Wednesday 12 May 2010

Graham McGrath, Rosie Lucey And Reece Black - Heroes

Mr McGrath said: 'There was a woman in the water shouting for help. There was somebody throwing lifebelts to her, but she couldn't get to them.

The police were holding people back from the edge of the bridge. It became apparent nobody was doing anything else. She was getting lower and lower in the water.'

Miss Lucey said: 'We realised we were watching someone drown.'
Unlike the police, they weren't content just to watch and wait for someone else whose job it was to save lives. They considered that in that situation, it's everyone's responsibility.

They deserve a medal.
A police spokesman said: ‘A 37-year old woman jumped into the Clyde and was rescued by a member of the public prior to the arrival of the emergency services.

As a matter of procedure it’s not the responsibility of the police to go in the water, it’s the Fire and Rescue service.’
The police deserve...well, I'm not sure quite what.

A commenter to the article says:
"Does anyone still have any respect for our police?

And, if so, why?"
I do. Just. Because I recognise (or maybe the word is hope) that these officers are a small minority.

But it's getting harder and harder to hang on to that belief...

12 comments:

Uncle Marvo said...

It's not the police OFFICER'S fault. They would do it if they weren't threatened with the sack for breaking Elfin Safe Tea rules. All the cops I know would have done.

Hopefully this bansturbating government's demise will change this sort of shit.

AntiCitizenOne said...

I maintain a respect for the Police Force.

None for the PC service.

Chuckles said...

Nope, no respect whatsoever.

Nothing to do with the individual officers, it is institutionalised dereliction of duty.

Jiks said...

Well done those students.

This is far, far from the first time the police have not only refused to help but have actively prevented the public from saving people in danger.

H & S should be about saving lives surely not actively causing them to be lost?

Whatever else this new government does, please God, can they sort this sort of stuff out sharpish. It's got the the point its beyond control for control sake and into the realms of pure evil.

tolkein said...

The blame must be laid at the door of the HSE. They sued the Met under Sir Robert Mark when police officers were injured crossing a roof in pursuit of criminals. It cost the Met £2m, which was a lot of money then. The Met would be criminally liable if anything happened to its officers in letting its officers do anything without a proper risk assessment beforehand. The HSE are the real criminals. I bet you didn't know that the HSE are campaigning to extend the remit of HSE to the Armed Forces. I wonder if Cameron will agree.

Anonymous said...

Sir Robert Mark?????

I think you mean the time when John Stevenson (outgoing) and Ian Blair (incoming and now thankfully gone) were technically gripping the rail when the HSE took the Met to court. The death of a sikh PC who plunged to his death through a roof

*** Kulwant Singh Sidhu Police Constable Wt. No. 196278, TW Division Died 1999, aged 24
Late on the night of 24 October, he attended a call to suspects on a roof in Twickenham; in the early hours he was found inside the premises, having been fatally injured by a fall through a glass skylight while pursuing the suspects.Name inscribed on the Roll of Honour at New Scotland Yard and a memorial stone erected at the scene at Colne Road, Twickenham

This was not the main incident for the trial though I thought it was the De Menezes shooting...bizarrely.

That said Health & Safety Legislation was having a huge effect on police operational procedure from the early '90s onwards.

JuliaM said...

"It's not the police OFFICER'S fault."

I'm afraid it is. How the hell could they stand there and consider H&S & force guidelines while a woman drowned in front of them?

How could they live with themselves after?

"I maintain a respect for the Police Force.

None for the PC service."


Good distinction!

"...it is institutionalised dereliction of duty."

Yes, it is. And for all the hopes of those police officers who post to Gadget's (and others) blog, it isn't going to change overnight.

"H & S should be about saving lives surely not actively causing them to be lost?"

You'd think so, wouldn't you?

JuliaM said...

"The blame must be laid at the door of the HSE. They sued the Met...It cost the Met £2m, which was a lot of money then. "

Since we pay the Met in the first place, it was OUR money!

And yes, they shouldn't have lost.

The government should have muzzled the HSE then. I think it's too late to expect Cameron to do much about it, unfortunately...

banned said...

I am happy to report that in the space of six two thieves ran from the same shop and jumped into the same part of our local river; sadly they were both 'rescued' by our gallant Police Service, no doubt keen on securing their conviction targets.

tolkein said...

No, the Met won. But the cost scared the living daylights out of them. That and the fact that the HSE would sue the police. It means that the chief would be held personally liable for not ensuring appropriate procedures were in place.I'm sorry I got the head of the Met wrong.

banned said...

should read " in the space of six months.." soz.

JuliaM said...

@Banned: Interstingly, the 'Metro' carries a report this morning about a PCSO who rescued a man who pushed him in the river & then fell in himself, yet couldn't swim.

Yet I thought it was two PCSOs who recently claimed H&S prevented them from rescuing a drowning child. What gives?

@tolkein: Typical! Even if you win, you lose...