Mark Duggan- Shooting was lawful

[Whitershadeofpale]

here

yet another case of Met coppers telling bare-faced lies.

And then there's Operation Sapphire, the rape specialists who were lying to rape victims and pretending they had investigated when they hadn't. And the Commissioner having to admit the whistleblower who had revealed they were lying about their performance targets was right - but guess what, the whistleblower is suspended facing disciplinary action.

Something is very, very, VERY wrong with the Met. I'm glad they tried to take down Andrew Mitchell - at least that's made the politicians face up to the way some officers lie and fit people up. And not just in the Met, I think there were three forces involved in lying about Mitchell (the police federation reps who lied about their meeting with him).

I was married to a police officer. Not rank and file, started at the bottom but was quickly promoted. One of my oldest best friends (we went out together at school, stayed close) is one. Both of these people I would trust implicitly as police officers (my ex is my ex for very good reasons, he has been a twat in some ways, but I would never doubt him professionally, or the morals that go with that). Both had careers before, coincidentally military. Both have commented on the 'old school' bobbies. Some people that have been serving even a short number of years that haven't seen the real world are the ones with issues (but not all) seem to be, on inspection, the problem. It also becomes institutional when a couple of those people go up a few ranks and are basically running concurrent shifts. The whole place takes on their attitudes because no one dare complain. My dil is also a bobby, she works in a great place, people have moved there and been so relieved. It is still institutional, although the people at the top may not realise. But there are a hell of a lot of police out there now that are great, think old style bobbies mentality, not do gooders, just got a real insight into life, however young, or privileged, or educated.

I'm so sorry. I've worded all that so badly. I'm still getting used to being back at work 4 days a week after major surgery and have been drinking wine. Hope you get the gist of my post, if not, ask.

edam a friend of mine who was not Met but worked with them closely told me most police officers were fair to middling, a good proportion were simply fantastic and a minority (not, sadly, a tiny minority) were absolutely dreadful: out for themselves, thuggish, dishonest, on a power trip and usually racist. Most don't come from London.

The problem as he saw it was that the system was not at all good at weeding them out and the fair to middling colleagues in particular tended to be afraid of the bad ones. They either went along with the cover-ups or put their heads down and stayed silent.

Also, the very good naturally get promoted quickly into specialist groups and senior ranks, leaving a disproportionate number of shits in the rank and file.

I've no experience of the police so can't judge.

I wonder if those officers in edam's post are going to be charged with perjury or at least a serious disciplinary offence.

Normally, I'd say not, but things have come to a head lately and someone senior may decide that Something Must Be Done to restore the public's faith in the police.

What unfortunate timing for them. Never mind.