Why I don't trust the police
12-May-2008
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Why I don't trust the police

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I'm going to outline some reasons why I don't trust the police and why I believe they are ineffective.  I have never been in trouble with the police until recently and I am in general a law abiding person.  But when I came to university however, the police were suddenly very much involved with my life - and not for the good.

My first encounter involved me being beaten about the head several times by a guy who was kicking off because he had split up with his girl friend.  I called the police who arrived long after it was all over.  They failed report the incident properly and didn't find the guy, even though it was a Friday night and there ideally ought to have been a police presence in the city centre.

Then a few months later I was extremely drunk on a night out and was arrested for 'public nuisance'.  I was also FALSELY accused of hitting someone - wrong place, wrong time I think! During my night in the cells I admit that I was being loud, banging on the cell door etc. and generally making a fool out of myself (I was very drunk).  That did not excuse what happened next.  The officers had obviously decided they wanted to shut me up.  They barged into my cell and wrestled me to the floor banging my head on the way, putting my left arm so far up my back they dislocated my shoulder.  He then slapped my head and told me to shut up.

A police jacket

I was left in shock and fearing I they would come in again and I didn't sleep all night.  The next day after I got out and lodged a complaint and asked for custody reports.  On here the police had changed several details about the events that took place stating I was aggressive and had 'lashed out' when they tried to give me a blanket (which they never did).

As my complaint progressed I became aware I was getting a lot of parking tickets, while cars on the same road were not getting any.  It seemed I was seeing police everywhere.  Then my car was broken into by someone who did not take anything just smashed the window and left the car stereo which they could have easily taken.  The car was then towed as the police said they could not find me to tell me it had been broken into, another £110 to get it out.  I had the window repaired the next day and while it was being done a police officer called who was not the one handling the case.  He asked about the state of the car and I told him it had been repaired.

That night at 6.30pm the car was broken into again, nothing taken of course and the car was parked right outside my house!  What criminal would do the same car twice and risk doing it a 6.30 in the evening!?  I called the police who turned up 15 minutes later. No one was caught.  By this time I suspected the police but continued with my claim anyway.  A week later the police turned up at my door and I thought they may have found the criminals who broke into my car.  But no, they told me I was under arrest for burglary!

I have never EVER had anything to do with something like that.  They said my DNA (taken as due to my caution) had been found at the scene of a theft of some SWEETS from a cafe.  Yes they kept me in a cell for 4 hours to question me over the theft of some confectionery.  Guess who was the custody sergeant while I was being held? The guy I was lodging the complaint against and again I was somewhat nervous as I sat there for four hours.

After this experience I dropped my complaint deciding it was not worth all the hassle.  My last encounter with the police has just reinforced my feelings about them.  I was at home revising for an exam on a Saturday night.  My house mates had gone to the pub and left the front door open.  Next I know a random guy walks into my room! He was obviously looking for valuables left by unsuspecting students.  When I challenged him he mumbled some excuse and ran out the door.  Again I called the police who turned up THIRTY MINUTES LATER and of course caught no one.

I don't want be my own personal bobby.  I would just like the police to act with some semblance of professionalism and actually catch some real thieves instead of intimidating me.  The lack of professionalism and bullying tactics I have seen being used by police makes me worry every time I hear they are being given more powers.  Powers such as taking DNA samples without our permission, or to make an arrest when they SUSPECT a terrorist.

Before we have a choice in the matter, they are being given even more powers to "fight crime".  We should remember who we are giving these powers to - not only the good natured trustworthy police, but also the bad cops who may use these powers to intimidate innocent members of the public.

By: Peter


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I was on YouTube the other day, browsing through some clips. I read comments posted from a member on how he knows this high ranking police officer in Leicestershire, along with few others are on the take in the drugs scene. Making big money from it.

They want it all for themselves and don't like it when joe average is out there cutting their grass.
*Pauly  12-Mar-2008 10:33

 
You all think you know what police harrasment is???

