The police force attracts psychos.

[MerlinsBeard1]

After reading the most disgusting article the other day:
I was a NSW Police officer for ten years. This is the sick truth of what I saw... and why I warn my loved ones: 'Don't leave them alone with my corpse' | Daily Mail Online

Plus the endless other unacceptable incidents of late, not only in the UK but worldwide, AIBU to deduce that this profession in particular attracts psychos?

My trust in the Police is at rock bottom.

Any position of power attracts those who seek to exploit others.

There would be some in all walks of life including on here

Agree with this.
I worked with the police, not all are bad but certainly some bad eggs are attracted to it. Similar to teaching, some will have bad intent outright, others just harden and go powermad, and others try really hard

Its like the army, theres a certain type of person that's attracted to that kind of work and even those with good intent need to carefully watch how power goes to your head

The armed forces often deliberately recruits people who are vulnerable etc, and the police used to be similar

Agree. There are also bad teachers, bad nurses and Dr, scout leaders...and let's not mention priests .
If someone is bad, they will go to a job which allows ans hides their bad behaviour. Policing is no different

This is true. It does seem prevalent amongst the police though.

It is true that certain professions attract more than their fair share of narcissists and psychopaths and the police force is one of them.

Actual studies have found this.

The Stanford Prison Experiment discovered how quickly power can change a person.

Apparently CEOs are more likely to be psychopaths than the general population.

Psychopaths are attracted to jobs that give them power and policing gives them the opportunity to exercise that.

Lots of psychos and narcs as police back room staff also.

The article quotes a police officer saying of the ban on personal phones and ban on social media apps such as snapchat on work phones that they are going to have to get a burner phone and carry 2 phones now. Wtf? Why? So they can carry on sharing disgusting photos of dead women?

I'd argue that focusing on the Police aspect gives them better headlines than any other jobs, because people love hating the Police, it sells doesn't it. Unsure about prevalent but definitely sells more in the news than if they wrote about other careers

Ahhh Police bashing threads.

I am pleased they are getting a look in as we have had so many Teacher bashing ones recently.

I know. Have you ever read anything like it. Having your privates passed around for judgement and mockery! The ex police woman didn't say they did it to males. Totally, sexist and revolting.

Always thought this was obvious. A job which provides power over others.

I do have a very good friend who is a Met Officer, though, and he is not like that at all.

Wasn't a police officer given a suspended sentence (and placed on the barred list) because she sent her friends and family details of murder cases and stuff. I think the mum spoke about it at a party, people got wind and this officer was investigated.

Correction: Horrible police officers bashing thread and questioning whether this has become a more common occurrence.

The behaviour being described should be bashed. It's revolting. It's inexcusable. Finding out why this shit seems to be so widespread is very important because such people should have no place on a police force.

That's nothing new, of course the police force attracts psychos and all sorts of undesirables. Their job gives them access to many perks, whatever floats their boat: money, drugs, porn, women - girls/boys, you name it.

However there are many good, genuine police officers who do their best and try to make a difference so let's not tar them all with the same brush. Just be wary.

They need to tighten up their recruitment procedures and shut those fucking whattsapp groups down.

The Daily mail article is about the police in Australia. I've never visited Australia or had any contact with the police over there.

I have unfortunately had many contacts with Police in this country & virtually all have been hardworking, empathetic and caring.

They have one of the toughest jobs in the country. Imagine knocking on someone's door out of the blue to tell them their child has been killed then going to another job to be assaulted, sworn at, spat at then on to another to talk down someone suicidal then on to non-negotiable & non paid overtime to be first on scene to a fatal road collision.

All the time under immense scrutiny from public who thinks they would do better in any of those situations & all the time dealing with ever diminishing resources.

There will always be a level of arrogance among a minority of officers & there should be robust procedures to deal with that.

I have also had many contacts with NHS staff in this country & found repeated failures, lies & cover ups.

The Daily mail will bash the police & will put our NHS 'angels' on a pedestal because it sells papers to people who want to read those articles.

DH is American and he says it is way worse over there than here in terms of that. Thinks our police force is fantastic in comparison.

I briefly dated a copper. Absolutely nothing would surprise me. To him, criminals were scum and victims were morons. No empathy whatsoever.

It does seem that way.

I agree with PP that any position of power will attract people ready to abuse it, but what's really concerning to me is that it seems much more than a few bad eggs, and worst of all, whenever another horrendous story comes out it seems like "everyone" knew he was a wrong 'un and no one did anything about it.

I'd be really interest to see the detail of the recruitment and training processes. Is there anything about "service" rather than law enforcement? Becuase in the (few) dealings I've had it doesn't seem to be there. Even the basically well behaved ones seem to think they're doing the public a favour, rather than serving the public.

Yes, this is my experience too

Or nurses and doctors, normally at least one thread on here slagging them off. Funny how it’s always the fault of the people who teach our kids, police our streets and look after our sick family and friends in hospital who are the dregs of society. The people who worked throughout Covid. Funnily enough all massively unstaffed, underpaid and under appreciated too. Whereas Karen who works from home in a non entity marketing job is an absolute saint.