Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Covid

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

Police state

31 replies

CathyandHeathcliff · 05/04/2020 15:26

On my local Facebook groups, the majority are calling for a police state or military patrolling. The sociologist in me wonders if there’s something more at play here than the virus, it’s almost as if these people have wanted this all along?!
They’re almost salivating at the thought of it.
One man said those leaving their house should be whipped or even shot at!

Am I missing something here?!

OP posts:
LavenderQuartz · 05/04/2020 15:27

they've been watching too many films i think

MrsSnitchnose · 05/04/2020 15:31

Most people are morons. Happy to complain about places like North Korea but fail to see that is what they're asking for. I think we should be giving out copies of 1984. It's one of my favourites but there's no way I'll consent to living in it!

MrsSpenserGregson · 05/04/2020 15:36

Apparently Americans have been stockpiling guns and ammo like never before Sad

I dunno OP, I think you could be right .... It's easy to see how Franco, Hitler and Mussolini gained popularity in the 1930s. Some people seem to need to be vile twats to their fellow men but need someone higher up to authorise them to do so first.

lazyarse123 · 05/04/2020 15:44

I think most people just want everyone to do as they're told. If that means the military on the streets so be it.

user764329056 · 05/04/2020 15:44

The US answer to everything seems to be panic buying guns and ammo, it’s our equivalent of loo roll

BakedCam · 05/04/2020 15:45

It depends on the personal interpretation of 'police state'

Having lived in what could be considered a police state, OP, those in your Facebook group have, as another poster had said, been watching too many films.

That's is not how a police state works. While life is militant, it is very orderly, tidy and clean. People dont fly tip, like they do here.

What the UK has now, isnt a police state. There are restrictions in place enforced by police powers that legislation enabled to be brought through.

People are getting mixed up between laws and powers.

Mamamia456 · 05/04/2020 15:45

I think people are scared. We are supposed to be staying at home and only going out for essentials. Over 600 more people have died over night. Medical staff are doing their best to save people's lives whilst risking their own. Yet some people still hink it's OK to go to the park and sunbathe or sit on the beach. We are not on an extended holiday.

I don't want the lockdown rules to be stricter but if that's what it takes, for us to have the army brought in to stop people behaving like idiots, then I'm all for it.

I just want this nightmare to be over.

MrsSnitchnose · 05/04/2020 16:00

What they don't seem to get, is that we have no where near enough police/solders to enforce what they're asking for.

123,000 police officers and 102,000 in the army (including reserves) for a population of 66 million people?

CendrillonSings · 05/04/2020 16:07

MrsSnitchnose

Most people are morons. Happy to complain about places like North Korea but fail to see that is what they're asking for. I think we should be giving out copies of 1984. It's one of my favourites but there's no way I'll consent to living in it!

’Snitchnose!' roared the voice. '2713 Snitchnose J.! Let fall that piece of bread!'

'Remain standing where you are,' said the voice. 'Face the door. Make no movement.'

Wink
Blondiney · 05/04/2020 16:08

It's all very odd isn't it. Incredible really how the entire world has acquiesced to the orders of a few. Yes yes, I understand the need for lockdown but on a social level it's terrifying how little autonomy we actually have.

tinytemper66 · 05/04/2020 16:10

There are not enough military personnel to be on every street!

AppleKatie · 05/04/2020 16:15

I am finding the calls for further restrictions on people’s freedoms pretty scary tbh.

Don’t get me wrong I’m fully observing the rules as they are at the moment and fully understand the medical situation and why we need to put our heads in and get on with it.

But all this reporting your neighbour and baying for further rules and harsher penalties is frightening.

AppleKatie · 05/04/2020 16:16

Although it does make me almost grateful for the chronic underfunding of the police Hmm they haven’t got anything like the resources to run a full police state like people say they want.

MrsSnitchnose · 05/04/2020 16:21

@CendrillonSings I suppose that's what happens when you don't clap on your doorstep shout loud enough during the two minutes hate Wink

Hingeandbracket · 05/04/2020 16:22

@AppleKatie

I 100% agree (with both of your posts).

A lot of the people braying for a "clampdown" haven't actually thought it through. They are the kind of people who haven't noticed that the reason we don't have more stealing isn't due to levels of Policing but there being a lot of honest people. They think there is a magical "force" of Police and the Army that can miraculously appear and stop the small number of idiots doing daft things.

greenlynx · 05/04/2020 16:24

I don’t think people mean it (shooting at, etc) but they are scared of what’s going on and how unpredictable the future is so they are full of negative emotions and letting them out. They want to know that someone (government, police) is in control because they are not. Not good, of course, but I can imagine that some of them are completely torn by fear.

whereishappyat · 05/04/2020 16:34

I wouldn't personally call for a 'police state' but I can honestly say I don't give a shit what punishments are given to the few of people who are flouting the rules at the minute. Why are they so special? I wouldn't break the rules so wouldn't have to deal with any consequences but those that do I think (and hope) they get everything they deserve coming to them.

MonaLisaDoesntSmile · 05/04/2020 16:37

If you look at the rise of communism of China, there were a LOT of people who worshipped Mao without doubts and benefited from the system in a way where it made them feel powerful (getting rid of neighbours they disliked by denouncing them). A lot of these were people badly off under the previous system, and all of a sudden they got that huge power to order other people around and climbed the ladder quickly by adhering midnlessly to the regime. Some people thrive in police state type of societies because of their personalities.

IrisAtwood · 05/04/2020 16:37

There are not enough military personnel to be on every street!

You only need one person patrolling the neighbourhood with a gun and drones overhead to keep everyone indoors.

IrisAtwood · 05/04/2020 16:39

I’m not an advocate of that by the way!

As a psychologist I can tell you that stress often brings out the authoritarian personalities.

BubblesBuddy · 05/04/2020 16:39

Matt Hancock is saying if people don’t behave and flout the rules, we will not be allowed out. At all! Sounds like a police state to me and far worse will be storing up for the future!!

Marieo · 05/04/2020 16:40

People want it because they are scared. If there wasn't the potential it would affect them I am sure most people wouldn't be arsed about Tim going for 2 runs a day, or going to his mates house when he shouldnt. I don't think people are salivating at the thought of it, but if they are adhering to it they probably see it as a way to try and guarantee making it safer. There are enough military personnel to have an impact, especially with social media.

GemmaTellerMorrow · 05/04/2020 16:43

People are on my local Facebook bleating for “Marshall Law”

MigginsMrs · 05/04/2020 16:46

It’s not just on FB, there was one lunatic on here yesterday saying it would be worth full scale military presence on the streets to save even one life. Total madness.

RosesandIris · 05/04/2020 16:47

I think it is really sobering how quickly the population accept a complete upending of their lives and their freedom. Yes, I too am complying fully and understand the reasons, but it gives pause for thought. If this was a Plague it is easy to see how society would completely break down in a very short time. No one working in supermarkets, the supply chain would just dry up and no mail would be delivered. No one working in utilities so power would be cut. People without access to food would riot. It would be absolutely catastrophic.
It has made me think very carefully about moving somewhere I can grow my own food, keep a goat and have a cellar to stockpile. Fruit trees. Bushes etc. A woodburner for heat and a generator. Seriously.

Swipe left for the next trending thread