Im 40 ish, NO CRIMINAL RECORD (1 parking ticket) AT ALL, and ive been suffering from this disease for nearly 18 months.

Come and talk to me about PH!!!
*exblade  11-Mar-2008 21:38

 
I recently was driving in London when I was hit by another vehicle. When I caught up with him and told him he simply drove off. I took a picture of his registration, filled out a police report- everything a 'good citizen' should do. The car was considered beyond economical repair so it was written off. Yesterday I got a letter from the police telling me there would be no further action against the driver. Part of law enforcement must be preventative and as far as I am concerned, that other driver has now been passively allowed to continue on his destructive way until he causes serious harm to himself or other. I no longer trust the police and have told them so by complaint and in direct conversation. I have no faith my complaints will amount to anything. I have faith in human kindness but not in the estate that supposedly keeps its vigil. Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? Who watches the watchmen?
*CWF  04-Mar-2008 14:57

 
Menotq, Have you never heard the phrase "Never trust a Cop, because you never know when he will turn straight". It seems that police corruption is everywhere.
But everyone should support their local Police, so "Hang a Cop today" ;-) :-)
*Cynic  26-Feb-2008 02:01

 
Neither do I trust the police anymore. An excuse I often hear is "they take alot of abuse" it's a high stress job" etc. which still does NOT excuse their {above the law} behavior. I think they have forgotten they are a public servant. Here in America, every week we hear about another corrupt cop on the take or using their postion for criminal activity. I actually know a cop who was talking to his crony's {he was serious} "that there should be open hunting season once a year where we're allowed to kill criminals". There should be more intensive psychological testing for this position & more education on how to conduct themselves in the presence of a diverse population.
*Menotq  19-Feb-2008 01:42

 
Every post within this page sadly does not surprise me.
As a student in one of the UK’s bigger cities I was unfortunate enough to be burgled whilst out, a female housemate arrived home first and called the police. She told the police she was alone, scared and believed the burglar to still be in the house. The police did not arrive for TWO HOURS! In the centre of a large city this made no sense! Several laptops were stolen, which I managed to locate at a local shop the next day. I did the right thing and reported it (instead of just stealing it back!) and the police messed it up by walking into the shop and asking "do you have any stolen laptops in the store"?! They didn’t even search the place! I mean come on... do you go through any training to get your jobs!

Furthermore on a visit to the capital, myself and a friend were told to stop singing in the street. Thinking that the police must be joking we carried on (some time later). The same officer then saw us and told us to sit in his van. We then spent the next half an hour talking to a female officer, very friendly conversation, even talking about what we were planning to do the next day and where best to visit etc etc. The first officer then came back, put handcuffs on us both and arrested us for abusing the police! what?? Apparently our drunken behaviour deserved 2hours in the cells and an £80 fine! If we were that bad why let us out after two hours?!?
*Angry Ell  14-Feb-2008 08:07

 
I know for a fact that British police have been responsible for racially motivated mutilation and torture. Sections of the media know abou this and support it.
*ukcitizen  06-Feb-2008 14:47

 
my friend used to sell cannabis, I am talking a small amount, to close friends who didnt want to venture into that side of the streets, social supply is what I think its called.
anyway he was not convicted by a judge, so since then the police have obviously taken the judges verdict personally because since then June 2007 he has had police screeching up in front of him, while he was taking his 6 month old son to a local supermarket, searching his car maticulously, making a 6 month old baby freeze on the side of a road in winter.
He has also been pulled up on his way home from a martial arts course which he started to help him stop smoking cannabis, obviously he was in his outfit, straight from the class, and another three times he has been stopped and has the paper work to prove it.
Everytime he is pulled over, one policemen in particular walks straight up to the car gets him out and puts his hand down his jeans, I have witnessed this personally twice, they also ask him questions regarding what his old friends have been up to,as if they are criminals.
Fear not we are taking the case to the highest court in the country, the independant complaints commission arent that independant,trust me I have an inside source, I will say no more.all we are looking for is for the police officer to be penalised for what he has done, we do not want the police officer sacked from his job because he may have kids to feed, and I fear I would be no better than them if we were going for dismissal, all we are pressing for is for the police officer responsible to be sanctioned or demoted like anyone else in the workplace who breaks the rules in any walk of life.oh and the best part, we want a handwritten apology from this police officer, which I may even photocopy and put on every lamppost in england.
*harrassedt2neardeath  03-Feb-2008 12:10

