Friday 27 March 2020

"...some believe the force is going too far."



Really? And are they doing anything about it?
One senior Tory MP told MailOnline: 'Probably what will happen is a quiet word from the policing minister to the Chief Constable of Derbyshire saying: 'can you ease off here, we don't want to give you a haranguing, but we have got enough to worry about without you telling off people who are just taking their dog for a walk.'
What's the point of a 'quiet word'? They should dress down the power-grabbing moron on live TV.

Since we seem to be going in for public displays of approbation like some mawkish Third World country, we might as well do the same when someone needs to understand they've overstepped the mark too.

We shouldn't be too surprised to find it's the Derbyshire farce, they do have form...
The MP added the government was in a difficult position where looser advice saying people could be 'reasonable' would risk being exploited by 'idiots'.
They didn't worry about instructions to the police being exploited by authoritarian jackbooted thugs  (what happened to 'don't call us', then?) who long for the power to decide if your shopping trip is 'necessary', did they?

But surely they don't have the manpower for this? Aren't they always crying 'lack of resources!' when asked why they are so woeful at their main task?
Experts have said the enforcement will divert officers from investigating other crimes, but forces including the Met insist it can form part of their usual patrol duties.
Well, seems to me they just shot themselves in the foot with that one, eh? If they can set up roadblocks to check if Mabel's trip to the corner shop is really necessary, they can pull out all the stops when her car is stolen.

Can't they?

21 comments:

Fahrenheit211 said...

The British people have become increasingly frustrated and angry with Britain's lazy and authoritarian plod. People have become angry at the noticeable difference between the half arsed or dismissive way that they've treated issues such as the Islamic Rape Gang problem and how enthusiastic they are about prosecuting thought crimes. Add into that mix an attitude to those who have suffered as the result of crimes like burglary that can be summed up as 'your on your own pal' by the police and you have the recipe for a perfect storm of distrust of the police.

A while back I said that if the police carry on their shitty way of doing their jobs and equally bad attitude to the public then they will find that one day they will really need the public's support and help and it will not be forthcoming because people will no longer trust the police. I will help my neighbour during this emergency but I'll be buggered if I'll go out of my way to help the police. I think that the police are going to find that they are going to get less voluntary help from the public during this emergency than they would have got if they had not been such a bunch of authoritarian and lazy clowns.

Civilised societies need police forces but Britain deserves much better than we've got at the moment. As an aside I can't help but wonder whether the claims by various police forces that they are facing an epidemic of sickness are true. Are these police officers really ill or are they swinging the lead and pulling unjustified sickies? After all it's not as if police forces don't have a bad reputation for officers pulling the 'bad back and depression' excuses to avoid work do they?

microdave said...

@Fahrenheit211 - +1

I can't help wondering how - considering the "epidemic of sickness" they are facing - so many are suddenly patrolling the streets.

Anonymous said...

Whatever decision the police make regarding these unprecedented times, we will be criticised by all the armchair experts.
I hope you do all realise that police officers will catch this virus don't you? We aren't secretly being vaccinated so we can carry on as normal. Same as NHS, firemen etc. When you call for the army to man the streets then they will have a percentage of sick people as well. In fact I've got more chance of catching it than you because I'm still expected to go in and patrol as normal.
Awaiting MTG and his expertise.
Jaded

Nemisis said...

In the context of "epidemic of sickness" our postman said the other day that the local sorting/delivery office has 21 off sick. On being asked a couple of not very leading questions he went on to say that none of them had Coronavirus but most of them were the ones that took a fair amount of sick leave. He even suggested that they were "swinging the lead".

Anonymous said...

I notice they aren't doing a lot about the lack of distancing from others, or whether their journey is really necessary with regard to the parasitic Caravan Utilising Nomadic TravellerS blighting the lives of the people of Hove, or the crowds of Muslims blocking the streets so they could kneel down and pray to their sky fairy. All the while, stopping, and possibly fining, those who don't fall into either of those demographic groups.
The Peelian principle of "without fear or favour" seems to have been lost in their social justice handbooks.
If the Police want to regain even a small element of the respect they have lost, they could start with them. Won't hold my breath.
Penseivat

The Jannie said...

On Nemisis' theme - when we lived in Edinburgh - admittedly forty years ago - our neighbour was a postie. Because they were allowed so many days' sick leave a year they used to tack it onto their annual leave . . .

MTG 1 said...

Ah, 'they're' you are, WC Jaded. Like all State Clowns, you should now be provided with a conspicuous costume, party horn and unlimited additional rope.

My local grapevine is now buzzing with disturbing news. 'Ihre Papiere, bitte' plod were parachuted into in Huddersfield this morning and immediately commenced to issue wholesale arrest threats to my townsfolk, especially those seen away from their main residence. Any such individual discovered on the street and who subsequently elects to use their RIGHT to silence, will now will be arrested. The result of repeals and counter-legislation, presumably placed on the statute book last night, by West Yorkshire police?

You will recall, JuliaM, that in England and Wales the RIGHT to silence used to be the protection afforded each citizen from adverse consequences of remaining silent. Now, any Yorkshireman who fails to satisfy a plod interrogator with a voluntary confession, is destined to spend at least one night in a damp, cold cell and face an unlimited fine on another date.

When this viral threat is over, 'their' will be a Reckoning for West Yorks plod, individual fascists and 'there' chief constable.

Anonymous said...

I've been to Huddersfield. Anyone who lives there, deserves to be arrested.

