Page 4 | To feel a bit bad for the met police on bbc panorama undercover

Bloodyscarymary · 2025-10-01T20:46:43+00:00

Just watching the BBC Panorama doco “Undercover in the Police” and I can’t help feeling a bit uneasy. Yes, the behaviour shown is awful and they should lose their jobs, but having their faces, names and secretly recorded conversations, sometimes even off duty over a pint broadcast feels like a bit of a violation of privacy. I honestly would have thought secret filming like that couldn’t even be made public, but clearly it’s legal or the BBC wouldn’t air it. I’m not excusing what was said at all. The culture clearly needs to change. But is it fair to single out these particular officers when the problem is obviously widespread? I also felt some of the more junior officers had just absorbed the culture around them, and at times the journalist might have been nudging them into certain topics. A few of the comments even felt like dark humour or going along with pub chat. Still unacceptable, but if you secretly recorded doctors or other professions that probably use a lot of dark humour to get through it, I’m sure you’d hear things that would seem really callous to an outsider. Absolutely they should be fired/reprimanded, but do they deserve complete public exposure like this? AIBU to feel uncomfortable about it? YABU they deserve everything that’s coming their way YANBU it’s too much personal exposure when the real problem is the Met culture not these individual cops

FrauPaige · 01/10/2025 22:58

Er yep

YABU they deserve everything that’s coming their way

Thank goodness they have been exposed

Happyjoe · 01/10/2025 22:59

If they didn't want anyone to hear what they had to say, they shouldn't have said it. No sympathies at all, should be named and shamed quite frankly. This has to stop, these are our police!

RedRec · 01/10/2025 22:59

I only feel sorry for the good, principled ones whose reputations might be tarnished by this.

MrsBennetsPoorNervesAreBack · 01/10/2025 23:00

I have tried to understand your perspective on this, OP, but I don't really get why you think they shouldn't be exposed.

If you feel that it is appropriate to express certain views or sentiments to your work colleagues, I am not really sure why you would have concerns about other people knowing that you hold such views or sentiments because you presumably believe that the views or sentiments you are expressing are perfectly acceptable.

If you don't say anything that you would be really ashamed of, then there isn't anything to fear from documentaries like this.

If people secretly filmed me talking to my colleagues, they might hear a few inappropriate expletives or some minor gripes, but it would mostly be boringly professional. Because it's a work environment and that's what's expected.

I'm afraid I don't really have any sympathy with the people who were caught on camera saying awful things. If they hadn't said those things, then there wouldn't be a story to tell.

lazyarse123 · 01/10/2025 23:00

I haven't seen it yet but my sister was married to a police officer, not the Met think it was North Yorkshire. She left him the day he punched her and their 5 month old son, turns out he'd been hitting her for years but she ended it when he hit the baby.
She didn't report him because as she said they would have closed ranks.
So yes they should be exposed so we all know who we are.

MyrtleLion · 01/10/2025 23:01

Bloodyscarymary · 01/10/2025 22:38

On the contrary, I completely see how that would impact how they treat victims of crime. I think they should be fired! My AIBU is about publishing their identities, faces etc in the documentary.

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The police have a duty to behave responsibly on and off duty, under the regulations as laid down by law, as was repeatedly mentioned in the programme. So their "banter" (hate that word) in the pub is absolutely relevant.

I also think they would excuse themselves if they were only shown as racist and misogynistic at work by saying that's what they have to say to get along with the boss and their colleagues. This showed it is their true attitude.

I hope they're all fired.

PrincessScarlett · 01/10/2025 23:01

It's so bloody depressing for all the decent upstanding police officers that have to put up with this crap from colleagues and superiors. And by association they are all being tarred with the same brush (although the documentary pointed out at least twice that their undercover man witnessed lots of excellent police officers).

The treatment of the 17 year old autistic boy who also had mental health problems was absolutely disgusting and that PC Neilson deserves prosecution not sympathy.

sugarapplelane · 01/10/2025 23:02

Dappy777 · 01/10/2025 22:19

I’m increasingly suspicious of the BBC and its motivations. It is a left-wing organisation, and the left have always disliked the police, who they regard as “tools of the capitalist oppressors.” It’s hard to imagine the BBC exposing ANTIFA or Just Stop Oil, put it that way.

You see their left-wing bias everywhere. Radio 4 can’t even discuss Jane Austen or Tennyson without linking them to slavery or colonialism in some way.

