Then I thought about something someone once said to me when I asked why they didn't grab a shitbag who ran past them who was being chased after a crime... they said it wasn't "their job" to catch the crook.
So here is POINT 7 of Sir Robert Peel's 9 Principles of Policing...
Police, at all times, should maintain a relationship with the public that gives reality to the historic tradition that the police are the public and the public are the police; the police being only members of the public who are paid to give full-time attention to duties which are incumbent on every citizen in the interests of community welfare and existence.
Out of point 7 let us look in particular at the piece highlighted in RED.
The Police being only members of the public who are paid to give full-time attention to duties which are incumbent on EVERY citizen.
I find that quite poignant and feel that perhaps it should be pointed out to the PUBLIC that they too have an incumbent DUTY to perform when it comes to the prevention of crime, the preservation of life, limb and property and all the other duties carried out by the police.
So, JOE PUBLIC, LISTEN UP! TAKE HEED and take note.. you should start to assist in all of the above. It is time for YOU to take up the fight against crime and disorder as well because if you do not do so then, when it ALL FAILS (and it's bound to) then it is YOU WHO HAVE FAILED SOCIETY. (for we are the public and the public ae the police!)
Now the question of WHY aren't society doing their incumbent duty?
It's probably partially because they are scared. But what are they scared more about, their own safety, the safety of their family, the safety of their friends, their property, society at large? Are they scared that they might do something which gets them in trouble? Ok, so if they are scared then ring 999 and we'll deal with it but remember we are just the public paid to give full-time attention to these duties.. we are the same as you are. Still - all too many people won't even dial 999! Get with the program guys, we are all charged with the responsibility to help our fellow man.
Remember that it is up to you to help US ALL to reclaim our streets. Let's push the hoodlums back in to the shadows where they belong, let's get the muggers, rapists, theives and burglars behind bars and MAKE THEM STAY THERE, let's tell the Govt that we don't WANT lighter prison sentences or prisoners being taken out on shopping sprees or politically correct, pink & fluffy police but that we want an effective and efficient police force who will go out and do their job without red tape holding them back. Let's stand up and be counted and make it all happen.
Sorry for all the CAPS folks, just want to make a point.
Problem is that it takes momentum. The momentum has moved the pendulum so far away from ordinary people wanting to pitch in for various reasons that it would take a mammoth effort to push it back. You can't just say "you are expected to do something", people have to want to help.
ReplyDeleteMany people feel alienated from the police and don't feel much civic pride in where they live. People also might think what's the point in putting their health on the line if the police are going to screw up the investigation or the person is not going to get charged or the court will give them a rubbish sentence.
I think that ordinary people will want to be more involved when the authorities start to be a bit more effective.
I'm afraid that the police are NOT the public now. That is a large part of the prob.
ReplyDeletePolice priorities may very well be the government's - and ACPO's - but they certainly aren't those of Joe Public.
But how do we know that the officer who attends will be a sane person like you, instead of a Vichy Cop who just wants to meet his detection target for the month.?
ReplyDeleteHere's just one example: http://www.pickledpolitics.com/archives/6538
And a personal example: I once helped a security guard at Comets to stop a shoplifter running off with a TV. Once the shoplifter was stopped, the security guard picked the telly up and went back to the shop leaving me with the junkie. He ran off, but I will never intervene again. Too dangerous for me personally. And by the way, I have never shopped at Comet's since.
Your impressive reasoning that helmets worn by Kamikaze pilots were superfluous first drove the pitons of philosophical argument into my being. So why did they wear them?
ReplyDeleteI return to find you saddling the weary thinker's brain with yet greater profundity - and in merciless capitals. With no assistance from Gadget intellectuals, am I again consigned to the chains of your latest bewilderment?
My friend, it may be true that we are here to help police but we must also pause for thought on what the police are doing here.
MTG
Shackleford Hurtmore, A brilliant link. You are right, where is the common sense in that? But there might be more to the story that's not been released. Let's just hope that common sense will prevail!
ReplyDeleteDickiebo, I fear you are all too right. Especially when it takes 18 months just to get in to the police through a long drawn out recruitment process then the average members of the public aren't able to get in. It is a shame but the 7th principle should still stand - with any luck it shall again someday be true.
On the note of this story I DO have a great story of the public getting involved without hesitation in an ongoing incident and it was very heart warming to see.. But I will post about that soon.