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Original poster

The Modern Police Force <groan>

53 replies

GhoulsToo · 09/10/2006 10:18

I pity those boys in blue I really do, you have to be completely humourless these days.

A couple of dh's ex-colleagues came to visit for the weekend. One had been on a Disabled Discrimination Act course (they always have them when something new comes up).

They were asked what they would with this scenario ......

An officer arrives late for his early shift. Another officer says to the late comer 'was it backitis this morning?'

dh's mate said he wouldn't do/say anything. Apparently the correct procedure is to reprimand the wise cracker because the late person may have a genuine back problem!!!!

FGS!

OP posts:
expatinscotland · 09/10/2006 10:19

That's f*cked up.

Their jobs are hard enough as it is, b/c the law is an absolute a*se.

Blu · 09/10/2006 10:21

The DDA isn't exactly new.

Prize for the first person to say 'Political correctness GONEMAD!'. Fillyjomnk, where are you?

ginmummy · 09/10/2006 10:23

That might be the correct procedure but from my experience of working in the police force they are a bunch of un-politically correct, knuckle dragging adulterers. I did actually like working for them though

Original poster
GhoulsToo · 09/10/2006 10:26

no Blu - I don't know how long ago it was or maybe its been updated or something but anyway that's not the point!

Ginmummy that unpcness has rubbed off on you I think with that comment!

OP posts:
HalloweenSucks · 09/10/2006 10:34

From ginmummy: "they are a bunch of un-politically correct, knuckle dragging adulterers"

Great, DH was accepted into the police force on Friday, I will await his change in personality and ethics with baited breath.

PrettyCandles · 09/10/2006 10:37

Oh Ginmummy, you shouldn't have said anything, because someone on Mumsnet may be a policeman.

OK, I'll say it 'Political correctness GONEMAD!'.

And did they have to waste time by filling in a load of forms assessing the course as well?

PrettyCandles · 09/10/2006 11:04

Hahaha Halloween Sucks - the perfect cross-posting!

No offence intended, BTW.

mummydear · 09/10/2006 11:29

Hi , I'm currently on a career break from being a kunckle dragger and this is bacically Political Correctness GONEMAD ! ( There I said it )

We had a guy working on my team who was Irish and his nickname was 'Tinker'. He loved it and everyone knew him by it but it was not PC to call someone Irish by the nickname Tinker !!

Police officers do have a wierd sense of humour at times but so would you if you had to deal with the crap they deal with.

Now a days you have to 'challenge' any behaviour that is not PC. If you don't you can get disciplined .

anniediv · 09/10/2006 11:40

I think you'll find it's political correctness gone mental health issues.

Blu · 09/10/2006 11:41

You know, from the point of view of the public (me!) sometimes, just sometimes, it would be nice if things like studying the DDA could be allowed to be seen to be a good thing, that some sensitivity about the way the police talk about people, that some basic understanding that institutional racism and other pc isms that people seem to find so irritating is recognised by the forces that represent our country.

Of course people will guffaw a bit at the 'backitis' e.g, but it does't need to be ridiculed - I would also expect the people on the course to have the intelligence to see that if you are going to get everyone to behave in a professional way, then lines have to be drawn and they won't always seem to represent common sense. Just like the contetnts of a school lunch box - there comes a point where rules have to be made at a certain threshold.

I respect the police and the things they have to deal with. But as for sniggering at tacklling institutional attitudes in the workplace...well, I am well known for generally being a humourless person, so I get bored with it. The sniggering.

WideWebWitch · 09/10/2006 11:50

But training of this kind is, quite rightly, about not making assumptions and about not discriminating, isn't it? And showing by use of language that you don't discriminate. And the police force has been less than fantastic, historically, at not discriminating hasn't it, so actually, I think training re the DDA is a very good thing.

I hate 'PC gone mad' as a phrase too because I think use of language is important. For eg, some of the phrases in common use in my childhood are no longer appropriate or used much, quite rightly.

And mumsnetters of all people should know that it's dangerous territory to assume you know the background or views of every person around you.

Beauregard · 09/10/2006 11:51

pmsl
Has the world gone mad?

Blu · 09/10/2006 11:55

Exactly, WWW.

ilovecaboose · 09/10/2006 11:59

never had much to do with police.

But on friday my new car broke down and I had to pull over - police car behind.

They stopped and had a look at the car for me. I though it was a nice thing to do as they didn't have to. Policeman didn't notice ds in the back and got a shock when he started crying cos he thought the policeman was driving him away

The only person I know who is in the police is a guy I went to school with - he is an arse, but then he has always been an arse and no job he does will change that

southeastastralplain · 09/10/2006 12:02

am i missing something or isn't it a good thing that they have this training?

Gobbledispook · 09/10/2006 12:02

I honestly can't see how anyone thinks that isn't ridiculous.

Studying the DDA is not ridiculous but that's just going too far imo. You can't have a joke about 'backitis'? WTF? So you couldn't just say 'actually I do have a really bad back' without getting all hurt and offended? Oh get a grip.

Gobbledispook · 09/10/2006 12:03

She's talking about a specific, ludicrous (imo) example - not the fact that they have to go on the course.

Gobbledispook · 09/10/2006 12:03

She's talking about a specific, ludicrous (imo) example - not the fact that they have to go on the course.

Blu · 09/10/2006 12:19

I know, it sounds ludicrous.
On the other hand, if someone really does have a bad back, and continually gets the shit ripped out of them, they are likely to feel bullied very quickly, or feel they can't say anything because it will look stupid to complain, and they will then either go off sick long term, or try to keep working with a bad back. That's how bullying creeps up, insidiously.

It's a 'heads up, think about it' situation on a course like that.

Original poster
GhoulsToo · 09/10/2006 12:43

I suppose if he'd said 'lazyitis' that would have been ok because that's not a disabling medical condition.

The thread is not about the DDA. The course WAS very useful, but is it any wonder people groan when these little pearls emerge?

The thing that gets me is it seems to be a no-no to (quite clearly) 'jokingly' ask someone if they have backitis but it's ok to label a huge body of people "a bunch of un-politically correct, knuckle dragging adulterers".

That's equality for you.

OP posts:
southeastastralplain · 09/10/2006 13:03

yes and she works for them! hehe i know one that is exactly like that

ginmummy · 09/10/2006 13:05

OK, I'll retract the knuckle dragging, but not the other two.

mummydear · 09/10/2006 13:27

training about disabilties , religions ,sexism workplace if fine and is a very good thing .

Agree with Gobbledispook comment about not being able to have a joke about 'backitis'. However the society we live today ones persons joke is can easily be offensive to another. Where do we drawn the line ?

Unfortuantely there is and always will be banter in police service ( notice I din't say force, as some years ago this was deemed non PC as we are a service not a FORCE !!)

Banter and jokes are not really allowed anymore.
As a female offcier I used to have a laugh and joke with male colleagues but they and I knew where to drw the line. Howver someone may be listening , run off and tell the bosses because THEY were offended. WTF !!

Original poster
GhoulsToo · 09/10/2006 13:32

well being married to an ex-officer, having a son in the job and know many, many more, I'm extremely offended.

I'd like to throw a few labels around but good manners prevent me.

OP posts:
ginmummy · 09/10/2006 13:34

Sorry if I offended you. Must just have been the office of 70 officers and staff that I worked in.

Please feel free to retort with a few labels of your own.

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