IAMA Police Officer AMA

Canaltowpath

I've watched many a debate on here and held my head in my hands at the often bizarre but sometimes wondrous posts which appear during the life of a thread.

I will probably live to regret it but to dispel a few myths or to set the record straight I'm willing to answer a few questions about 'The Man'.

My knowledge extends across 25yrs in one of the largest UK forces, it has almost always involved catching bad people, I've worked the streets, the CID, organised crime, murders, some specialisms (if I told you I'd have to shoot you) all the way back around to the streets again where I am now considered to be 'in charge'.

In my cycling stable there are four bikes at present, all quality and spanning every type of riding. I cycle about 5000 miles a year, take part in the odd competition and can often be found on the towpath at odd times of the day travelling to or from work with a couple of P7s attached to the bars.

I will give you honest feedback, not reveal any state secrets not already revealed by Julian Assange and not respond to any personal abuse.

rick_chasey

Why is my friend who's black regularly stopped and searched for behaving 'suspiciously' when he's out with me and my (white) friends, yet we never get searched, ever? I'm talking about, at the peak when we were 18-21 - probably once a month?


For the record, from my perspective, he's probably the friendliest, eloquent guy you could meet (and is now a doctor!)

More generally, why d'ya think stuff like this happens, and what do you do to try and stop it, (or not?)

EKE_38BPM

Canaltowpath wrote:

I've watched many a debate on here and held my head in my hands at the often bizarre but sometimes wondrous posts which appear during the life of a thread.

I will probably live to regret it but to dispel a few myths or to set the record straight I'm willing to answer a few questions about 'The Man'.

My knowledge extends across 25yrs in one of the largest UK forces, it has almost always involved catching bad people, I've worked the streets, the CID, organised crime, murders, some specialisms (if I told you I'd have to shoot you) all the way back around to the streets again where I am now considered to be 'in charge'.

In my cycling stable there are four bikes at present, all quality and spanning every type of riding. I cycle about 5000 miles a year, take part in the odd competition and can often be found on the towpath at odd times of the day travelling to or from work with a couple of P7s attached to the bars.

I will give you honest feedback, not reveal any state secrets not already revealed by Julian Assange and not respond to any personal abuse.

Was there a question in there?

edit: on re-reading very carefully, it seems there is an offer to be an unofficial spokesman for the police. Thats nice.

Canaltowpath

Rick Chasey wrote:

Why is my friend who's black regularly stopped and searched for behaving 'suspiciously' when he's out with me and my (white) friends, yet we never get searched, ever? I'm talking about, at the peak when we were 18-21 - probably once a month?


For the record, from my perspective, he's probably the friendliest, eloquent guy you could meet (and is now a doctor!)

More generally, why d'ya think stuff like this happens, and what do you do to try and stop it, (or not?)

Professional bigotry, it's wrong but it's a part of Policing despite every force saying it doesn't happen.

Where I work the majority of heroin is sold by young asian men from cars, amphet by young to middle aged white males, cannabis by everyone, crack by young black males, MCat by white teenaged boys, young white women are cheque/card fraudsters or shoplifters.

Officers are not going to stop old ladies with blue hair looking for crack cocaine (hint if you want to sell crack be an old blue haired lady).

It's a fact of life in many areas, it is unpleasant but reality.

I should add that you can't go assuming I am a middle aged, middle class, right wing white guy with a moustache.

walkingbootweather

Welcome Canaltowpath. Always good to have fresh views and opinions.

Why do you describe some of the posts on here as "often bizarre but sometimes wondrous"? Is it because of the views exhibited by the poster, the reported action of the Police, or simply because the expressed view is irrelavent?

How do you think the Police are perceived by the man in the street? Is this perception fair?

On balance are you proud to be a Police Officer, and of all of your colleagues?

chadders81

Canaltowpath wrote:

Rick Chasey wrote:

Why is my friend who's black regularly stopped and searched for behaving 'suspiciously' when he's out with me and my (white) friends, yet we never get searched, ever? I'm talking about, at the peak when we were 18-21 - probably once a month?


For the record, from my perspective, he's probably the friendliest, eloquent guy you could meet (and is now a doctor!)

More generally, why d'ya think stuff like this happens, and what do you do to try and stop it, (or not?)

Professional bigotry, it's wrong but it's a part of Policing despite every force saying it doesn't happen.

Where I work the majority of heroin is sold by young asian men from cars, amphet by young to middle aged white males, cannabis by everyone, crack by young black males, MCat by white teenaged boys, young white women are cheque/card fraudsters or shoplifters.

Officers are not going to stop old ladies with blue hair looking for crack cocaine (hint if you want to sell crack be an old blue haired lady).

It's a fact of life in many areas, it is unpleasant but reality.

I should add that you can't go assuming I am a middle aged, middle class, right wing white guy with a moustache.

Okay but who is selling the Gary Abletts and where can I get their number?

Seriously though, I have worked closely with the cops professionally and I know most of them to be decent chaps who work hard and serve the communities where they operate.

I know that they are motivated by putting criminals behind bars above anything else and I have genuine faith in and support for the police.

What do you think policing will look like in 20 years time? Are the current numbers sustainable? Do you think there will be more civilians doing investigative work? The forces who I have worked with (and this is true of the entire public sector) could have avoided making cuts if they had been run more efficiently over the past couple of decades. Do you agree?

woodford2barbican

How soon do you think it will be before stupidity become a criminal offence. In my not very humble or scientific opinion locking up idiots would make the world a safe place.

hfidgen

woodford2barbican wrote:

How soon do you think it will be before stupidity become a criminal offence. In my not very humble or scientific opinion locking up idiots would make the world a safe place.

