To Protect, Serve and look good on Television

Over recent weeks the Police have been headline news once more, with various people crying out of police brutality and violence, heavy handiness and hostility. Like most people I watched the G20 protests on the news and for the most part, from what was broadcast it was a fairly calm affair with a few pockets of fighting and property destruction. The police once again maintained a safe environment for all and any in the area and yet because two or three people complain because whilst they shouted and screamed abuse at a frontline officer, that when they assaulted the officer by placing their hands on them and the officer attempted to arrest the individual to remove them from the street so as the rest of the protest was not further tainted by the acts of one or two there is a public outcry. If you place yourself in the situation, in the line of fire so to speak and then get hurt the blame should be solely laid at that individuals feet. Of all the thousands that attended that day how many complaints have been received?

When I watched the protests on the news I was amazed at how little police presence there was, try to imagine what it must have been like for an officer holding the line, standing nose to nose with thousands of screaming, angry protesters. Being pushed and assaulted, being spat at and abused just because you are the one in uniform there. One line of officers attempting to control thousands, under the uniform and the training, the equipment and the rank a police officer is a person. Adrenaline and fear, heart racing and sweat beading the person has to stand there and resist all that is within them to remove themselves from this dangerous, life threatening situation. To remain calm and professional in the face of a violent, threatening crowd. To remember their training, to find the knowledge of what they can and can’t do in the eyes of the law, to watch without reaction as people threaten violence, as objects are thrown and punches received from the undistinguishable masses. As thousands march towards you, their faces hidden, their arms raised.

People are far too quick to judge and condemn the police for the work that they do, without ever putting the uniform on and patroling the streets they criticise. How many times is a police officer hurt whilst carrying out his or her day to day duties?

Don’t know?

It doesn’t make front page reading like so called police brutality does. The fact is thousands of our officers are hurt on a daily basis trying to do a job that they feel passionate about, trying to keep us safe whilst we sleep in our beds or enjoy a night out. If we are to criticise them we must first understand what they do, we must walk a mile in their shoes to realise just what the job entails. There was quite rightly public outcry when we learnt some of our armed forces were going to the front line poorly equipped and yet the police across this country are sent out daily without the correct equipment. Most people would be shocked to find out how few police officers are on active duty in their town each evening. A small handful is expected to protect the masses.

Gone are the days of the friendly police bobby standing on the corner with his tunic and custodian on, able, without any finger pointing or forms to fill in, to clip a youngster round the ear for cursing and drag said scallywag home to his mother.
When I grew up I wouldn’t have said boo to a police officer for fear of retribution from not only him but my mother having been marched home. Now so little respect for the law is shown by both child and parent alike, we flout the law on a daily basis. And when caught complain until it is dropped. With every new day our police officers hands are tied and tightened even further behind their backs.

We complain that there are too many cameras on our roads and that they serve no purpose. Now I am no statistician but people complain because thousands of fines and points are dealt out because of these cameras. Now as far as I am aware the cameras do not pick random motorists to discipline they are activated when you are going faster than the speed limit for that road or jumping through a red light, or to put it more simply they only take a picture when somebody breaks the law. If we were technologically advanced enough to have cameras that spotted burglaries or muggings as they happened and immediately issued the law breaker his or her sentence or fine would we be so quick to complain? Why are some laws taken with a pinch of salt and broken by us all at some point? I guess it is human nature to complain or try and dodge punishment when we are caught, it something we have done throughout our lives from not handing homework in on time because the dog ate it or driving home having one too many because somebody must have spiked your drink.

Do not point fingers at those that choose to put on the uniform every day and go about their duties to the best of their abilities. If you have done nothing wrong than what concern have you got? They are there for our benefit. Help them. Assist where you can. Remember they are all somebody’s son or daughter that has made the decision that they want to try and help their community. That by walking a street at night or by driving a marked police car they can in some small way make this country safer.

Somebody once told me that an average police officer will experience in a single year more than a member of the public will in their entire life time.

A police officer will place themselves in situations you could only conceive of in your worst nightmares and at the same time be expected to act professionally and legally. Often on their own, with back up maybe 5 minutes away if they are lucky, a lot can happen to a single person in five minutes when confronted by a violent group.

The police are understaffed and underequipped. Let’s not make their job any harder than it already is.