Who actually has to do the police work

But to return to the main thread.  I have to accept that the situation as related was totally unnaceptable.  I regret to say it but the service that I once loved has lost its way.

The rot set in many years ago, when various changes turned what was once a vocation into something that became nothing more than just a job - like any other job!

The application of ordinary employment "equal opportunity" regs, did away with height, the knowledge of acceptable written and spoken English, and good old firm  and strong discipline attitudes.   Instead of the  traditional rank structure everyone became a manager.  The beat PC became a beat manager, The Sergeant the shift manager etc etc.  No one was responsible for  leading, leadership became a lost art, and with it went discipline.

Today the Sergeant or "Sarge" is referred to by his Christian name, and so too very often, is the Inspector.  When someone does try to enforce discipline, or just  doing their plain duty, they are accused of Bullying and a grievance is taken out!

Police stations have been closed, the service has moved away from direct day to day contact with the public that they are there to serve and protect.  Unless draconian steps are taken soon, to bring back some of the old values, the situation will become very serious.

To the criminal any sign of weakness in resolve is a factor to be exploited. Public order will be one of the first things to break down.  

What is needed is that very old fashioned and unnaceptable to many,  word LEADERSHIP!

TF

Someone bumped our vehicle while it was parked and like a good citizen I decided to make a report using the non emergency line. 

I was given a right round around after waiting on the phone for 20 minutes and then being told I have to report it in poerson at the nearest police station whcih just happened to be clsoed anyway.  I gave up in the end. 

At least now we know why crime figures are dropping and that is because reporting a crime is made very difficult!

North Wales police only do traffic

Merve mentioned PCSO's or plastic Policemen as they are known within the service.  Almost no powers and very little training, they were introduced by a Govt trapped by their promise to increase Police patrols. But how to do it without increasing the spending on the Police?  That was the problem!

The solution was quite simple.  De criminalise traffic offences and pass the responsibility for enforcing parking etc to the local authorities. ( But dont give them any money to do it).

That way you can sack all the Police paid for Traffic wardens (Do you remember the yellow hat bands). Then you can use all the money you save on traffic warden wages to create the new PCSO's.  You can save even more money by skimping on their training and paying them not very much.  Then you can con the public into believing that Police numbers have gone up when actually they havent!

That is NOT a fantasy story because I was senior enough in the Police Service at the time to know what was happening! Policing on the cheap!  But the idea failed because the public soon learned that the PCSO's had no actual powers that a proper Police Officer had and the criminal soon learned that too.

TF

 

Write your comments here...No, anyone who cares about how we are policed will know that you speak the truth TF. Plastic Policemen are an insult by Blair. A waste of time and money. We need proper bobbies and quality proper training, You pay peanuts you get monkeys!!

But to return to the main thread.  I have to accept that the situation as related was totally unnaceptable.  I regret to say it but the service that I once loved has lost its way.

The rot set in many years ago, when various changes turned what was once a vocation into something that became nothing more than just a job - like any other job!

The application of ordinary employment "equal opportunity" regs, did away with height, the knowledge of acceptable written and spoken English, and good old firm  and strong discipline attitudes.   Instead of the  traditional rank structure everyone became a manager.  The beat PC became a beat manager, The Sergeant the shift manager etc etc.  No one was responsible for  leading, leadership became a lost art, and with it went discipline.

Today the Sergeant or "Sarge" is referred to by his Christian name, and so too very often, is the Inspector.  When someone does try to enforce discipline, or just  doing their plain duty, they are accused of Bullying and a grievance is taken out!

Police stations have been closed, the service has moved away from direct day to day contact with the public that they are there to serve and protect.  Unless draconian steps are taken soon, to bring back some of the old values, the situation will become very serious.

To the criminal any sign of weakness in resolve is a factor to be exploited. Public order will be one of the first things to break down.  

What is needed is that very old fashioned and unnaceptable to many,  word LEADERSHIP!

TF

Yes yes yes!!! The service has been dumbed down like everything else and look what we have ended up with!!!

A couple of years ago, I rang the non-emergency number when I saw a group of youths rolling huge snowballs and then placing them across the road, blocking it.

The lady taking the call said they were rather busy and couldn't I go and have a word with them myself?

I didn't trouble them further.......

My old force now has the 3rd worst record in respect of burglaries in the Country!   A 19% increase whilst other have gone down and a 4% clear up rate!

TF

I can remember about 20yrs ago, a senior police officer telling me when i needed some additional help with an organisation I was involved with,not a problem,we will just open another tin of specials,I bet it could not happen now,as in this area they could not afford it,I will ask next week as we have a meeting,,one of the main problems in this area is youth  crime,as they are bored and nothing to do?

Actually I don't have a problem with "specials"  at least they were to a great extent properly trained and as a result had powers etc.

My problem was always with the PCSO's or plastic policemen. Not much training and very few powers. They were just the Gov'ts way of getting Policing on the cheap.  This is a classic instance of the folly of trying to get a vital service on the cheap.

TF

The pcso team we have here seem to use it as a stepping stone to being "in the job" properly