Idiocracyis coming

notsoblue

How do you feel about cyclists who jump red lights?

Pufftmw

You should get yourself on http://www.5ive-o.org/forum/ as well Canaltowpath, which is a forum set up and run by some police guys.

sketchley

First how do we know you are who you say you are?

Second, why do police routinely ignore ASL offences and mandatory cycle lane offences.

veronese68

Canaltowpath wrote:

I should add that you can't go assuming I am a middle aged, middle class, right wing white guy with a moustache.

I thought most of those. Must add a 'tache to my mental list. I feel bad now.

First.Aspect

Why are ASL's never enforced, whereas pavement cycling is? (no Gammar Nazi's please)

EKE_38BPM

First Aspect wrote:

Why are ASLs never enforced, whereas pavement cycling is? (no Gammar Nazis please)

FTFY

Pufftmw

Sketchley wrote:

First how do we know you are who you say you are?

Five 0 verify you're a policeman before you are allowed to say you are, so if accepted there, then he is a bona fide policeman

greg66_tri_v2.0

EKE_38BPM wrote:

First Aspect wrote:

Why are ASLs never enforced, whereas pavement cycling is (no Grammar Nazis please)?

FTFY

Spelling SS to the rescue!

Canaltowpath

woodford2barbican wrote:

How soon do you think it will be before stupidity become a criminal offence. In my not very humble or scientific opinion locking up idiots would make the world a safe place.

That's why we have the Darwin Awards.

Canaltowpath

notsoblue wrote:

How do you feel about cyclists who jump red lights?

That's for a whole other place and it's been done to death.

Canaltowpath

walkingbootweather wrote:

Welcome Canaltowpath. Always good to have fresh views and opinions.

Why do you describe some of the posts on here as "often bizarre but sometimes wondrous"? Is it because of the views exhibited by the poster, the reported action of the Police, or simply because the expressed view is irrelavent?

How do you think the Police are perceived by the man in the street? Is this perception fair?

On balance are you proud to be a Police Officer, and of all of your colleagues?

The man in the street believes that the Police as a public body are well organised, efficient, uniformed in it's goals and fair.

About the best we manage is fair.

I am proud of the work I do, that my staff do and that is done locally but nationally the Buzz Lightyear analogy sums up the modern Police service.

'That wasn't flying! That was... falling with style!'

Canaltowpath

First Aspect wrote:

Why are ASL's never enforced, whereas pavement cycling is? (no Gammar Nazi's please)

What's ASL ? and pavement cycling is not enforced where I work unless it becomes a specific local problem which demands attention in which case one of the local community teams are asked to sort it out.

Mussorgsky

I'd guess that after driver behaviour, bike theft is probably the thing cyclists worry about most. There are trips I could make by bike but don't, since there isn't anywhere secure to lock up a bike and it's just not worth the worry of leaving it chained to a lamp post.

So, what's the best way to reduce bike theft (and encourage bike use)? That is, beyond steps an individual person can take, such as getting a good lock and being careful.

EKE_38BPM

Canaltowpath wrote:

First Aspect wrote:

Why are ASL's never enforced, whereas pavement cycling is? (no Gammar Nazi's please)

What's ASL ?

Finger on the pulse.
Ear to the ground.
Head in the sand.

Canaltowpath

Sketchley wrote:

First how do we know you are who you say you are?

Second, why do police routinely ignore ASL offences and mandatory cycle lane offences.

That ASL thing again...........regarding the enforcement of cycle lane regulations.

It's way down the list of important things to do, there's no point beating around the bush and saying it's a priority.

A little later on if people want to know how to get things done then I don't mind letting you know the most impactive method of asking your local Police to look at a problem.

Mussorgsky

ASL: a handy place for scooters and motorcyclists to put themselves and spend a few moments wondering whether it's OK for them to jump red lights, like the cyclists.

asprilla

Canaltowpath wrote:

First Aspect wrote:

Why are ASL's never enforced, whereas pavement cycling is? (no Gammar Nazi's please)

What's ASL ? and pavement cycling is not enforced where I work unless it becomes a specific local problem which demands attention in which case one of the local community teams are asked to sort it out.

ASL

MrChuck

Drivers ignoring the Advanced Stop Line and parking on the picture of the bike.

il_principe

/What do you think about 'Community Support Officers'?

First.Aspect

Canaltowpath wrote:

What's ASL ? and pavement cycling is not enforced where I work unless it becomes a specific local problem which demands attention in which case one of the local community teams are asked to sort it out.

I guess this is all I needed to know.

Oh, and define "problem" - does someone with their knickers in a twist qualify as a local problem?

Canaltowpath

Asprilla wrote:

Canaltowpath wrote:

First Aspect wrote:

Why are ASL's never enforced, whereas pavement cycling is? (no Gammar Nazi's please)

What's ASL ? and pavement cycling is not enforced where I work unless it becomes a specific local problem which demands attention in which case one of the local community teams are asked to sort it out.

ASL

I refer you back to my earlier answer, the enforcement of traffic regulations is not a priority for most every force in the UK. That's not to say thousands of people aren't advised, ticketed, reported or arrested everyday for committing traffic offences, it's just not top of the list of jobs which need doing.

Canaltowpath

Il Principe wrote:

/What do you think about 'Community Support Officers'?

In my view they fall into two camps.

Some are excellent, grounded, intelligent, hardworking, worth their weight in gold and 'd love them to become PCs.

and then there are the rest of them.

asprilla

IMHO Police tend to be over influenced by the demands of the local community, would you agree that this is the case?