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Original poster

Not impressed - police response

77 replies

Upthehillanddownagain · 26/03/2020 05:43

So at about 12.30 am there was a lot of thumping and banging outside. It stopped and we ignored it. Then at 1.45 there was a very insistent ringing of our doorbell. It was a man we don't know from Adam, said he was looking for the Salvation Army hostel but he couldn't find it and could he sleep at our house for the night! (He even offered to pay us - what with, I'm not sure.)

Clearly we weren't going to let him in, and we didn't want him roaming our little road - there are two elderly ladies (80+) on here, and both of them live alone. So being a good little MNer, I rang 101. Their response? That the SA hostel is locked down anyway so he wouldn't get in, and they couldn't come and pick him up because of CV. All they offered was 'keep your door locked'.

I was Not Happy.

DP was the one talking to him (through the door) and after a while decided that actually the guy seemed genuine. So to keep him in one place we gave him a blanket, a cup of tea and some biscuits, and he's spent the night on our front doorstep. We haven't been to bed, as I felt it wasn't necessarily safe. It's now quite light and I think I'm going to risk it - I'm knackered. (He's still there.)

I know this isn't AIBU (I put it in CV because that's the root of the problem) - but AIBU to think that the police response really wasn't acceptable?

OP posts:
eaglejulesk · 26/03/2020 06:53

Well done for helping him OP.

Eckhart · 26/03/2020 06:53

Calling the police is what you do if somebody commits or is about to commit a crime. There are other avenues (homeless charities/shelters) for supporting the homeless.

What crime did you suspect him of?

Palavah · 26/03/2020 06:57

Homelessness isn't a crime, and it's not the job of the police to round up homeless people to take them to accommodation. You must know what kind of pressure the police are under right now and that they wouldn't be able to put him in the van.

So you're being a bit U to be angry with them. But you did a kind thing to help this man.

KMoKMo · 26/03/2020 06:57

No the homeless can’t be taken to police cells. They would not be under arrest and would be placed at risk in cells alongside violent and drunk people.
OP you do realise the current situation around COVID has hit the police too? Already strapped numbers are now even more strapped with the vulnerable off work and many self isolating.
Further is police contact with a homeless person necessary? As a PP said it is not a criminal offence. Police are not social workers or housing teams. The police shouldn’t be the first port of call for anything other than criminal offences or a risk to life. I’m not sure how it has come that police are the default option for all matters. If police attended they would be putting themselves and their families at risk along with the homeless person of further transmitting the virus.
Why didn’t you call any shelters to check the information from the police?
Don’t forget the police are also at the forefront of this. Going in to homes to protect the vulnerable and breaking up gatherings and no doubt soon to be dealing with the large volume of dead bodies.
Think before you post.

Original poster
Upthehillanddownagain · 26/03/2020 07:02

Further is police contact with a homeless person necessary?

The man himself was vulnerable, and what else can an ordinary citizen do at 2.00am?

Of course I would rather have done it differently if I could have.

Why didn’t you call any shelters to check the information from the police?

Umm...because I assumed that they had up to date and correct information? They were very certain when they said it.

OP posts:
ChippyMinton · 26/03/2020 07:03

Please contact your local council, which will have contingency plans in place for homeless people.

Thanks for helping a vulnerable person.

Original poster
Upthehillanddownagain · 26/03/2020 07:04

So we did him a map of how to get from here to there, but he said he was confused and couldn't follow it. So DP is now walking with him to the hostel (around 30 mins away). At a distance of 2 metres of course!

OP posts:
FamilyOfAliens · 26/03/2020 07:06

For the record, OP, I think you did all the could for the homes person.

But I don’t understand why you called the police, why you didn’t check yourself

TheMemoryLingers · 26/03/2020 07:06

I think you acted with the right mix of compassion and common sense.

I hope he can get into the shelter today.

FamilyOfAliens · 26/03/2020 07:06

... and why you were so terrified of this vulnerable person that you stayed up all night with your door locked.

Rosebel · 26/03/2020 07:10

101 is the most useless service ever. They should have at least checked to see if the shelter was open. They must have a list of people to contact in that situation, they just couldn't be bothered.
You were very kind to him and I wouldn't have felt comfortable going to bed in that situation but I'm not sure I'd have been as kind as you. Hopefully he'll be okay now and you'll be able to get a good nights sleep (knowing that you did the right thing)

Rosebel · 26/03/2020 07:13

And to the poster who thinks the police shouldn't have to do anything, do you really think they were that busy at 2am? Really?

FamilyOfAliens · 26/03/2020 07:14

I’m not sure you can reasonably berate the police 101 service for not also being a housing advisory service under the current circumstances, @Rosebel.

Eckhart · 26/03/2020 07:15

101 is the most useless service ever

What study did you take that from? Have you got a link? Hmm

DeadBod · 26/03/2020 07:19

The police would have the same contacts for the SA that you would have been able to find online.
You have been very kind to this man.

thatgingergirl · 26/03/2020 07:21

I probably would have been madly googling night shelters and ringing round rather than call the police, but you were very kind to the guy OP and I'm glad of that.

hoodathunkit · 26/03/2020 07:24

I just want to say that where I live I have witnessed several times in the last few days polic officers without any kind of protective clothing helping extremely vulnerable homeless people and putting themselves at risk to do so.

I would like to say thank you to those brave cops who are struggling to do an impossible job in a situation that puts their own health at considerable risk.

Queenie24 · 26/03/2020 07:29

I cant believe what some people say about the police do you know how few they are now and what shit they have to put up with. Yes they choose the job but they dont choose all the crap that goes with it. They are treated badly by the public and the government especially at this time.

Divebar · 26/03/2020 07:30

And to the poster who thinks the police shouldn't have to do anything, do you really think they were that busy at 2am? Really?

Yes. The thing about crime is it tends to be 24hour. Front line officers are already at reduced numbers and numbers are getting smaller by the day as officers become ill or self isolate. Gathering up homeless people isn’t a responsibility for the police I’m afraid. Perhaps if people are that concerned they could volunteer for the police and provide some real life assistance which would actually give you an insight into their work. (Or perhaps volunteer at a homeless shelter or for the NHS.)

AntennaReborn · 26/03/2020 07:33

OP you and your DP sound lovely Flowers

wonkytonkwoman · 26/03/2020 07:34

@hoodathunkit
Thank you, I'll pass that on to DD.

Eckhart · 26/03/2020 07:36

And to the poster who thinks the police shouldn't have to do anything, do you really think they were that busy at 2am? Really

They may well have been. It's not their job, regardless. They don't shelter homeless people, and they don't come out to investigate when someone's door gets knocked on. OP might as well have phoned the 24 hour Tesco, and be posting to say they were no use.

hoodathunkit · 26/03/2020 07:42

Thank you, I'll pass that on to DD.

Please, please do, along with Flowers

I have seen cops being treated in an absolutely disgusting manner here recently, before the virus, spat at, sworn and cussed at, threatened physically by horrific men who had threatened children and thrown a bottle at a group of kids.

I don't know how some of them retain their composure given the challenges that they are facing now and the lack of appreciation and respect from people in the community for what must be an impossible task

Some of us are very, very observant. Some of us are grateful. Some of us care.

hoodathunkit · 26/03/2020 07:43

OP have some flowers too Flowers

You are a good, kind person

More of this kind of thing please

FamilyOfAliens · 26/03/2020 07:45

More of this kind of thing please

... but without the demonising of the police and homeless people.

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