rancer

Why can't the Police do anything? I take it you mean they don't have an ID of an offender? If you 'know' who it is and have good enough reason for believing that then if I was them I would be bringing him/her in anyway. Enough to arrest and then hope for some forensics / house search or a 'cough'. Cant watch the footage either for some reason.

i think thats bang out of order the way they can do that. Agree! There are stated cases where being asleep in a car, in the drivers seat with the engine running to stay warm = no conviction. I'd argue that, whilst asleep, he could hardly be in charge of propulsion and steering. Must have had a crap lawyer.

Good luck getting an ambulance over that

Screw the law, I'd be more worried about the wheel going bang.

I get your point, and it is valid. Sometimes, however hard we try, it's not possible. If they were going off duty, they wouldn't be stopping people for minor traffic offences though Around a week ago I made a tiny mistake with a violent prisoner who had head-butted a collegue. My thumb is still sore from where he tried to bite it off. I'm still being extra wary with people.

OP - you need to do exactly this. It will relate to a specific piece of legislation, but it will be an internal code so save having to write out the full offence. Eg: 'XX01' instead of 'Drunk and Disorderly in a Public Place contrary to the Criminal Jus... blah blah blah'

One of my mates has views similar to yours - he can't get his head round the fact that he hates cops but still wants me as his best man etc: Do think people should respect me? No. Do I think people should respect the office of constable? Yes. I don't know how many will be able to understand that distinction. I am not defined by my career choice or the uniform I wear, none of us are. Which is why you get plenty of decent cops and a few total idiots too. I would happily argue the ratio's of good cops to bad cops all day long. Fact is, there are far more good ones than bad. (talking in terms of corruption and attitude here). A large part of our training is given over to the physcology of talking to people. Being a cop these days is as much about being able to communicate well as it is 'cracking skulls'. My personal opinion on that is that there would be value in setting a minimum age of entry higher than 18. Or rather, no entry to people coming straight from school or uni. You need to learn communication skills from the real world. The job cannot afford to have you blunder through without the ability to talk. There really isn't a comparison to draw between the legal knowledge required by cops and lawyers. A lawyer can read up on the relevant case law prior to talking to their client or putting the case to the court - they can use a narrow but deep knowledge base. A cop (generally) has half a second to draw from every bit of criminal law in the land. It's not my job to say if a person is guilty of an offence. It's my job to get those I SUSPECT to be guilty of an offence put in front of the Magistrates or a Judge and Jury. Do I enjoy going after the shite? Do I get a buzz from getting hold of someone who has been making peoples life a misery? Yes, I do. Would you really want it any other way? Have I sometimes been harsher than expected when speaking to people? Yes. All of us have. As you say, we're human too. Show me someone who isn't at least temporarily 'off their game' after babysitting a decomposing corpse or standing on a cordon at a murder scene trying to stop the constant stream of idiots who think the 'keep out' tape doesn't apply to them. Show them to me and I'll show you a sociopath. You may well have been exceptionally unlucky in your dealings with cops, I personally know of two little **** that I wouldn't want speaking to any of my loved ones. That's two out of many though. You may have to look to your own attitude in speaking with cops aswell? Have a look on google for Bataris box. Would I deny that Police Officers break the law? No. I do it every shift. Everytime I put the blues on and everytime I put someone in cuffs. If you clarify that question i'll answer properly. Plenty of cops end up with other cops, yeah. The shift pattern is very anti-social, it can be hard for significant others working 9-5, and the fact that we can get a call and be ordered to go into work, not just asked, well, thats not great for the home life either. As for the shagging on duty thing - I wish. It would pass the time of on a dead early-week nightshift!

"They can say anything and accuse you of anything." This is the bit I really don't like (obviously, im heavily biased!). Cops, by definition, have to be honest. There's very very very few who aren't. There are departments of people with rubber heels on their shoes who get all excited about screwing cops who make mistakes, let alone the genuinely dishonest ones. Being dishonest and lying to get a summons or an arrest.. morals aside, it's simply not worth it. "Most cases if argued with good legal advice will be dropped." I'm not sure about that, but neither of us can win that arguement! As you say, you are not obliged to enter a Police car unless you've been arrested. However I fail to see the difference between a coversation with a cop in a cop car and a conversation with a cop through your window. If they were willing to lie like you mentioned above, they could do it just as well from beside your window. Your more likely to be recorded in a traffic car if they have internal cameras (not so common in my force area). For what it's worth - the "how do you afford.." question is probably a compliment. If they thought it was nicked, you would know about it. I got accused of being on the take when I brought the Zed into work the first few times.

