A question of respect (let the flaming begin...)

[BBROWN1664]

Me Neither

[Lez72]

[quote author=simonm link=topic=7046.msg66999#msg66999 date=1364971598]
I'm generalising when I say that, I do intend it to be in the minority but I challenge anyone to refute that some people join the police force (in no small part)  for the feeling of power.

I don't mean to destroy your preconception Simon, but these people are normally weeded out during initial police selection, they're not difficult to spot.

The older cops who have done a bit of service and maybe come across as confrontive have developed this through countless years of putting up with the geenral public who think that they know better than the law practitioner stood infront of them. After a 10 hour shift when the traffic cop has stopped his 18th motorist of the day who 'knows the highway code' and 'I know my rights', and 'you can't do that' then you can probably begin to understand that he's heard it all before and his patience is wearing a little thin.

You've got to accept that a cop has been sworn into a position of government office, and yes they do command the respect of the general public. They are the first link in a long chain of the law system, and there to protect the public and uphold the law at street level. If you want to complain about cops and our nanny state, then take a good look at some of the Police forces outside the UK and how they behave. You DEFINATELY wouldn't start giving shit to a Croatian/Norwegian/Swedish cop 'cos they'd beat the living shite out of you then throw you in a cell.

Our cops don't seem so bad after all do they!!!
[/quote]

@ stevierst. Well said my man. It seems that some people still do have common sense and the ability to apply it.

@simonm. And you're basing that on what experience ? Have you been present during any police selection processes? Is that comment based on experience or just opinion ?

Your avatar states 'argumentative and irritable sod'. This is a quote you have made due to obviously knowing yourself better than anyone else and your posts on this subject are proving that you know yourself very well. I've read that you are attending a 'bikesafe' course in the near future. You do realise that they are run by police officers don't you ? I was just wondering, because it seems like you have a bit of a distaste for the boys and girls in blue !!! I guess they are alright when you stand to gain something out of them  :rolleyes

[richfzs]

He's not really all that argumentative though, is he? As soon as someone says "you're wrong", he says "I'm not arguing the point" and strops off.

More of a bolshy twat, I'd say :pokefun

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

[simonm]

Nice. Always best not to mince your words.  Polite too. Point made  :rolleyes

[richfzs]

See, no argument, point accepted :rollin

quite irritable though :thumbup

[Tiberius Onklevaart]

This could descend into farce

























COULD, HE SAYS!!!!!!!!!!

[flesh]

This is a very polite "debate" 
I have a number of friends who are in the force and most have agreed with my tongue in cheek comment of "do you have to be a c*?t to be a poice officer or is it something your develop into...".  :\
Like any job, especially those that give you a postion of responsibility, you will always get those who take it a bit too far or seriously. That being said how would you react being in a job where you do not know if the person who is speaking to you could in a minute pull a blade and stab you.....that may change your perceptions of how you deal with people.
As far as your misdemeanours go Simon, whilst there was room for "debate" in both of your instances (IMO) legally you were in the wrong on both occasions although the officer in question could have used discretion if neccessary.
I tend to be nice to the police as most are reasonable individuals. I am however more than happy to be objectionable (and have done so on many occasions) if I am in the right, there is no evidence for a prosecution and the officer in question is just being a twat. It is a fine line though 

[dBfazer600]

So some facts is required Hillsborough where all but one officer lied the female officer had the courage to be an outstanding individual with all the correct ingredients for the job but where is she now? Unfortunately history shows the force was used for political gain by the government of the late 70's into 80's where I was arrested for been in a minibus going to 1. Nottingham to buy a car. 2. travelling home after a visit to the media museum in Bradford. Buy the very people that want respect and the accolade of doing a good job. i spent two nights in the cells for been a male in a minibus full of friends on an outing. our outings changed to going into the countryside where we were not harassed for been ourself.

So how about todays police:
http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/local/sout...-1-5544545

The reason I was not charged along with my friends was the fact that ity was an organised trip through a youth community centre with a social worker driving who also got locked up. First impressions stick and no I do not trust police until they themself as an individual do the right thing.

