A crazy idiot? Police description of mentally unwell person

[unfairopinionmaybe]

I'm really not sure if I'm being unfair. NC'd for this post...

Police officer in full uniform at a hospital (I had taken a relative) stepped outside but still within hearing range of general public

Described the patient we were aware he was accompanying on a personal call he was making as "a crazy idiot who said they needed to be sectioned" to who they were talking to on the phone

I felt really upset at the attitude, the person clearly was unwell and I don't think it would have upset me so much had I heard it from someone not in police uniform (it's a difficult job, and I'm sure very stressful) but in uniform and next to the hospital they'd bought the unwell person to, within hearing of general public- I felt oddly uncomfortable/upset at the attitude towards an incredibly vulnerable and unwell individual they'd accompanied

Other officers seemed very compassionate and somewhat protected the dignity of the person whilst this one was calling them "a crazy idiot" so I don't mean to slate all police officers but I felt like had they said it out of uniform- whatever, have whatever private opinions you want but in uniform isn't there a duty to be respectful if anyone will hear you and you're discussing someone who is mentally unwell enough to need to be escorted to hospital? I'm not really sure if I felt so angry because it was actually an awful thing to say or because I felt like the police need to be super conscious of their attitudes towards very vulnerable individuals especially when overheard by the public after recent cases and they were letting their colleagues who seemed to be doing a great job down whilst showing a lack of empathy towards someone pretty sick

I debated making a complaint but I'm not sure if I'm overreacting (why I have posted)

It's inappropriate language, but as someone who works in mental health I have endless sympathy for the Police because they really shouldn't be having to spend so much of their time acting as triage and ambulance services for people who are ill. It's a disgrace.

It’s inappropriate but the Police deal with far too many MH related incidents that is actually the job of other agencies. It takes up so much of their time so yeah, this officer is probably just really fed up and frustrated (not excusing the language used).

I agree - the particular hesitation I have is that actually the colleagues were doing a great job from what I saw

Make a complaint of fgs people like you honestly need to get a grip

Could be various reasons why he said what he said. Maybe there person he's brought in to the hospital doesn't have mental health yet always says they do

Maybe the person he's brought in to the hospital is the third time that week and this person always leaves when sectioned

Maybe that person has caused a car crash earlier on or put me ever so if the public or the officer in danger

He said what he said Let it go

I agree with others, it isn't nice to hear but it's outrageous the demands the police have in regards to supporting people struggling with their MH because other agencies are lacking. I have been sectioned before so not flippant about how offensive attitudes like this can be, but I'd let it go in this case.

Sure, most of them generally do, and they do get a lot more training and education in this area than they used to, but still, I don't think people would phone an ambulance to come to a robbery in progress, then expect the ambulance crew to discharge the role of police with absolute perfection.

I'm not suggesting in any way you are wrong to be upset and annoyed, because that sort of language is never necessary, but I think PP's are correct in that what you encountered was likely just one officer who is stressed/burned out/fed up/frustrated.

I would be a lot more incensed had they called the person in question a 'crazy idiot' to their face, but still, it's difficult to just shrug it off.

Did you get a badge number? I would report it as it may well form part of a wider pattern of behaviour.

I had bones broken by the police though when they were sectioning me so I don’t take this lightly at all.

I would also say that the vast majority of the police were exceptional and I wouldn’t be alive if it were not for them, particularly lovely that there’s a few officers who come and check how I am doing if they see me.

but I think PP's are correct in that what you encountered was likely just one officer who is stressed/burned out/fed up/frustrated.

And this is hitting the nail on the head right here. I’ve been in the emergency services for 20 years. I also have family and friends in the police. Because of the stress and burn-out they are leaving in droves.

No I didn't but I think this is probably why I felt so triggered myself

I've had similar happen to a loved one

I am fairly sure they're identifiable by the hospital, time and physical descriptors of the police offer

But yes, like pp have stated I am aware they're particularly unfairly distributed a workload from MH call-outs by other agencies and they may have been incredibly stressed and burned out (though this was not their demeanour at the time that I observed)

I agree with making a complaint. It's completely unprofessional and discriminatory.

Professionals ought to treat mental illness with the same compassion as physical illness.

Exactly. I used to work for the police, and the amount of police time taken up rounding up awol mental health hospital patients or responding to concern for person calls where the person clearly had complex mental health needs and the officers ended up stuck there for hours trying to untangle it all was astounding. It really was a massive part of their job.

