Video of Police Car dangerous undertake got debated on LBC today

[Graham]

Bit of a tangent, but why do the MET need such hideously expensive vehicles...?

How many MET vehicles have seen some muck, let alone been driven offroad?!
Granted the running costs of a more expensive but reliable car over time could prove more economical, but I struggle to believe that an Astra/Mondeo/etc. would work out more expensvie than Range Rovers, BMW 5-series, X5's/X6's, etc?

I used to work next to the City Police HQ in Wood St. & the value of the vehicles coming in/out would make your eyes water...

Agree with you. All I ever see around Cheshire are BMW 3 series and X5s. When will austerity bite? I feel a bit sorry for police workers/officers losing their jobs when the forces have seen fit to buy these exotic motors. Or do I need enlightening?

 

[Sheffield_Tiger]

Humberside plod have a lovely range of Protons

I imagine they are also equipped with a pair of Nike trainers for when they need to do a high-speed pursuit

 

[trampyjoe]

That other forum open my eyes, lets just hope they are all wannabes, specials and PCSOs.

As for the video, the copper was a twat. simple as. You get them in all lines of work.

Bit of a tangent, but why do the MET need such hideously expensive vehicles...?

How many MET vehicles have seen some muck, let alone been driven offroad?!
Granted the running costs of a more expensive but reliable car over time could prove more economical, but I struggle to believe that an Astra/Mondeo/etc. would work out more expensvie than Range Rovers, BMW 5-series, X5's/X6's, etc?

I used to work next to the City Police HQ in Wood St. & the value of the vehicles coming in/out would make your eyes water...

I would guess that they use the big powerful 4X4 becuase the person they were escorting is high risk to have their overly inflated ego car attacked and so the coppers need something substantial that they can 'drive defensively' in.

 

[StuartG]

That was only a couple of hundred yards from Kennington nick. I wonder if he was from there?

Many years ago I had to commute past every day. Always there were police vehicles scattered everywhere paying no attention to the double yellows. Now I can understand in an emergency or if they are carrying a dodgy person then need should over ride parking restrictions. But it was far beyond that. It was complete contempt for other road and pavement users and occasionally quite dangerous.

One day I had enough and went in. I very politely asked the desk officer if they could possibly park a little more considerately as I had just had (another) near miss trying to get round them. The guy just drew himself up and let go a shedload of expletives to encourage a swift exit. I was beyond shocked at such unprofessional and counterproductive behaviour. I should have made something of it. but I guessed the cause and effect were because the more senior officers around condoned, or worse, encouraged such misbehaviour on the desk and on the road. I'd only be making a rod for my back.

I do know some very good and dedicated officers. I just feel it such a shame that their best efforts are damaged by the bullies and the corrupt. Civil society depends on thoughtful and fair policing that requires mutual respect between them and us. They still have way to go it seems. Losing the dark glasses (unless it is really sunny) might be a start.

 

[Matthew_T]

Bit of a tangent, but why do the MET need such hideously expensive vehicles...?

How many MET vehicles have seen some muck, let alone been driven offroad?!
Granted the running costs of a more expensive but reliable car over time could prove more economical, but I struggle to believe that an Astra/Mondeo/etc. would work out more expensvie than Range Rovers, BMW 5-series, X5's/X6's, etc?

I used to work next to the City Police HQ in Wood St. & the value of the vehicles coming in/out would make your eyes water...

I agree. But here in North Wales we mostly have Ford Focus's. We do have the odd BMW and Audi though. There are a lot of undercover Skodas as well.

The police here dont really have a need for high speed vehicles. However, there was an article in the paper last week about a pursuit which had gone on which involved 3 police cars and the helicopter. Apparently the driver wanted 'to have some fun' and avoided two police stingers and finally crashed.
It was a good read.

 

[Angus444]

Ignore the tossers on that forum. I am in the job and no one I know goes on it in their spare time, most are ignorant young wannabes looking for tips to get in the job, or overly enthusiastic PCSOs or Specials.
Not all cops are ignorant cyclist haters, a lot of coppers actually cycle themselves. This looks like another one off with a cop who's unfortunately in the wrong and has been caught pants down.

Would agree, hotfuzz.
Have been in to my local station twice in the last two years to report altercations/near misses on the roads, and the police couldn't have been more professional. (On both occasions, the vehicles were driving with bogus plates).
A lot of the police round here are cyclists themselves, so maybe that helps.....

 

[Matthew_T]

A lot of the police round here are cyclists themselves, so maybe that helps.....

Quite the opposite around here. With the incident with the car GK03ZTM, in the station the police officer who dealt with me was very professional and helpful when we were running through the statement. She was in contact with me regularly as well as the Chief Officer who the case was passed on to.
Even though the result was not as I had wished (wanted the driver to apologise but he refused), the whole case went through smoothly and I was happy with the service the police had provided.
It had been a while since I reported anything or felt the need to because of extenuating circumstances.