I have to lease with all emergency services and find most are extremely professional but like all civil servants they are asked to jobs that others would go to pieces if they had to clean up a death. Although when I is not in my work roll a definat attitude by some is rather unpleasant just as this thread is going. This is because everyone gets defencive when their attitude is brought into question, directly or indirectly. \but at the end of the day the police are there to protect the people and if you or I get caught then life with it or do not do it. Although there has been a shift in police practises there will be those who are dicks because thats what they are in their everyday life.

I can be an anal retentive if some one pissess me off at work where I work to rule and you do as well without knowing I guess.

Daz

[maddog04]

Having re read your post mate, a few things jump out. You are right when you say we have no idea coz we weren't there, we can only make assumptions like courts do with evidence. I've had similar on here and felt everyone was against me, sometimes its how it comes across on paper
But........to say you have learnt a lot ref people on this site smacks of arrogance
"I'm afraid you're incorrect or at least making assumptions (on some points anyway). There was several hundred meters, maybe more, between myself and the police car when I indicated and pulled out.  If he hadn't been speeding he wouldn't have needed to change speed.  I didn't exceed the speed limit whilst overtaking because, obviously, I didn't want to get nicked.  I would have had to brake to allow the police car to overtake me or ended up embedded in the back of the car in front who was doing 60-65mph"
2 points to note here, if the cop was doing 80+ lets say 85mph he will be covering 37 metres per second so a few hundred metres gap is soon gone (remember he maybe on a call that warrants that speed or not but we're not privy to it or he maybe just another twat like us who speeds now and again)
For you to say that you'd have to brake or end up rear ending the car in front lacks forward observation.
You'll learn most of this on the bike safe course but go one further and do the IAM skills for life course and you'll see a reduction in your insurance too. Win win situation
Good luck and enjoy

[simonm]

Please don't be offended if I don't respond. My response would not progress the discussion and would be seen as argumentative rather than constructive.

[Gingernutz]

I'm a nurse by trade and many of my colleagues went out with and in some cases married cops. There were some right knobs in training but a lot didn't last long. A lot of them were typical lads liking nothing better than a beer and a fight on a night out.  They were not worried about waving warrant cards when things got sticky.  I'm 43 so the ones still in are the same age and they are a decent lot.


I wouldn't hesitate to jump in and help wrestle the toerag fighting with an isolated copper to the ground. Their job can be shit, thankless and stressful so there are bound to be times frayed nerves come across badly. That doesn't make them bad people. It helps that I am a white middleclass middle age numpy - I am Irish though and my memory stretches back to the days of innocent until proven Irish. If I was a young black guy getting pulled a lot who knows....  Take them as you find them - they are just people and generalising never gets you anywhere with people

[Tiberius Onklevaart]

Inothing better than a beer and a fight.
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I wouldn't hesitate to jump in and help wrestle the toerag fighting.
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I am Irish

You can't make this shit up :lol

[Gingernutz]

You know that noise they make in QI when you say the wrong thing? I just heard it!

[Tiberius Onklevaart]

Aw

[caretaker]

why is it that when someone quotes bits of the highway code, all that pops into my head is a harry enfield character in a cardigan and slippers. "i dont believe you wanted to do that"  you know the one.

[BBROWN1664]

:rollin

[pitternator]

I dont think we will get closure on this, but I do sense young simon might change his views with some years on the road. We were not there so cant say whether the gap was sensible for pulling out or not, but either way its a lesson learnt.
My comment is for folks not to get too " legalistic" about the highway code viz you cant justify an action because the other driver should have been driving " to the book" ...as a potential accident is there in the making. Far too many drivers cut each other up in such a belief.ie I am doing 70 so if you hit me you must be speeding ! Fact is that traffic does exceed the limit and the guy doing 90 may not seem to be going that fast , but an advanced driver observes the motion of vehicles for at least a second to ascertain its velocity, and do a double take if not sure. The motto is restraint. If in any doubt dont do a manoeuvre. You are relying on that other driver doing the right thing, which wont alway sbe the case. Its like walking onto a pedestrian crossing in self affirmed belief the speeding driver wont hit me !Too late when he does cos he aint seen you or cant stop in time ...
whether its  a police car or not is irrelevant as to change lanes is to accept liability for anything which ensues.TBH pulling out on any emergency vehicle is not a clever thing in any circumstances, blue lights or not.