Nah - unless he's been cautioned and is subject to a contemporaneous written (roadside) interview then nothing the driver says is evidential. It would be a hearsay statement and generally not worth the paper it's written on. I think I know what you mean re: sufficient evidence of a crime occuring. However, what the cop has witnessed would be evidence. From the video it sounds like the guy pulled out in front of the cop at speed? That would be pretty low on the scale in terms of careless driving etc: however I would certainly be having a word with the driver to see if there was a reason why he drove poorly. Drink/drugs/tiredness/distraction etc: I'd guess from the video that the cop wasn't really looking at careless, otherwise he likely would have gone through a contemp interview. Having someone in the car doesn't mean they are getting a ticket. Not sure that statement makes any kind of sense. Besides which, the driver can always decline to accept the ticket and have his/her day in court instead. I stand by what I said re: the attitudes involved. The driver has obviously got a kick out of behaving like a kid. So he posted his video online to brag and boast. The cop probably thought "Meh" and went back to work, thinking no more of it.

Driver of that car was a total bell*nd IMO. Cop remained polite throughout and the driver came over like a petulant child. Im not sure about the fine in the OP - though a car with no registered keeper will raise my suspicions. If it all checks out then off they go. From the limited dealings I've had with Scottish law (ie interviewing people on ScotsPols behalf) they do require two cops. Scots law isn't the same as ours. Primarily because they don't have the Police and Criminal Evidence act up there. You can refuse to get in a car if you want, but, as above, it won't do you any favours. Or rather, it won't make the cops more likely to do you any favours. In my experience, obstructive people often have something to hide.

The brakes still work. That sounds like ABS kicking in and trying to give you some traction back. ABS isn't designed to stop you faster, it's designed to give you control / steering under heavy braking.

FFS. Filled up on the way home tonight. Typical!

Is it your private car park? Did you ask and receive permission to be there? Are you sure it's private? Is it closed to everyone else? If not you could get yourself in legal bother. Assuming all that checks out then, yeah, it's your risk to take. I personally would suggest getting some tuition and starting off taking it easy. I've done some skid pan training with work and it is ALOT of fun (not the same as drifting, but similar) but losing control of a car for real can be a bit... hairy.

You should take it to a track. Or: Bin it on a public road / hurt someone / lose your license for dangerous driving.

No problems this year. Still cycling to work most of the time. It's funny.. operational bods seem to make it in all the time, but the shiney arsed chair polishers seem to get stuck at home.. thing is, nobody notices. In fact it's quite nice not to be bothered by 'job-justifying' e-mails! I live 5 miles from work. - I cycle if it's is less than 20 odd MPH wind and not icy (coming off the bike badly would make me useless for work) - I drive if I can't cycle - If the car is stuck I can get the metro - If the metro's off.. it's a 5 mile walk. I own coats and boots.

It's just asking to be hassled by cops in my opinion. The fact that it doesn't conform to DVLA standards doesn't bother me in of itself. The fact that ANPR cameras might not be able to read it does. Your probably not a criminal with a reason to avoid ANPR, but the next one that get's stopped might be. I personally don't like the aesthetics of a plate that needs to be fiddled with to make it look right either. Just save more and get the real deal.

I actually think the 370Z interior looks alot nicer. Most German cars have impecable, quality but bland interiors. The visual impact of the 370Z Black Edition with a red interior knocks the socks off me - which is why it will likely be my next car.

Loads near my parents. However, they live in a really nice, low crime area about a mile away from a 'Nightime Economy' area. So the stats are scewed by pi**ed people assaulting each other. Where as my area looks lower in crime but it's actually next-door to scrotesville where a whole load of knackers live. There have been a fair few 2 in 1 burglaries (break into the house for car keys and drive off in the motors) on my estate but nothing else. As for the estate itself, it's cop central. In short - those stats are pretty meaningless unless you look deeper into them and even then it's not all that relevant given how much the Police have to 'massage' the stats in any given direction to avoid Mrs May having a coniption fit.

I earn only a bit more than £26k at the minute. Modest 2 bed flat with an 80% mortgage.. Im spending what I earn each month. I must be daft. I could get that much for f-all. Instead I work 40+ hours a week dealing with the scum of life. 3 fights and one knife pulled on me at work this week alone. And the MP's are upset because they are getting served soggy chips: http://news.sky.com/home/politics/article/16154782

I'm officially jealous! Water supply - hose & pressure washer. Vacuum? Bigass storage shelves for tools / products

I'm officially jealous! Water supply - hose & pressure washer. Vacuum? Bigass storage shelves for tools / products

