Police

Honest John Back Room » Legal matters
What is life like with your car? Let us know and win £500 in John Lewis vouchers | No thanks
View Threaded
Tue 22 Sep 2015 08:30
Police - Dwight Van Driver

With your indulgence HJ

Often there is crirtism of the Police and yes sometimes there are bad apples, but there are good apples too.:-

The shortlist of Met nominations for this year’s National Police Bravery Awards has been published – and these are the chosen few:

• PCs Unal Ibrahim & Matthew Basden from Southwark – who chased an armed burglar, despite the fact that he had fired a handgun at them. He was later charged with their attempted murder
• PCs Leighton Gill and Iain McAllen from Bexley – who sustained injuries saving the life of a suicidal woman attempting to jump off a footbridge over the A2.
• PCs Ben Horrell and Nick Bones from Southall – who challenged and detained a violent drug dealer, despite the intervention of a sizeable and hostile crowd.
• Sgt Gavin Durnell and Acting Sgt Rob Richardson from Lewisham – who entered a burning building and saved the life of an elderly man trapped inside.
• PC Winston Mugarura from Wandsworth – who, whilst off duty and without any protective equipment, went to the assistance of a man who was being attacked by a group of ten men. Despite the clear danger and the fact that he had been assaulted, he stood his ground – before chasing and detaining the main suspect.
• Sgt Mark Hennessy, PC Geoff Orchard, PC Phil Bond, PC Spencer Milton and PC Dominic Vinall-Smith from Kensington and Chelsea – who entered a burning building and saved the life of an unconscious man trapped inside.
• PC Dewayne Hamilton from Hillingdon – who, in the first week of his police career, placed his own life in critical danger to save the life of a teenage girl attempting to jump off a bridge over the A40.
• PCs Mark Bird and Robert Wilson from Bexley – who challenged and arrested a drunk and exceptionally dangerous man. The suspect, on being confronted, pointed a loaded firearm at the head of PC Wilson and threatened to kill him. PC Bird reacted instantly and grabbed the barrel of the gun. The suspect fired the gun straight through the officer’s hand. Despite the shock and pain, PC Bird and PC Wilson managed to detain the suspect, secure the scene and recover the gun.

NOTE this is just for the Met, there ar another 41 forces out there

dvd

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Tue 22 Sep 2015 10:34
Police - RT

We should all have huge respect for those who "put themselves in harm's way" to protect the public in some way - I do.

Many of us make mistakes even when we're not in harm's way so maybe we expect too much of them to be perfect in all conditions.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Tue 22 Sep 2015 11:43
Police - FP

This is a valuable antidote to the bad news that often is associated with the police.

As I've often thought, it's a job I'm glad I never did, but it's an essential one and often not appreciated. Someone has to deal with the nastiness that's out there.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Tue 22 Sep 2015 12:18
Police - Brit_in_Germany

DVD, clearly the men are a credit to their force and I welcome the fact that their bravery is being publicly acknowledged.

At the same time, though, four "officers" in Merseyside are the subject of a misconduct hearing for failing to help.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3243364/Pictured-Four-police-officers-flagged-security-guard-grappled-thief-said-not-kitted-help-drove-away.html

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Tue 22 Sep 2015 13:24
Police - alan1302

DVD, clearly the men are a credit to their force and I welcome the fact that their bravery is being publicly acknowledged.

At the same time, though, four "officers" in Merseyside are the subject of a misconduct hearing for failing to help.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3243364/Pictured-Four-police-officers-flagged-security-guard-grappled-thief-said-not-kitted-help-drove-away.html

Thre is always someone isn't there? No matter what someone has to find a negative. There's a time and place for that discussion and it's not here.

Yes, ther are some police officers that aren't do what they should be but the majority do a good job and a few like some of the above do an exceptional job.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Tue 22 Sep 2015 13:27
Police - FP

"There's a time and place for that discussion and it's not here."

My thoughts exactly.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Tue 22 Sep 2015 13:43
Police - skidpan

"There's a time and place for that discussion and it's not here."

My thoughts exactly.

If the OP is allowed to enthuse about how wonderful the Police are surely its OK for others to post their less than perfect experiences. I could post 3 personal examples, one was laughable, one could have been extreemly serious and the other was totally unbelievable but no doubt the officers involved were promoted to prevent them repeating their mistakes.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Tue 22 Sep 2015 15:00
Police - lordwoody

""There's a time and place for that discussion and it's not here."

Say who? This is a public forum that allows views of all sorts to be aired, not just the ones you have.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Tue 22 Sep 2015 17:06
Police - FP

I think the only point that's being made is one of manners, or perhaps of tact.

The whole point of the OP's post, as I see it, was to re-balance some of the publicity around the police. Most of the press they get is negative - and rightly so when they deserve it, so it's good to get a reminder of the other side.

Insisting that the negative side must be included here is a slap in the face for the OP.

I have no problem with posters wanting to air negative stories about the police, but if I were them I'd be starting a new thread.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Tue 22 Sep 2015 17:27
Police - skidpan

I have no problem with posters wanting to air negative stories about the police, but if I were them I'd be starting a new thread.

Why, is a thread not allowed to contain views from both sides of the fence.

When you start a thread do you honestly expect everyone to agree 100% with your views.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Tue 22 Sep 2015 18:56
Police - FP

No, I don't "honestly expect" it, not with some of those who post here. It's just nice to hope that some people will have a little sophistication.

