Shocked - did anyone else see BBC Look East - breastfeeding........

[HRHQoQ]

story??? just found the story here .

Some of the commments from people about the story (which they apparently had at lunchtime too) were absolutely shocking - "it's disgusting" were among ones that stuck out at me. Not wanting to get into a huge breast/bottle/formula advertising debate about it (as I'm going to work tonight so won't be around to partcipate until tomorrow afternoon/evening.

But I'm sure it's attitudes like that which have a bigger impact on a woman's decision to breastfeed, than some formula advertising.

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oops - I don't think there is a single person on this thread who thinks breast feeding should not be done in public.

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Reading that Police forum has completely shattered my illusions of the type of people who join (or are let in!) to the police force. I know it's probably just a few bad apples but their blatant hostility and use of derogatory language makes me wonder how they can be suited to a role where they work so closely with the public.

Has anyone showed their DH's this police forum? Dh is very busy at the moment so I haven't but I will. He'll be fuming.

oops - Just read your posts on the specials forum, excellent. Thank god for police posters such as cathus, amongst others, who restore my faith somewhat. As for the rest, what a bunch of immature, vitriolic, incredibly stupid w. These people are on our streets supposedly upholding the law. That's scary.

Does anyone know if this topic has been covered by R4's Woman's Hour? Thought I might contact them but don't want to if they have covered it already.

I won't stop breastfeeding in public, since most intelligent people are able to understand that such an act is simply about feeding a baby and not for the enjoyment of getting ones boobs out.

Anyone who has a problem with it is unable to justify themselves with a credible argument, so they're unlikley to be people I care about minding.

I wonder why the police (volunteer force especially) don't have to undergo some classes in Critical Thinking as part of their training. It seems crucial to me that people in this position of power/in constant view of the public eye are able to think objectionably.

I would love to see him fired. He was abusing his position, and if he thinks that it's OK to go and harrass a poor woman for breastfeeding, I can imagine what the rest of his unenlightened ideas are like. Very similor to those on the website mentioned below, I should imagine.
Would LOVE to have him taking a statement if I were a rape victim.
I know he won't get fired. I am almost certain he won't be disciplined or even spoken to, except, probably, to be sympathised with by his mates. But if he stopped being a policeman tomorrow, I'd be delighted.

The police forum for SPECAILS- Outraged at some of the commenst, if you have look at it now one of the moderators has wrapped it up.

As a regular police officer I am ashamed to wear the same uniform as some of those people.

Still reading that "debate" - there's nothing special about a lot of the wankers on there, is there?!

Nice to see some of the comments defending bfeeding in public though. But the glib "why doesn't she use a bottle" has been wheeled out - ignorant shites.

I've been offline for a few days and this has totally passed me by. Horried at some of the comments on the sites you've all posted about. And saddened.

The toilet thing - ffs! My MiL asked me if I was going to find a toilet once, perhaps she was thinking of some of the feeding rooms you get in big stores, which are next to or have a toilet but anyway luckily I was in a store which had a fabulous feeding room (Kiddicare), seperate from any toilets, as it should be.

Thank you for the MP link. I have written to mine urging him to support the bill.

this is just part of a bigger problem in the UK police force though.

During the Iraq war peace marches, I saw 3 separate occasions where police officers abused their position of power to show their pro-war political views. I was disgusted by the open hostility and unpleasantness that they were showing towards peaceful demonstraters who in no way constituted any threat to them. I am talking about middle aged, middle class women who have probably looked up to police officers all their lives.

We also had an incident in our family where dx was arrested after a mad woman made up a mad story about him (he was later released without charges). I can't give details because it is the subject of a complaint about the officers in question. Their behaviour was disgraceful - rude and abusive.

Just a couple of months ago, dx commited a crime against my property, and the man in teh police call centre initially wouldnt accept my complaint, because it was against my ex husband. He said that the crime was my fault, and point blank refused to register a complaint. (I later phoned back and spoke to a woman, who did record my complaint - she was very nice, and realistic)

This morning, there is a report on the BBC website where Norwich union says that they have trouble getting the police to take fraud seriously, and they put this down to the fact that it isn't on any government target.

The police really seem to have an attitude problem at the moment. Maybe it can be traced back to the miners strike, I dont know.

Hang on, hang on, quite a lot of sweeping generalisations going on here. For every "bad apple", there's going to be literally hundreds of good ones. I've seen some truly offensive ideas being bandied about on MN but I know that the majority of posters don't hold the same views. Do not let the ill-informed actions of one police officer (and let's face it, we haven't heard his side, have we?) turn this into an "all police are evil" tirade.

Miners trike back in the early 80's - most of those officers have retired FGS !! Before I joined whcih was 20 years next year.

Its just a sad reflection that you have good eggs and bad eggs in all jobs/ professions, not an excuse I know . unfortunately we never get to hear about all the good work that the police do excpet when they get a result when someone has been murdered or they are murdered !!

If you see anyone in a position of authority whether it be police, GPs etc and you thinkl they are absuing their power, then complain, its the only way things get changed and their attitude gets challenged. Just like the woman who was stopped by the officer as she was breastfeeding....oh yes I remember that thread !!

mummydear - have you tried complaining about the police recently?
My complaint has been "lost" once already, and the last thing I got was a soothing letter around 3 months ago. I am going to wait a bit longer and then see what excuse they come up with the second time.

I gave several examples because it is not just one police officer. I could have given more. And the point about hte miners strike is about an ongoing culture in the police force.

I think mummydear is a police officer. For every bad apple, I can quote you three that are great (am not in the police but seem to live somewhere where lots of Met officers live). I'm not excusing the bad by any means but don't assume they all think the same way.

fn - I wasnt actually talking about the officer who spoke to the woman, because I dont know exactly what happened. I am talking about the forum that was quoted earlier, as being part of a wider malaise amongst the police.

I know she is a police officer! therefore, she should know what the result of trying to complain about them is!

I trawled through the entire thread on that forum - there seemed to be about 5 complete arses but significantly more sensible posters. And the complete arses seemed to be single, male and in their 20's (no surprise there then). So presumably a lot of their beliefs are still those instilled by their parents and not influenced by their own experiences.

I know full well the result of complaining about police officers constructively. Depending on the nature of the comlaint they will be dealt in the appropraite manner.

When people make complaints , whether in writing, tel call to the staion etc they cannot be ignored and are often initally delat with by Inspector or above .

we do get complaints from poeple who rant and rave and actually thet is all they want to do !! They usually go nowhere as once there are spoken to in a fair way they see the light or no longer want anything done. We also get pople who complain about everything and eveyone !!

the police are more accountable now than ever before and we have moved on from the Miners strike. half the officers today were toddlers when it all happend FFS !!

I suggest you seek legal advice if you feel that your complaint is not being dealt with or contact the INDEPENDANT Police Complaints Commission.

Ha ha!

ONE police officer makes a teeny tiny mistake in passing on a comment to a woman and suddenly the police abuse of power is out of hand and could date back to the miners strike?!

This thread has become so ridiculous I'm actually PMSL!

mummydear - my complaint is through the IPC. Your last post includes swearing, exclamation marks and internet SHOUTING. Yes, that is just the sort of response my recent experience of the police force has led me to expect.

gobledigook - did you actually read my post? I mentioned 6 examples, not just "one tiny mistake"

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