UK.Can anyone remember when police officers could be relied on to give good advice?

k9counsellor

I do remember! Trouble is ... I'm a lot older than you. I'm 56 now! I lived in London when in my late teens and bobbies, as we called them then, were most friendly and helpful!

I think it is due to the fact that in these days ... Policemen knew their community better than they do nowadays. And when it comes to your friend defending herself, being told to ring the police instead ... I remember being attacked once and screaming for help (As you do) Two policemen appeared from nowhere! Grabbed my attacker and hey presto! Led him to the nearest police station while making sure i was OK and as i was a rather long way away from home, pretty shaken too! They too k me to the police station and made sure i had a hot cup of tea and someone with me until i stopped shaking and! Someone else could give me a lift home.

Having said that ... This was then! There have been too many changes over the last 20 years and not for the better either! But for the worse.

The law states that you should call the police and that is fine in theory ... If reality is different. Once you face a brutal attacker, you may not be given a chance to reach for the nearest phone, never mind dial 999, last but not least ... Wait until they decide to arrive!

I have long believed that we should be entitled to keep pepper sprays at home, on our person (Women on their own). Simply because such sprays do not cause any lasting damage if they would give us a chance to disable attackers time enough to make that phone call to the police! So we are left by ourselves, with no means to defend ourselves when attackers are armed with one thing or another.

I miss these gone by days. Then it was safer to be on your own or walk the streets!

door.uk

We have the finest police fore in the world, why do everyone knock it.
if there's a copper there hes wrong and if you want one the same people moan because there is not one.
Most people of a younger age are a little to verbally aggressive to the police and that's what gets their backs up.
I have been on the wrong side of the law a few times and if you treat them with respect you will receive respect back.
As for force you can only use enough to subdue your attacker not kill him/her.

jenny84

I'm only 22 so am too young to remember them giving good advice... I've heard in the olden days they were helpful but that's maybe because they didn't have that much to deal with.

HELEN LOOKING4

Once upon a time there were Policemen who went out of their
way to assist the public.

Doethineb

The police sergeant was perfectly in order in removing the pepper spray, as possession of it is an offence under section 5 of the Firearms Act. I think that the only way round this would be to carry around a seemingly innocuous bottle containing something like detergent, which would have quite an effect on the eyes of one's attacker without causing lasting harm, or a shriek alarm, which just might take the attacker by surprise (it makes an appalling noise). http://www.suzylamplugh.org/store/ec_products_view.asp?PID=30
This is a constant problem for males as well as females. Both my sons have been attacked a number of times in London and I know a large number of middle aged/elderly women who simply don't dare venture forth at night. On one notable occasion when one of my sons together with a couple of his friends had been attacked by a young maniac wielding a hammer, the police declined to come to their assistance when they ran to the police station for help (obviously genuine, with blood to prove it) because they were closing for the evening and transferring all the work to another station several miles down the road. In answer to your question, yes, I can remember such a time, but it was a long time ago and there has been a great deal of legislation since which has sometimes had the effect of curtailing our freedom to take action on our own behalf.

shitebird

hi sprinkle..
it was along time ago in a galaxy far far away.

thats what happens when pc stops standing for "police constable " and changes to "politicly correct"

the teletubbies could and do do a better job.

we should make them pay us for the abuse we suffer over thier inept service

origamimark

You are allowed to use appropriate force to defend yourself, but the term 'appropriate' is not defined. Cunning catch-22, which often results in criminalisation and prison for home-owners and freedom and often exoneration for villains.

Funny old world , innit ?

deadly

Yes before Tony Blair and New Labour got in power. They have shoved paperwork on Police,Hospitals and anyone else they could find jobs for their mates. The end result is human rights. We seem to follow to the letter in the UK. Go to France or Spain they still have Police who walk the streets and do not sit behind glass screens spouting the crap your friend got. They will belt you one as well that's their interpretation of human rights.

The Inquisitor

It is a sad state of affairs in today's society that it is the criminals who have greater protection from the law than their victims. I am all for that, Teletbuubies for police, although Tinky-Winky would not be able to clobber robbers with his handbag as that would be assult.

bert

Now that is along time ago,everyone respected and trusted our policemen then, unfortunately it isn't like that any more !

joan k

There are some decent, honest Officers out there, but their hands are tied behind their backs thanks to poor and incompetent management and of course the government who insist that everything must be pc. Having only today been reading their pay structure I for one wouldn't get out of bed for what they are paid!.

the toonser

police reliable not in my life time and im 43

â˜†Yummyâ˜†Mummyâ˜†

I will do whatever it takes to protect myself and if that were to mean someone getting shot or stabbed for ME to save MYSELF then so be it, I come first not the attacker

frankturk50

Obviously they did not say it was wrong to defend yourself but wrong to carry what is defined as an offensive weapon to defend yourself just because you don't like the advice given doesn't make it wrong.I am sure a lot of people would have answered differently if they realised that you went into the police station to complain they disarmed your friend and that was the basis of your gripe.

kennyboy

I have a better story,

A couple of years ago driving home at night I saw a gang beating up this guy. I didn't stop cos i was in traffic and about to turn, as I just turn the corner I saw 2 police men they were walking towards the fight, now remember there two big officers all kitted out in the armored vest ant with their nice new American style truncheons.

I stopped and told them what was happening round the corner, they looked at each other then me and one of them said......

...... thats not our problem!!

and then they both turned around and walked away.

Or should I say ran away in the other direction.

They were less than 20 yards from that fight and the just walked away.

Our police are total cowards.

kby

C4 Snake

People have gone to prison after a robber injured thmselves whilst burgling somebodies house. Thats how stupid it has got.

utahmike42

The Brits - God love ya - have fools for leaders. We do in America too. However, I want to know why (1) You get into trouble for defending yourself. That's insane. (2) Why the cops there don't have guns. (3) Why the good citizens there are not allowed to own firearms.

In the officer's defense, he ot she was just telling you what the law is. Cops are not attorneys.

perro.faldero

EDIT - You say you will respect the police when they earn respect. Well, I would suggest that my fiancÃ© deserves respect.

He has been in the police nearly 3 years and has had to deal with some horrendous events, including a major car accident in which a woman was decapitated! He has also saved several lives and ensured some violent people have received what they deserve.

I had to see him endure all the agony after the decapitation accident and it was not something I would want to live through again.

If you're that upset over it, write to your MP. Otherwise, stop whinging!

By the way, the spray would qualify as an 'offensive weapon'. Although your friend's intention in using the spray may be honest, someone else's may not i.e. a teen using it to rob an old woman. However, your friend could carry a can of deodorant and spray that in someone's eyes.

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