Edited by Avant on 22/09/2015 at 23:48

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Tue 22 Sep 2015 20:17
Police - alan1302

""There's a time and place for that discussion and it's not here."

Say who? This is a public forum that allows views of all sorts to be aired, not just the ones you have.

The whole point of the original post was to show the positive side for a change - surely people can leave out any negative for even one post on here?

Edited by alan1302 on 22/09/2015 at 20:17

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Tue 22 Sep 2015 20:44
Police - nortones2

Precisely.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Tue 22 Sep 2015 23:55
Police - Avant

Many thanks for the post, DVD, and especially for the reminder that being a police officer (a job that I confess I wouldn't have the guts to do myself) carries the possibility that you may have to risk your life in the course of your duty.

Sadly, good news doesn't travel like bad news, and as a profession that's in the public eye, the very small minority of police officers who fall short get far more publicity than people like those celebrated above.

Of course anyone is entitled to air their views - this is a forum - but I absolutelty agree that this thread is a place to show appreciation of the high standards of the majority.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Wed 23 Sep 2015 08:59
Police - Dwight Van Driver

Thank you Avant.

I have been out of the 'Job' in retirement for many many many moons now and it hurts me to see some of the criticism against and misdemeanors by those serving for something I gave my all for 30 years. (5 commendations - Judge in Assize (shows my age), 2 x Mags Court, HM Coroner and Chief Constable)

What hurts me more is that things are going to get very ,very worse as more savage cuts are being called for and implemented and I fear for the destruction of the "thin Blue Line" now at stretching point.

dvd

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Wed 23 Sep 2015 09:51
Police - scot22

I agree completely with previous two posts. The job is incredibly demanding and some always looking to criticise is unfair.

Sadly this happens in many areas ( personal commitment Education). We need to value people and professions/trades more.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Wed 23 Sep 2015 10:09
Police - skidpan

The first day to day contact I had with the police was during the 83 to 85 miners strike. At the time I was part of the management team and thus theoretically on the opposite side to the pickets but in truth you could not take sides since you all still lived in the same villages, used the same shops and at the end of the strike had to live together. The local police pretty much assumed this stance as well, many had relatives on the picket lines and it was bad enough miner fighting miner without the local police taking sides.

The problem was the police brought in from non-mining areas and mainly the met. The actions of some were unbelievable yet no action was ever taken against individuals and unfortunately the actions of the few left a very sour taste locally for many years with the reputation of the local police being damaged.

I agree there are probably far more good than bad officers but most of the time it looks like the bad officers are simply protected to protect the reputation of the force. It does not work, they need exposing like any other criminal.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Wed 23 Sep 2015 10:00
Police - jc2

Not just the police;I also am retired but I did my job in the motor industry to the best of my ability for more than forty years and then to read some of the "statements" in these fora made by people who probably got their "facts" over the saloon bar makes me feel very upset.Even HJ gets his facts wrong sometimes.

Nothing to do with this subject but I was once camping in France and my next door neighbour came over and made a negative comment about my car-I was well pleased with my car.When I had finished erecting my tent,I took him for a ride and he agreed it was a good car.I asked him why he made the statements he had and he answered that he was repeating what one of his neighbours had said.And,guess what,his neighbour had never owned one either.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Wed 23 Sep 2015 14:40
Police - scot22

Skidpan - as someone who remembers the miners' strike I share your sentiments on this, and other issues where the police have got it wrong. I know in Education some have got it wrong but let's give credit where it is due to the majority.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Wed 23 Sep 2015 17:01
Police - Dwight Van Driver

Ahh the Miners strike.

I was Police Logistical officer at one of the pits with a number of 24/7 pickets at the gate. 16 -17 hr shifts days a week for nearly seven months.

Before the morning push came on I used to take then a large jug of hot cocoa. They repaid this kindness by 'nicking' the metal jug.

Had to thank Scargill IMHO a poor leader for he paid for my FarEast holiday

dvd

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Wed 23 Sep 2015 17:02
Police - concrete

Skidpan - as someone who remembers the miners' strike I share your sentiments on this, and other issues where the police have got it wrong. I know in Education some have got it wrong but let's give credit where it is due to the majority.

I fully agree, the original sentiment behind the post was obvious and supported my many. However not everyone sees it that way, so be it.

We should however focus on the good majority to encourage them. Only focus on the bad minority to expose or punish them.

I have stopped watching the News at Ten. I am just overwhelmed by the gloom and doom pedalled each and every day. You just get to a point where you have 'compassion fatigue' and no longer see the situation for what it is. Some good news is always welcome.

Cheers Concrete

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Wed 23 Sep 2015 17:11
Police - skidpan

Had to thank Scargill IMHO a poor leader for he paid for my FarEast holiday

Typical of the attitude of most of the Met police at the time. Add to that waving their pay slips at the pickets did not do anything to promote the idea that the Police were only there to prevent trouble and allow miners who wished to work to do so. Theses actions only added to the tension and clearly showed what the actual agenda was.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Thu 24 Sep 2015 00:04
Police - galileo

Had to thank Scargill IMHO a poor leader for he paid for my FarEast holiday

Typical of the attitude of most of the Met police at the time. Add to that waving their pay slips at the pickets did not do anything to promote the idea that the Police were only there to prevent trouble and allow miners who wished to work to do so. Theses actions only added to the tension and clearly showed what the actual agenda was.

Scargill was on local news yesterday claiming 'the establishment' had tried to kill him six times. (knives, bullets, poisons)

Which either confirms he still has a poor grip on reality or the woeful incompetence of 'the establishment'.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link