I just don't trust any police officers..aibu

[Ihateboris]

Yet another predator in the police force. If we can't trust the police, who the hell can women trust?

www.lbc.co.uk/article/police-officer-arrested-lbc-grooming-probe-5Hjdjbx_2/

Yes, but there are institutionally inherent problems in police forces, where the "decent" officers still don't feel able/willing to report the bad apples, presumably for fear of reprisals. Police officers work together mostly, in pairs, teams, etc., so I find it pretty hard to believe that the decent ones are blissfully unaware of the bad apples they work with on a daily basis. If they're not reporting their concerns, then we need to find out why. Perhaps there needs to be a whistle blowing system where the officers reporting are guaranteed protection from reprisals?

It's not just sexual abuse, it's all kinds of crimes including being too "cosy" with known offenders, letting "friends" off when caught committing offences, etc.

I was in the police for a relatively short period of time in the late 80s, and although I didn't see any overt sexual abuse or other criminal acts by colleagues, I really did have strong suspicions about some of them, simply by the things they said, their attitude, and there was a lot of sexual innuendo towards both female police officers and station staff and women in general - all passed off as "banter". When the sergeant and inspector also engaged in that kind of "banter", you really don't know where to report to as they were the two immediate "line managers" and more senior officers barely ever attended our station.

I know/have known 5 police offers personally.
1 male 50s
3 males 30s
1 female 30s
One of the men is a lifelong creep, heard so many different stories of him crossing boundaries with women, and a chronic liar.
One man is another chronic liar, thinks he knows better than everyone on everything at any time.
One of the men can appear mostly okay but is a self centered dick and very dismissive of people who he views as just not having enough drive/self control.
One of the men is okay but if you drill down into it, doesnt really understand the cycle of poverty or abuse in any meaningful way. You could argue it can't interfere with his work or we'd know, but as evidenced, noone would probably ever know (or tell)
The woman is someone who has always been a bit like 'i dont get why someone shouting 'hey sexy' out of a car at you is a big deal, its a compliment, just ignore it' and similar views and has got worse on this and multiple other topics since joining the force.

There are brilliant police officers out there, ones who have worked tirelessly to protect, often at a great personal cost. I have met a couple of very pleasant ex police through work briefly. I wish I knew more decent ones in real life!

Ive just remembered that I also know two people who are divorced from police officers and both were abused during the marriage, one physically.

A close family friend recently joined the police and has done so for all the right reasons. I have not said anything but am waiting for that moment when he realises what type of creatures his fellow police are.

I know a lot of Police Officers, more good than bad, the good ones also catch the bad but are lumped into the same perceptions people have. With every bad one a team of people work hard to put them away.

They are acutely aware of the public perception and still do their jobs.

The bad ones let the public and their fellow officers down and should quite rightly be punished, sacked, barred and prosecuted.

Ironically your close family friend will also sadly be considered a “creature”

There is a whistle blowing system as you describe.

Clearly not working well enough though.

All the police officers I know are decent people, and work really hard.

I feel the same. I have been pulled over twice for non reasons and asked for my number. I was much younger and attractive. Also as a witness , I was stalked by a policeman, calling, messaging, turning up, when unbeknownst to me , the case had already been heard and I hadn’t been informed.

My cousin was in the police. He's very kind and sensible. OTOH I had 2 friends who were standing on a Union picket line. They were taken back to the police station in Stockport and beaten up. One had a broken arm. One a broken collar bone. They did each get several thousand pounds in compensation eventually. The officers however were not sacked!

They need to call ouf and report their colleagues. Mayvmbe start with the ones they nickname "rapist" and take it from there.

Meh. They have rapey colleagues. Silence is them being complicit.

Exactly . . The officers who aren't rapey and misogynistic are just as bad if they don't speak up.

Yes you are being unreasonable, you are letting a tiny minority of a profession cloud your judgement. My abusive ex boyfriend, a master manipulator was a sales person - should I mistrust anyone in sales? My friends mum was killed by a surgeons arrogance (as were many others), should I refuse all surgery (there’s a long list of abuse and death related to the medical profession- yet we don’t get multiple posts about how terrible all doctors and nurses are).

The constant narrative in relation. To the police is designed to undermine law and order and largely pushed by anarchists (eg the Green Party).

You probably work with child abusers statistically- are you just as bad because you don’t speak up?

So? These decent ones need to stir the pot.

Until then? I don't trust any of them until we see evidence that there is an internal fightback by the good ones.

Keeping their heads down? They are a dodgy fucker too.

I suggest everyone watches The Blame . It's a drama but actually shows real whatssap messages between loads of disgusting police officers. What an eye opener

Do speak out against your colleagues down loading child porn because you statistically probably work with them, or the wife beater, or the rapist? At least some of these will be in your circle.

If I knew a kid was being abused, of course I'd speak up

What makes you say that, what’s your experience, post 80s? It’s a system which has worked quite well in my experience, it’s just those internally reported don’t reach the news outlets.

If I knew someone doing that? For sure I would. I was in the army in the 89s. I spoke out about at least 3 colleagues of similar rank, one higher ranked NCO and an officer.

It was an utterly shit time. But I did.

As foe "meh your sales colleague"? Daft bloody comparison since they have no powers of arrest.

I will trust a police officer if they earn it. And not before

That has absolutely nothing to do with what is being discussed here. She turned into “a bitch” because she was looking out for things? This is such a weird post.

Did you report it ?

how many years ago ??

No, I didn't report it. I know NOW should have done, but this was 30 years ago.