A policeman in the supermarket ,would you do this?

[girlfriend44]

This morning there was a policeman doing some shopping in the supermarket.

A family walked past and when the dad noticed the policeman in the aisle he said to his little girl.
Look there's a policeman. If your naughty round the supermarket he will take you away to prison. The little girl. Just listened and didn't say anything .
He made sure she saw the policeman and as said told her he would take her to prison if she was naughty.
The policeman never heard but I did . I was right by them
Would you do this?
AIBU to think it's a bit odd.

And what about school teachers, politicians, students, parents, doctors, people who work in supermarkets, security guards and many many other people have harmed children and adults

Be afraid of all of them?

Yes it is clear cut for the intelligent rational people

Surely you can tell the difference between a joke and a threat?

I’m glad you’ve had a more positive experience than most people. That doesn’t however mean that the police are always useful, correct in their actions, to be trusted regardless or a morally upright institution. To think so is incredibly naive

That's a terrible lesson to teach any child. That's a parent that doesn't know how to parent if he needs to threaten a child like that.

Children need to know that the police are there to keep them safe and are on their side first and foremost. Most police officers will engage positively with young people for this reason (open days, nodding and smiling etc). Of course there are bad apples and of course policing has issues. But we don't teach kids to fear nurses because of Beverley Allitt. Or teachers/ TAs, where there have been multiple instances of child abuse. That doesn't mean we raise them to unquestioningly accept everything simply because 'authority', but it does mean they need to know that these professions are generally there to help them when they need them.

I’ve heard lots of parents use these threats- that policeman/ head teacher/ priest is watching you etc etc . It’s a choice parents make when they’ve no control over their kids.

Does the dad suffer from capiophobia?

I used to say to my kids that police men and women are there to help you just like firemen and women and paramedics. If ever you need help, go to them, don’t be afraid of them.

I don't think you can teach a healthy degree of skepticism for authority to small children.

Police officers aren't going to hurt them and should be seen as safe people to approach for help.

I don't know what advice is given to slightly older Black children who might be seen as older than they are / be racially profiled etc.

Conversations about criminal police officers / misogyny etc and so on can come when kids are a bit older.

Not odd as unfortunately dumb people can be parents.

Yes it was a really stupid thing to say; the child was behaving and anyhow the police aren’t to be feared. He should have taught her what the police are actually for.

Unfortunately parents do a lot worse than this. So whilst it was stupid, it’s not unusual.

Unless they are girls. In London and some others areas, women have good reason to be afraid of the Police!

I was once walking through Boots with Dd about 3 at the time, a Policeman walked past and I said 'look there's a policeman, that's who you go to if you need help' he looked and said ' that makes a nice change' which was sad really, I have never ever, and never would, threatened any child with a policeman

What is odd is that the police officer would choose to go shopping whilst in uniform. Extremely unprofessional conduct leading to a further lack of respect for a 'force' already demeaning themselves with visible tattoos, fancy hairstyles, ear-rings, sunglasses and so on. (Not to mention the ludicrousness of 50/50 male/female police; sending small women to confront violent male criminals; dropping height & fitness requirements due to 'inclusivity' leading to unfit, out-of-shape 'frontline' police). Also 'baseball caps' absurdly replacing sturdy helmets; addressing the public as "mate" instead of "sir"' or "madam"...

Cringe

Op you don’t know how she behaves generally maybe he went to far with jail I mean how would a kid know what that is. I might say he will come and tell you off. But without knowing the truth your just guessing and I bet it makes the police smile that they can scare people.

I feel this way when I hear people telling their kids that they'll tell their dad when they get home.

🤐

I know. Total madness.

50% male / 50 % female police officers deployed to 'counter' a violent mob committing a riot? 👍🏾

I remember being told this when I grew up, there was also a community centre around the corner that I was told was a naughty children’s home and I’d be took there if I wasn’t behaving

So the dad was a bit stupid. The kid probably knows this and she will go thru life thinking, shit my dads a moron

And?

You shouldn't tell your child anybody else will come and tell them off. That's your job.

People have always said this which is why police try to build relationships with schools etc so children know they are on their side and not to be feared!

Perfect. Teach the child to fear not trust the police 🙄