 
I got my own back on a policeman quite recently, a Patient arrived in with a Head Injury where I work, and was becoming Agitated and Aggressive, a common side effect from a head injury, there was a Policeman with him and he was being his usual I am above the Law kind of Attitude, I asked him to remove the handcuffs (Please note the poor guy was cuffed in back of Ambulance by this officer) which made him even more Angrier, I asked why this guy was handcuffed to the Policeman and was told rather rudely "You do your job and I'll do mine" so I reported him to The Police head office about this poor Patients treatment, not only was he severely reprimanded, but it looks like he will be doing quite a lot of Paperwork for a very long time.
*Jonny  25-Jan-2008 14:41

 
I was recently provoked by a police officer which I find absolutely appalling. It ended up with them trying to charge me for the same crime twice - dont worry nothing too serious just the sections 5s. In the end I only received a hefty fine but gladly no convictions. Had the convictions been given - Trust me I would have turned to crime as a profession!

I had never been in trouble with the police but as soon as I told them some home truths calmly may I add - 'they wanted to do me!' In the past I had been assaulted and threaten and nothing cam of this. It seems to me that they couldn't handle the truth. I have one thing to say if you cannae handle the heat in the kitchen - Get the f*** out!

From know on I will no longer use the police as I think its just a waste of my time. We should get rid of the police force and install the Army to do a proper job.

I really hope the petition handed to No 10 yesterday is used as toilet paper by Gordon Brown!

We the public should really decide weather they deserve the pay rise - can anyone advise on this.
*LoosenTheHandCuffs_Officer  24-Jan-2008 10:00

 
Well I Never-why does that not surprise me? The Gestapo think they are above the law. they know the laws well enough to know how to break them & they very often do.
Have you heard the latest on the news today?
Women Gestapo are now complaining that the trousers that they wear are not fashionable!!!
who the fu*k are they trying to impress? They've been moaning they don't get paid enough too-what next?
*Andy Evans  18-Jan-2008 07:31

 
The screening of a documentary naming eight serving police officers as murderers was cancelled by the threat of legal action.

Relatives of some of the highest-profile victims of deaths in custody were in the audience to watch the film, Injustice.

Less than 20 minutes before the start, the Metro cinema in London's West End halted the event after receiving a fax of a letter from lawyers acting for two officers.

None of the officers named in the film has been convicted of a crime.

Kevin Blowe, secretary of the United Family and Friends Campaign, which helped organise the screening, said: "The cinema had no choice but to cancel the screening after it received a letter.
"It arrived too late for the cinema to seek its own legal advice."

The documentary explores the experiences of some of the relatives of those who have died in custody. Since 1969, there have been 1,000 such deaths in Britain, either in police station cells, in prisons, or in secure psychiatric hospitals.

Ken Fero, the film's co-director and producer, spent seven years making it.

He said last night: "The families are very angry, and speak frankly about the people whom they hold responsible for the death of their loved ones.

"When they were told the screening had been cancelled, some people started crying. They believe that the police were responsible for the deaths, and now they are preventing their stories being told."

In the audience were relatives of Roger Sylvester who died after being restrained by police at his Tottenham home in north London in 1999, and of Joy Gardner, who died six years earlier, also in north London, after police stuck 13 feet of tape round her face while trying to restrain her.

"They are so angry that the screening was cancelled because it was a chance to tell the truth."
*Well I Never!  17-Jan-2008 11:12


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