Yes it shouldn't be part of their job, but that's an argument for the police to make politically. It's no reason for officers to be derogatory towards vulnerable people, who have no control over which agencies are given this task.

I'm shocked people are condoning the language. It's vompletely inappropriate. Definitely complain

Make a complaint. The police need training on this. I’ve been held in a cell for days after missing court for something stupid. I was having a psychotic break and I thought the police were going to kill me. I told them my symptoms. Im still traumatised from it.

Clearly worth reporting, not sure why people are telling you otherwise.

@ManchesterGirl2 spot on

It's a tough one. The police being authority figures don't tend to like it when you take issue with them. If you are going to do it best to take them aside and not do it in front of an audience. Even then it's likely fair and reasonable criticism is not going to be received well so you have to be able to deal with the consequences of that.

I was running up a (steep) hill once and there were two cops parked on it on mountain bikes (it was a hot day, funny you never see them out on the bikes when its cold or raining). One was fiddling with her bike, the other stood up next to her on the path, blocking it completely rather than ensuring space was left for anyone else to pass.

I stopped in front of them and they asked why and I said its because you are blocking the path ! Why are you blocking it ? They didn't come up with a reason, but basically gave me the old "I'm a police officer" carp. So I let them have it with both barrels. They weren't best pleased and started to try to yell at me so I just walked off the path into the road, went round them and carried on.

Anyway they didn't bother to chase me up the hill. Too much effort for them I reckon, but in retrospect I was probably lucky they didn't call up a squad car and take me down the nick.

LemonLimeDivine · Today 12:52
It’s inappropriate but the Police deal with far too many MH related incidents that is actually the job of other agencies. It takes up so much of their time so yeah, this officer is probably just really fed up and frustrated (not excusing the language used).

This!

The police have a hell of a job.

Don’t you ever say anything less than perfect OP? Would you like your every move and word to be analysed when dealing with the most varied and erratic situations. Would you like to know the extent and range of calls that a uniform police officer will encounter every shift. The answer to that is no because you don’t want to hear it you just want to be offended. Make the complaint OP because that’s clearly what you want to do. They’ll be able to find the officer from the time you’re at the hospital. Hope it makes you feel better

Course this happened

Yes I don't deny they have a really tough job and they may be very stressed and frustrated

The demeanour of the officer did not remind me of this (they were very smiley and chatting loudly to who was most likely someone they were romantically chasing from the rest of convo overheard- initial conversation perhaps after a first date type thing. In case I decide I have overreacted I'm trying not to say too much)

I don't begrudge them a personal call either if they have a minute in a long day

I don't really care if they go home to families and describe people however they choose- everyone mouths off about something/someone to decompress after work and says things they can't say whilst they're on duty at work

They were on duty - In uniform- and loud enough to be overheard by a lot of the public

Phew. Thank goodness that a member of the public, who has never been a Police Officer, was on hand to critique whether the Officers on scene were doing a good job or not.

Have you ANY idea how silly you sound?

I used to be a Police Officer, and my DH still is one. The acute levels of stress on Officers is UNREAL. And many criminals will pretend that they are having some kind of episode, so that the Officers have no choice but to take them to hospital, and sit with them for HOURS, which takes them off the streets. Which is fucking pointless, because no matter what the person says, the Psychiatrist will always rule that they are fit to leave, EVEN if they have said that they will harm themselves or others. Often, it is the same people, time and time again that do this. It's infuriating and time wasting, and Officers are sick of it.

If you put in a complaint, this Officer will get dragged over the coals, and then some.

Maybe you should direct your annoyance at the fact that there are thousands of people in this country, that contribute absolutely zero to the NHS, and yet it is this cohort that drains the system more than anyone else, with their "why should I be expected to work?" ethic, their endless crime sprees, their frequent drug over doses, their frequent fist fights with all and sundry when they are pissed up on buckfast, their lack of self care, and their inability to do anything for themselves or exist for a few days without calling 999.

Anyway they didn't bother to chase me up the hill. Too much effort for them I reckon, but in retrospect I was probably lucky they didn't call up a squad car and take me down the nick.

🙄🙄🙄🙄 Probably just gave you a quick eye roll dear and then went on with the rest of their day.

The psychiatrist doesn’t always rule that people are fit to leave - many people are admitted.

You are part of the problem