I agree with quite a few of your points but the above is something that needs addressed. This is not sentencing as such but consider the rioting a while back - if they had used live rounds once, that would have sorted it. OK maybe a little harsh but they should of been allowed rubber bullets and water cannons from the offset. Look at theft rates in the middle east where your hands are cut off it you are caught and convicted. I am not saying we need to go so extreme but there are no real consequences in this country. Scum say 'There's nothing you can do' and they are right. As a public order trained cop im not going to disagree with that! The kit my force provides is pretty good, certainly looks better than some of the stuff other forces get. But 25 rioters per cop isn't good odds. Like most organisations though - a reputation takes many to build positively and only a few to ruin. Policing in my area sometimes really annoys me. For example, there is a lane in a town near me that only buses and taxis are allowed through between 9-6. A couple of days ago, the police were issuing fines to cars as they came round the corner in this lane. OK, it serves the drivers right for going through the lane when they shouldn't have been but had the coppers walked 50 paces round the corner the could have PREVENTED people from doing this. They were being reactive rather than proactive. My friend is a cop and asked for the day off recently - her senior 'joked' if she caught two people on their mobile phones she could have it off. I have also heard of other cops having competitions to see who could get the most in one day. On the other side I recognise there are many decent cops who wouldn't do such things. I know there are many coppers on here will offer first hand insight. The point I am making is a reputation can be ruined by a few while others a re working hard to make a real difference. Yeah, it's easy to destroy a reputation. A valid point. I get your points, but now let me play devils advocate.. from a coppers perspective.. How many of those people prevented from using the bus/taxi route would have been back the next day? Most. And that scenario fits the definition of proactive Policing, going out and finding offences rather than waiting for someone to call us. Our primary role is to enforce the law, sometimes this is prevention, as you say, but a large part of it is and should be prosecuting. A cop there for prevention would be getting £25k a year (it would definately be a newbies job!) for being a road-sign. Mobile phone usage whilst driving is a particular bugbear of mine. If im 100% positive I saw the offence, i'll report and summons or ticket. Bluetooth head pieces are dirt cheap if you really must take that call. Personally I don't think any call is so important that its worth losing control of your vehicle. Back to your main point.. those reputation knacking stories make better news than ones of cops doing a good job or just doing their job. I cant read the Daily (Hate)Mail wihout getting irritated these days.

Less than one English pound, actually.

Good to see justice finally done. **rant / long post warning** The Macpherson inquiry was brought about as a result of the Stephen Lawrence murder and Macpherson's findings regarding the 'Double Jeopardy' laws were a large driver for the changes made. Personally I think it was the correct change to make - new forensic techniques are being developed and ratified all the time, why shouldn't a further trial be allowed? However, it should only be able to happen if further evidence comes to light (meaning the Court of Appeal agrees to quash the original acquittal) and the retrial must be approved by the Director of Public Prosecutions. I think it's sensible that it only applies to the most serious of offences though. What irritates me (and im I'll admit my clear bais as a copper) is the mis-representation of institutional racism. Macpherson's definition was: "...the collective failure of an organisation to provide an appropriate and professional service to people because of their colour, culture or ethnic origin " This constantly gets used to call cops racist. That is not what it means, it refers to an organisation, not a specific individual. I cant comment on whether the Met and the Police as a whole were guilty of institutional racism or not (I was in school at the time..) but the organisation has accepted that it was and has made changes - so im happy (so to speak) to go with that. I also think that a fair few of the mistakes made with the initial investigation were due to crime investigation in general and would have been made if Stephen Lawrence had been white. It was a bit sloppy, though that's awful easy to say with the benefit of hindsight. The shortcomings were pretty prevelant throughout the UK in all areas though, not just the Police. Racially aggravated offences for assault, criminal damage, harassment and public order were only introduced under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. Unfortuneately they are pretty unweildy and easy to exploit. The Stephen Lawrence murder has been compared to Rosa Parks in terms of what it did for race relations in the UK - im many ways that makes sense (though they are in no way comprable :S). Hopefully there will be more people brought to justice for this murder but I have to question the fairness of spending £50+ million on one case when there are other murders left to detect and prosecute. I also hope the sentances get reviewed and extended, however I can forsee the two convicts appealing and get let out Sentances in general in this country are far too lenient. The sooner mandatory minimum's come into force the better. I dealt with an investigation the other day where a guy slapped and strangled his partner and when cops turned up at the house he threatened them with a lock knife. Charged with Affray and Assault and it will be going to crown court but he will likely only get a community order. 6 months inside might make him rethink his choices. The idea of the victim being the most important is a fallacy. Offenders are wrapped in cotton wool and 'namby pambied' by the Justice System. We should have learnt these lessons already.

I really cannot understand how quick some people are to defend those in the wrong :S May be the 'Big Man' used a bit much force. MAYBE. But he appeared to be acting with good intent. I personally wouldn't have been inclined to lock him up. It seems clear to me from the video footage that most of the passengers on the train are happy with what happened. I'd be arguing that a prosecution is not in the public interest and I hope that is what the CPS decide. Did an assault occur? Yes, it did. Can't see why the kid wasn't locked up for a section 5 though. Fairly sure there will be some form of by-law offence for refusing to leave a train when so directed by a conductor. This stuff about cops being trained in restraint is all well and good, but when it comes down to it if somebody wasn't leaving the train we'd probably end up turfing them out in a fairly similar fashion. No use restraining him, we'd just have to drag him accross the floor face first then, not sure that would go down well. The kids bag is thrown onto the platform just after him, having said that I can believe that he may not have realised. Im only 26 myself but I cannot fathom the lack of respect from the younger generations, I wouldn't have dared speak to my elders like that. Aaaand i'm not sure what relevance his being a uni student has to anything? Are they above the law? DISCLAIMER: No insult intended, the above is my own personal opinion, nothing to do with my employer. I'll be back to bithcin' and moaning on Inspector Gadgets blog before you know it