The police are now fairly useless IMO, or at least perception, as in ineffective for the the everyday function that people associate them with, keeping bad elements in order and preventing/pursuing petty crime.
Before I say any more, this can only be a failure of policy from policymakers, and/or mismanagement. Probably resulting in the kind of management that thinks you can measure everything without undermining what people are doing in such a complex task as policing. A trained and motivated police officer almost certainly knows what the right thing to do is in a given situation but for some reason frequently doesn't do it.
A female friend who lives alone has trouble with a seemingly misogynist neighbour who has anger management issues. He frequently invents reasons to threaten her and has made her life a misery for years. He has been heard urging his young child to damage the car of the "horrible lady next door". Recently my friend asked the neighbour's wife if she would mind moving their car so she could go out. The car had unnecessarily been parked so as to obstruct my friend's, presumably deliberately for the purpose of causing trouble or provoking an argument. Some time later the neighbour got out of his car in the street, went right up to my friend - within inches of her face - and said "If you ever speak to my wife like that again, I promise I will end you". This was not a one-off.
The police have been involved, and while evidence is clearly a problem, the officer concerned has treated my friend as if he just doesn't believe her, and has been heard and seen joking and sympathising with Mr. Nasty who is plausible and charming - as nasty people can often be. Imagine the effect this has had on the victim.
The police have become very removed from ordinary people. I was surprised when I attempted to visit Hemel Hempstead (i.e. large town and the nearest one with a counter) police station a few years ago at 6.30 one evening to find it closed. Now you need an appointment even when it's open. The police here treat car theft almost as a civil offence, they don't turn out to look for evidence or witnesses but merely issue a crime number. Same with cycle theft, and when another friend actually found his stolen bike on FB marketplace they wouldn't follow that up either.
My own experience of police in recent years has been limited to being issued with a fine in Lincoln for an illegal right turn that I didn't make (some here disagreed but they are wrong as well). On a rational level I want to help the police, and I will, but I suspect many won't.
Last edited by: Manatee on Sun 30 May 21 at 14:02
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