to be professional even though I feel like a girl who has just lost her Nan in a police costume. She immediately dislikes me because she is already on the back foot from a previous interaction with police and so watching me and judging my every single facial expression, words said and asking me to make promises I can't keep and know I can't deliver on. I think of my nan and want to cry tbh but the lady I'm with says she doesn't think I'm listening to her. I'm just doing my best but I'm a person, I'm grieving and today's been hard.

This is just an example of day to day life as a response officer. As a detective or someone in an investigator role, it's just as hard. You can one minute be interviewing a child who has been the victim of the most heinous offences and the next interviewing the suspect. It's long, drawn out, complex but rewarding. I don't think any of what police deal with deserves respect, like a lot of posters say nobody makes anyone join up but what I do think is that before criticising it would just be wise to maybe ask how much of your view is perception based on no evidence whatsoever and how much of it is experience. I can honestly say in my entire career I've never known anyone to say or do anything of an intentionally offensive nature and our skippers would hit the roof if we misused WhatsApp to each other let alone did any of the stuff the newspapers have in them. I come across people of all professions in my job, teachers who have offended against children, work men who have stolen from homes, even a mobile hairdresser who was sussing out clients for her burglar boyfriend but it doesn't mean I wouldn't send my children to school, wouldn't trust a workman in my house and wouldn't let a hairdresser talk to me about holidays I had planned. If I did see any of my colleagues doing or saying anything offensive I'd be all over it, but if I haven't I can't make it so and hope that every once in a while those that give us a hard time shift their perspective a little bit and realise the police is comprised of people who generally try to get it right against tremendous pressure.

Oh it's you, Vicar.

Look over the years I've had your back on here the odd time, I think you know that. But bloody WHY do you do this to yourself? Just why? Take a break. Talk about things other than this. Name change again and just DON'T mention the police again. Be on here as a woman and a mum and use it as that.

It's like some kind of self-loathing.

Agree entirely with this.
Unfortunately by constantly asking people to watch the video, you just made the situation worse because you weren't acknowledging what people were saying about their own experiences or opinions. I highly doubt that anyone isn't aware of how difficult a police officers role is and the kinds of things they are expected to face. You'd have to be incredibly sheltered and naive not to be aware of it.
However equally you should be aware that your use of language matters and you don't come across well in your posts unfortunately. You should also be aware that despite none of your colleagues ever causing an issue and your particular force being exemplary, it is widely recognised that there are often issues within the police force - as there are in many positions of power.
The people who are likely to respond to this post are the people who will have had negative experiences. I have had both good and bad experiences with the police both personally and professionally and know both good and bad police officers both personally and professionally. To expect everyone to agree that every police officer is a Saint and deserves a medal is incredibly naive and you are never going to achieve that on this forum.

I can see that people think ‘so you’d never call the police’ is an amazing GOTCHA and wow they’re just SO SMART they outfoxed us all! Geniuses!

Unfortunately these amazing intellects are apparently unaware that yeah I’d be very hesitant to have two male police officers come to my home if I were alone. I’m an educated wealthy articulate white woman and I still have no reason to feel sure that scenario would be safe for me. If others can’t grasp why, they’ve been ignoring the news for the past thirty years.

That’s before we even start on what happens when women report crimes like sexual assault or domestic violence. Again, the total ignorance is balanced by the total arrogance of thinking you’ve ensnared us all with your wit.

It's really sad that heroic genuine people who risk their lives to protect others and uphold the law feel so unrespected and unappreciated by the public and I can see why that would be particularly distressing to them given what they choose to do

Sadly this fault doesn't lie with the public for losing trust and being angry - it lies with the organisation (police) who have employed rapists and murderers to uphold the law one too many times to not show a problematic approach to vetting their staff and safeguarding the public

I hope the police topdogs improve at their institutional failings and create a more appropriate climate towards those colleagues that think they're above the law and can abuse their power and also hope they recognise the need for providing mental health support for those (hopefully majority) of officers who have the added stress of the lack of recognition and respect for what they do every day due to past failures in the police. It must be a really hard job being a good one in the current atmosphere

Yes, as I was watching it I was wondering if any nurses were watching. And, as you say, similar for housing workers, social workers, all manner of health and social care workers.

