Counter productive policing

[jeltz]

Had a phonecall from Mrs Jeltz this am, she'd been taking her father to the hospital for an urgent operation, he was taken into hospital on Xmas eve and discharded to come back in at 9:00 Boxing day for this op. She is such a goody two shoes, she's never even had let herself get in the position to get a parking ticket

Well she made a driving mistake on a clear road with a copper behind her. Its a slightly confusing junction but she was in the wrong and the copper pulls her over, fair enough. She (and her dad) thought it was a filter light but it was green for ahead only, hands up she apologises and explains that she's taking her dad into the hospital, she's stressed doesn't know the area but hospital is just round the corner.

The copper then painstakingly examines the vehicle taking ages, breathalysed her and makes sarcastic comments about how early she must have stopped drinking on Xmas day to get a clear reading, and lets them go with just just enough time that they can rush into the hospital, which isn't great for her dad who is permanently on oxygen with a portable cylinder.

End result £60 fine, 3 points, her previously high goodwill towards the police completely gone. A breath test and a warning would have been much more productive and as effective but perhaps wouldn't have helped meet targets.

Actually the points and fine aren't the issue, she knows she made a mistake. Its the sarcastic attitude and the deliberately delaying them trying to get to the hospital that upset her.

My good will towards the police went ages ago, after they completely failed to investigate several "real" crimes including a fraud which was attempted against my business where I had managed to get the land line telephone number (checked it!) and IP address of the fraudster and the dealing of drugs (inc heroine) from a terraced house over the road from a senior school!

 

[Tollers]

Argghh. What a total A-hole. Was gramps actually in the car on the portable oxygen tank? It sounds like this policeman has some personal issues he needs to work out. Should be ashamed of himself.

Tell your missus not to stress, she definitely has the moral high ground!

 

[xpc316e]

Two sides to any story?

 

[joolsybools]

Cheeky git to assume she had stopped drinking early, not everyone in the world drinks.

 

[accountantpete]

Don't the Police have to spot an offence in order to breathalyse someone? If so I expect the paperwork will demand that a fine is issued rather than the more reasonable few words of advice that was really warranted.

 

[vernon]

I came across a similar jobsworth a couple of years ago on the M1 when I made a minor error and was pulled by a traffic cop.

I received a fixed penalty notice and three points and did not contest the judgement of the officer because I was definitely in the wrong though I was not too clear what exactly the offence was - turns out to be MW10 a non specific motorway violation.

The thing is is that the office was polite, methodical and systematic and it seemed to take an eternity to process me - so much so that my pal who was sitting in my car waiting for my return thought that I was being done for other things too - irreverance and non co-operation being in the top two places.

It was a fair cop. The officer was doing his job. I was a bit indignant that I'd got a ticket but equally happy that scrotes with unroadworthy vehicles would have been identified and pulled. Less haste made for a calm and civil exchange and a feeling that the officer concerned was firm but fair and equal in his dispensing of the law.

My friends and acquaintances were far more indignant and were for me making a complaint about the 'pull'. There was nothing to complain about, I was in the wrong and paid the price for doing it in front of a traffic cop.

At this time of year the police are more vigilant for moving traffic offences and are likely to have been briefed to stop and breathalyse all offenders. I can't criticise them for doing so at the time of year when alcohol is consumed in excess and many motorists are driving the next day unaware that they are over the limit.

The sarcasm might have been confused with officiousness and that in itself can be a coping strategy for officers who have to cope with situations that can be emotionally charged. The 'one size fits all' approach to the public can help keep the officer calm, sane and rational and less likely to make errors of judgement even though it comes across as impersonal.

My suggestions are only one of many interpretations that could be applied to the situation and as I wasn't there feel free to discard them.

 

[jeltz]

Argghh. What a total A-hole. Was gramps actually in the car on the portable oxygen tank? It sounds like this policeman has some personal issues he needs to work out. Should be ashamed of himself.

Tell your missus not to stress, she definitely has the moral high ground!

Yep

Cheeky git to assume she had stopped drinking early, not everyone in the world drinks.

She was somewhat abrupt in response to the drinking quip, she rarely drinks and having been on cold meds yesterday she couldn't anyway.

Two sides to any story?

Sounds like the copper was pi$$ed off with having to work boxing day or maybe he thought she was lying about the operation to get off.

Apparently his attitude changed somewhat when she insisted that she go back to her car to re-assure her dad that they'd be off soon as he'd be getting very anxious about missing his operation and with his chronic emphysema getting worked up causes him problems. Maybe at that point he realised he was being a git.

Anyway one officious copper has left her feeling that most likely they are all rude, uncompassionate and sarcastic.

 

[CopperBrompton]

I think the other side of the story is that a police officer witnessed not just one but two demonstrations of carelessness: first, running a red light, second doing so right in front of a police car.

Whatever the reasons for the inattentiveness, and however much we might sympathise, if we were a cyclist going through the green light at the time, I think we'd definitely want the driver given a fixed penalty notice for the offence so that they are likely to pay more attention next time.

 

[domd1979]

I was driving around Lichfield one Wed afternoon, about two months ago, lost in the small local town centre roads

It's a City, not a town. You'll upset the locals calling it a town.

 

[Ashtrayhead]

I think the other side of the story is that a police officer witnessed not just one but two demonstrations of carelessness: first, running a red light, second doing so right in front of a police car.

Whatever the reasons for the inattentiveness, and however much we might sympathise, if we were a cyclist going through the green light at the time, I think we'd definitely want the driver given a fixed penalty notice for the offence so that they are likely to pay more attention next time.

Agreed.
And if the officer had been seen to do nothing about it, he'd still be criticised.

 

[yenrod]

Argghh. What a total A-hole. Was gramps actually in the car on the portable oxygen tank? It sounds like this policeman has some personal issues he needs to work out. Should be ashamed of himself.

Tell your missus not to stress, she definitely has the moral high ground!

 

[very-near]

Two sides to any story?

The motorist is always going to be an easier target that your average shoplifting, housebreaking, car thieving scrote

 

[TheDoctor]

I agree, Linf, it's such victimisation to stop someone who's jumped a red light...

 

[al78]

The motorist is always going to be an easier target that your average shoplifting, housebreaking, car thieving scrote

And motorists (as a group) are more likely to kill/injure someone than any of those groups you mention .

 

[very-near]

And motorists (as a group) are more likely to kill/injure someone than any of those groups you mention .

Where does this 'as a group' thing come from ?. Can you honestly justify stating that someone owning or driving a car automatically make them a law breaker or even killer ?