Personally, I don’t think we give the police anywhere near enough credit or support. The majority of police officers I have met have been thoroughly decent men. If I had to deal with vicious, ignorant, foul-mannered little scumbags day in day out I’m sure I’d blurt out horrible and offensive things as well.

Edited

Are you for real? Are you make or female? If you are female then you should be ashamed.

Horsie · 01/10/2025 23:03

I haven't seen it so can't comment, but wanted to ask what a pint broadcast is?

There are a lot of good policemen, and it's a great pity that the rotten ones spoil the whole institution for everyone else.

Happyjoe · 01/10/2025 23:03

sugarapplelane · 01/10/2025 23:02

Are you for real? Are you make or female? If you are female then you should be ashamed.

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Forget the sex, just ashamed! It's crazy eh?

Lougle · 01/10/2025 23:05

Bloodyscarymary · 01/10/2025 22:29

I’m clearly in the minority based on the comments. I guess I feel that people committing crimes (eg police brutality) are fair game for publication but recording them expressing views (no matter how much I disagree with them or find the views repugnant) in private when off-duty and publicising that with no blurred face etc is a bit Orwellian to me.

The whole point is that they don't get to be off duty. Ever. They are held to the policing standards at all times that they are a serving police officer, whether on duty or off duty. Just as Nurses can be hauled before the NMC for their conduct whilst off duty, and Social Workers can be brought before Social Work England for their conduct.

Public Professionals have to maintain and embody the standards of their profession in their daily lives. They can't just 'put them on' like a uniform.

FrauPaige · 01/10/2025 23:05

Anyahyacinth · 01/10/2025 22:41

Trouble is the head of the Met has appeased his officers (after the armed officers work to rule etc..) when he came into post and said the service had no institutional racism or sexism...it looked like change might happen with Sarah Everard and Mark Duggan but they just dug in and circled the wagons rejecting criticism and change.

I agree. It was disappointing when Rowley would not use the term "institutionally racist" however he did accept the findings of the Casey review and did accept that the force had systemic and cultural issues with racism, homophobia, and misogyny.

This is miles better than Cressida Dick and Boris Johnson shielding the Met's impropriety behind the tired mantra of "a few bad apples".

Progress, yes, but clearly much, much more to do.

CheeseyOnionPie · 01/10/2025 23:05

Being a police officer is a position of authority and this behaviour is disgusting and wholly unacceptable. No, I most certainly do not feel sorry for them, they deserve to be named and shamed and be stripped of the opportunity to hold a privileged position ever again.

Being a police officer requires taking a high degree of personal responsibility.

MrsBennetsPoorNervesAreBack · 01/10/2025 23:05

Dappy777 · 01/10/2025 22:19

I’m increasingly suspicious of the BBC and its motivations. It is a left-wing organisation, and the left have always disliked the police, who they regard as “tools of the capitalist oppressors.” It’s hard to imagine the BBC exposing ANTIFA or Just Stop Oil, put it that way.

You see their left-wing bias everywhere. Radio 4 can’t even discuss Jane Austen or Tennyson without linking them to slavery or colonialism in some way.

Personally, I don’t think we give the police anywhere near enough credit or support. The majority of police officers I have met have been thoroughly decent men. If I had to deal with vicious, ignorant, foul-mannered little scumbags day in day out I’m sure I’d blurt out horrible and offensive things as well.

Edited

Yep, from what you've said, I'm pretty sure that you'd blurt out horrible and offensive things as well.

sugarapplelane · 01/10/2025 23:06

Happyjoe · 01/10/2025 23:03

Forget the sex, just ashamed! It's crazy eh?

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Crazy indeed!
Only reason I asked their sex is because I thought Women stood up for each other, and not the scumbags that think a pregnant woman lied.
i’m gobsmacked

TeenLifeMum · 01/10/2025 23:08

Name and shame! They do not deserve the position and to be around very vulnerable people, which they inevitably will be in their role.

CheeseyOnionPie · 01/10/2025 23:10

Dappy777 · 01/10/2025 22:19

I’m increasingly suspicious of the BBC and its motivations. It is a left-wing organisation, and the left have always disliked the police, who they regard as “tools of the capitalist oppressors.” It’s hard to imagine the BBC exposing ANTIFA or Just Stop Oil, put it that way.

You see their left-wing bias everywhere. Radio 4 can’t even discuss Jane Austen or Tennyson without linking them to slavery or colonialism in some way.