My default setting with the police is to not trust them.
Has been my entire adult life and nothing will change that.
I have no idea why women go into the police, but for men it seems its because of macho bullshit at best.

I didn’t even get the length of the cps asking for my phone.

the plllice stood and laughed at me and said no one would believe me because - and I quote - look at you who are you. (Compared to my ex - pillar of the community and I was a snotty hysterical mess). I had to take myself home and pick myself up.

my partner is in the forces. He signed up for what he does. So do the police. If you don’t like it. Leave.

in my experience the police are full of sexist misogynists who are corrupt. And I wouldn’t phone them in a similar situation and I’ve told my daughters that in that situation they need to be careful. Take a friend with them to report. Or better yet a solicitor.

and please. Change your language. Some of the phrases you use are really not great.

I'm well aware of this. I'm refering to the basic beat Bobby.

Rather ridiculous of you to assume otherwise, I'd say

I was a nurse and no I never felt that people would view me like Beverly Allit but then nursing does not have a culture of covering up for colleagues who should not be in the job.

^^
from a previous post . There are actual tv programmes about how badly people are treated who whistleblow in the NHS. There’s definitely not enough whistleblowing - see recent appalling midwifery deaths.

Name changing is pointless, it's so easy to work out who this is.

in my experience the police are full of sexist misogynists who are corrupt. And I wouldn’t phone them in a similar situation and I’ve told my daughters that in that situation they need to be careful. Take a friend with them to report. Or better yet a solicitor

This is exactly the approach I take with my kids. Do not allow yourself to be interviewed without legal representation. Do not trust that your human rights will be protected by the police. Do not take the risk.

If approached by a lone policeman, do not get into the car. Ring 999 report the situation and ask for a female officer. Sit down and wait.

This is basic self protection and I'm hoping a lot of parents are telling their kids this.

Migrainehaterforlife you sound like a very hardworking, conscious police woman and we get that it's very tough and the toll it takes on individuals. That however doesn't negate all of the bad experiences or mistrust that people have in the police. When it's got to a point where as women we are scared of being assaulted, raped or murdered by a policeman, then something has gone very wrong. If women cannot report a crime perpetuated against her because they will be ignored or mocked, something has gone wrong.Just because you don't see bad behaviour doesn't mean it isn't happening. The public will not blindly trust anymore and the police need to really understand why that is, not make excuses.

It is perfectly OK to think the police have a massive Problem with institutionalized racism and misogyny. And to want to know when, after repeated incidents and "Oops mea culpa" from them, when they are going to do something about it.

It is tone deaf at this time to "Rah Rah Rah go us!" and expect our pathetic gratefulness that people join the force. We know what they do. And we know what they are supposed to do. They must not only close the gap - but to do so visibly and efficiently.

And yes, if I need them I will call. And expect them to do the job they are paid for with no fear or favour.

Also, I must admit I'm still horrified that a serving police officer would actually use the term kiddy porn. Of all the people who should know how wrong that is, it should be the police.

The culture needs to change.

Well I tagged on and helped stop the 3rd shock army rolling in over the northern German plain, among other things.

Feel free to fall weeping about my neck in grateful thanks

Being seen as racist, homophobic and racist - which they are - probably doesn’t help or relieve pressure so it’s time to do something about that.

You are literally asking for praise for the officers in the vid and are not listening to posters who are telling you why they don't trust the police.

Some officers (who identify themselves on MN as such) are doing a very good job of reinforcing that attitude, tbh.

As I said: now is the time for a period of quiet reflection by all forces - and to show us that you mean it when you say you are ejecting and disciplining the "bad apples"

‘You have bad apples in every walk of life. ‘

its bad barrels of apples not bad apples - that’s what ‘institutionally racist’ means …

Higher as in better vetting. And weeding out the bad apples IMMEDIATELY

Sadly on mumnet you will get the anti police mob. People assume that all police are racist rapists. Because no other criminals work in other sectors like the NHS, murdering gps, nurses who kill babies, consultant who molest children with cancer...but yeah..it's only the police who are wrong uns.