Anonymous said...

I have walked my dog, collected medicine and done essential shopping. I see as much traffic as usual, more people out walking than usual and illegal motorcycle riders ripping up the grass in the park. We have even had fireworks parties around here for the last two evenings terrifying our pets. The one thing I have not seen is a single police officer, is it any wonder people have come to believe they can do whatever the like? The truth is they can and the reports of police enforcement are nothing more than eyewash and propaganda.

Stonyground said...

Here in East Yorkshire, the local police have issued a statement that they will not be stopping people at random and asking them if their journey is necessary or any of that kind of crap.

Jaded, I find your posts to be generally useful in providing balance to the criticisms that are frequently directed against the police on this blog. In this case though, I feel that you are trying to defend the indefensible. Derbyshire police are without excuse for their despicable behaviour and you would have more credibility if you came out and condemned them unequivocally along with the rest of us.

Anonymous said...

Damp cold cell? Dear oh dear Melvin. You'll be asking to see the "station Sergeant " next .
Cutting edge old chap.
Jaded.

Anonymous said...

You've also missed the report in the Mail that a shopkeeper that chalked lines on the pavement to mark out the recommended distancing rules has been given a fixed penalty for "criminal damage" despite the face the lines will easily wash away - it's reported that the police officer (sic) claimed that the law was the law and must be obeyed

Anonymous said...

Anon @ 03.06,
I understand that someone has offered to pay the shopkeeper's legal expenses if he refuses to pay the fine and goes to court. Not certain if it's true, but if it is, then all kudos to the donor. Meanwhile, travellers and Muslims flout the law with impunity. That particular Police officer is a disgrace and should be charged with abuse of authority, and I write this as a retired front line Police officer.
From talking to ex colleagues, some of whom are still serving, it's mainly the younger officers, those who have been brainwashed by the Woke and SJW senior officers and trainers, who are the most officious. Thank goodness I'm out of it, and I suppose Jaded can't wait.
Penseivat

Anonymous said...

Stony ground....I agree with you. I'm very uncomfortable with police questioning decent people who are outside. We will lose any good will built up from working through this virus. In the Met we have been told just to advise people and we haven't been given the power to give out fines as yet. I'm hoping we don't get that authority as some of my idiot colleagues ( a small minority) will be chasing targets instead of using discretion.
Jaded.

Just Trevor said...

Penseivat
I have a friend who's been working in a major Farce for almost twenty years now. Right from the off he reported that sergeants could barely control new recruits. The newbies explained that in training that they should question sergeants as they were predominantly older white males.

JuliaM said...

"The British people have become increasingly frustrated and angry with Britain's lazy and authoritarian plod."

I think this corona virus panic has seen a few scales fall from eyes over the astonishing behaviour of some forces. I really hope it isn't all forgotten once things get back to normal.

If things really do, of course.

"I can't help wondering how - considering the "epidemic of sickness" they are facing - so many are suddenly patrolling the streets."

Because now they get a chance to flex their muscle over people they know won't fight back?

"Whatever decision the police make regarding these unprecedented times, we will be criticised by all the armchair experts."

Decisions like pouring dye into a lake at a beauty spot, you mean? You bet I'll criticize that! And draw unwelcome conclusions about the eagerness with which they've taken to the streets to order around the law abiding, while ignoring Muslims praying in groups in parks.

You bet that won't be forgotten.

"All the while, stopping, and possibly fining, those who don't fall into either of those demographic groups."

Yup. Depressingly expected, though.

JuliaM said...

" 'Ihre Papiere, bitte' plod were parachuted into in Huddersfield this morning and immediately commenced to issue wholesale arrest threats to my townsfolk, especially those seen away from their main residence. "

And Boris is threatening 'tougher action'. It must be the fever talking.

"The one thing I have not seen is a single police officer, is it any wonder people have come to believe they can do whatever the like? "

I've seen very few, and those all in vehicles, speeding somewhere.

"In this case though, I feel that you are trying to defend the indefensible. Derbyshire police are without excuse for their despicable behaviour..."

Agreed!

"You've also missed the report in the Mail that a shopkeeper that chalked lines on the pavement to mark out the recommended distancing rules has been given a fixed penalty for "criminal damage".."

Yes, saw that! The fine has been rescinded and the officer invited for an interview without coffee. Too late. The damage has been done. What idiots the Met are employing!

"From talking to ex colleagues, some of whom are still serving, it's mainly the younger officers, those who have been brainwashed by the Woke and SJW senior officers and trainers, who are the most officious."

I've noticed that, too!

JuliaM said...

" We will lose any good will built up from working through this virus. "

I'm not sure that's possible.

Anonymous said...

Some research on the Derbyshire lake blackening scandal. Apparently the lake looks beautiful but is extremely toxic and the council regularly dyes it to stop swimmers. The police blacked it this time I bet because the council asked them too. All Daily Mail anti-police stories need extra scrutiny.
Jaded

Anonymous said...

Plod would be less hazardous too public safety, were they too confine their actions too those falling within their limited expertise, intelligence and fucking job descriptions, Jaded.

Just Trevor said...

Jaded, to augment your research: while true that this dying has been going on for a few years now, in this particular instance it was in response to reports of people absenting themselves from the mandatory wailing and rending of their clothes and taking photographs. Whipping is too good for them. According to Derbyshire Police “This type of gathering is in contravention of the current instruction of the UK government. We used water dye to make the water look less appealing.”