Personally, I don’t think we give the police anywhere near enough credit or support. The majority of police officers I have met have been thoroughly decent men. If I had to deal with vicious, ignorant, foul-mannered little scumbags day in day out I’m sure I’d blurt out horrible and offensive things as well.

Edited

That is the whole point though - if you would be unable to refrain from blurting out horrible offensive things then you’re not suited to the role and you should not be allowed to do it.

lazyarse123 · 01/10/2025 23:10

Dappy777 · 01/10/2025 22:19

I’m increasingly suspicious of the BBC and its motivations. It is a left-wing organisation, and the left have always disliked the police, who they regard as “tools of the capitalist oppressors.” It’s hard to imagine the BBC exposing ANTIFA or Just Stop Oil, put it that way.

You see their left-wing bias everywhere. Radio 4 can’t even discuss Jane Austen or Tennyson without linking them to slavery or colonialism in some way.

Personally, I don’t think we give the police anywhere near enough credit or support. The majority of police officers I have met have been thoroughly decent men. If I had to deal with vicious, ignorant, foul-mannered little scumbags day in day out I’m sure I’d blurt out horrible and offensive things as well.

Edited

Fucking hell. The bbc didn't make the disgusting bastards say the things they said, they just highlighted them.
Pp are right you should be ashamed as should the police who think like this lot.

Original poster

Bloodyscarymary · 01/10/2025 23:11

RisingSunn · 01/10/2025 22:47

But police have to follow their code of conduct when on and off duty! God knows what they've done to ethnic minority suspects in their custody - or what their female colleagues have had to endure!

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Yes I understand that, and the consequences of breaking the code should be that your police career is over. The consequences for the young officers in this documentary will be much wider reaching than just the loss of their job.

Most commenters seem too disgusted by the content of their opinions to find the 1984 style implications uncomfortable though.

As you say, god knows what’s happened to people in their custody because we certainly don’t as the documentary didn’t bother to actually uncover much of that - which would have made a better documentary than the implication that we should all just expect constant surveillance and that anything we say, even in private and sometimes even without context, can and should be aired by the BBC!

OP posts:

maudelovesharold · 01/10/2025 23:11

I just thank heavens our police don’t routinely carry firearms, given what one particular thug, passing for a policeman, said he would do with his…

Dogaredabomb · 01/10/2025 23:11

Do you behave like that? I don't, it's perfectly easy not to be as disgusting as those creeps.

Dancelikeyoumeanit · 01/10/2025 23:14

GreenSedan · 01/10/2025 22:16

The programme makes a point of saying that many officers there are good public servants who are doing their best in challenging circumstances. The arseholes caught on camera being racist misogynists deserve to be named and shamed.

I absolutely despair that you feel sorry for them.

These people aren't selling fucking paperclips for a living. They have an extraordinary level of power over ordinary people's lives. The standards that they are (supposed to be) held to are in place for a bloody good reason.

Agree completely, utterly shocking that anyone can have an ounce of pity for such vile behaviour ,dangerous beliefs ,abuse of power from public servants

alfonzi · 01/10/2025 23:15

Shakemesexy · 01/10/2025 22:00

They are the police. One group of people you’d expect to behave in a civilised manner. You feel sorry for the racist misogynists? Fucking hell

40% agree apparently. WTF

Happyjoe · 01/10/2025 23:16

sugarapplelane · 01/10/2025 23:06

Crazy indeed!
Only reason I asked their sex is because I thought Women stood up for each other, and not the scumbags that think a pregnant woman lied.
i’m gobsmacked

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Yeah, would've been nice but I think on a whole people have just become more crazy.. and unpleasant regardless. And yeah, don't think solidarity is a thing anymore.
I see comments like that one you spotted and just shake my head in disbelief!

TheyCanFuckOff · 01/10/2025 23:17

YABU
They deserve everything they get, They absolutely should be named and shamed. They think they’re invincible but they’re not. Evil bastards!

The officer I feel sorry for is the female one who was horrified when her senior male officer dismissed the fact that some thug tried to kill a woman’s baby by kicking her pregnant belly.The female police officer felt like she couldn’t speak up about his dismissive attitude because he has stripes on his shoulders. Unfortunately she will be easily identified by the others she works with. I hope the senior male officer has female relatives, wife , daughter who can now see what a vile specimen he is.

That poor 17 year old lad with autism / adhd being restrained by eight officers at one point and later held down for a couple of hours by three officers? And why, because he threw a pillow at them,

I hope the corrupt officers lose their jobs and their livelihoods because that is what they deserve.