The Policeman's Blog

Brilliant mate.

The figures jus show how crooked and corrupt these bar stewards are.

The worst they have thrown at them is the apparent lack of good wines to have with dinner !!

That pales in comparison with just one incident I had last week that had my colleague bitten by a scrote and said scrote telling me that he was going to come round and kill my children.

Lovely eh, just who votes these people in ??
 

The BBC is running a "have you say" on this - some of the replies are quite unbelievable.
 

If you want propper heartfelt comments on this topic you will have to remove the ban on swearing, it is the only way I could possibly fully express myself on this matter
 

Just as a point of infromation, a lot of the 'expenses' actually go on staffing costs et al., as opposed to the jaunt around the Caribbean you seem to think they all spend their time doing.
 

Contemporary Carol
 

>a lot of the 'expenses' actually go on staffing costs et al.,

Out of interest, how many MPs don't employ their spouses, friends and family as staff?

So, are you coppers fixing for a tools down, or a work to rule?

And if so, how would the Ordinary Decent Briton tell the difference? Is Chantelle going to have to send Du'wayne round to sort out that mouthy cow Dakota who h'rass'd her by calling her a slag? A three week waiting list to get the crime number for our Annual Xmas Burglary? Any other differences that we'll see?
 

Oranges vs Apples.
Institutionalised Sociopaths vs Inept Narcissi!
Why not go to college, get yourself a Trade, a proper real job. Don't you have a counsellor you can complain to?
 

Hmmm...well, as we all know MPs are the scum of the earth. So, you not going to get much argument from me re slating MPs.

I urge all police officers to go on strike - not, however, because I think it would be useful in getting them their pay rise, but because it would be the only way of getting those desk-bound, initiative creating, meeting attending, non-policing 'police' out on the street.

Actually, I do not support ANY general pay rise for police. Rather, I wholeheartedly support large bonuses for those who are actaully out there protecting the public.

Any front-line police reading this blog would be laughing - you'd get far more than 2.5%.

Those aforementioned good-for-nothing 'police' who do little more than wear a uniform and 'police' the bits of paper crossing their desks would get get absolutely nothing.

A fair solution, I think.

Front-line police 10, Desk-sitting 'police' 0.
 

Pay rise awarded to police officer guarding G. Brown's home in Fife - 2.5%

Pay rise awarded to police officer guarding 10 Downing St - 1.9%
 

Ensure the 2.5% is met in other ways. Anytime at all you have to work overtime, get food and drink brought in, keep the reciept and claim it back on expenses. You can get upto about £10 a time if you cannot do what you would normally do for food because you are being forced to work over. I've started doing this and am well on the way to getting my full, fair and agreed pay rise.
 

This post is a description of symptoms. For a very readable analysis of the causes and a potential cure see Peter Oborne’s The Triumph of the Political Class which shows in detail just how corrupt politicians and the media are. No matter how cynical you are, this book shows that it is not enough!

A major benefit of reading the book is that the arguments and information presented allows one to cut the ground from under the lying, slimy, self-serving Ruling Class members in an efficient and pleasing manner.

Having read the book, I am off to find a Health and Safety approved pitchfork for the seemingly unavoidable haymaking looming on the horizon.
 

My God...

We are run by Politically inepts of the first order.
Why why why in every debate mentioning the Police, do i hear from the press the words "police Pension" mentioned and why why why can't anyone of us ever remember to point out "Hang on thats 11.5 % of each pay cheque that i contribute to that .."
The time has come for a change. The Police Federation has really run its course. For some time the self intrest of some of those at Surbiton has been seen . They wish to move from Surbiton to Leatherhead at a cost of many millions of our funds. This was sold to us as being required as Surbiton was no longer fit for purpose...Leatherhead would be a proud edifice of what we aspire to ...I put it to you that the Police Federation Central Commitee is no longer fit for purpose.
What is the point of new offices for an Organisation that the Government of the day will not listen to? If they are not listening to us then what is the point of having a Central Committee for the Constables , the Sargeants and the Inspectors and of course the dear old Joint Central Committee chaired by Jan Berry... If they have any integrity they should be stepping down to register with the government that the moderate side of the police have been abandoned by the government..

The Plan

If there is no backing down by the Government then hopefully in the tri-annual federation elections that are due soon, Officers with a single issue will be able to stand under the banner of "Trade Union Rights for Police Officers" This would enable us to address Poor treatment by the government by witholding our services, doing away with the ability to be "ordered" to work by witholding our labour, this would counter occasions when Staff officers get caught out by those unpredictable evnts like...ohh... Christmas the New Year and my favourite.. the Weekend. Also we can then argue that if the Government will not be bound be agreements then why the hell should we be bound by antiquated agreements.

If each force can elect a majority of the single issue reps then they will be able to be elected as regional representatives and then within a short time ,take over within the Central Federation office at Surbiton/Leatherhead and then deal directly with either Government or to negotiate our entry into the TUC.
We are lost otherwise.

Please let me know what you think and discuss with work colleagues.. Those of you in my force that know my alias discuss with me ..
Regards

Anglian Militant
 

For info.

Our MPs spent £87,600,000 in expenses last year.

Shahid Malik, Labour MP for Dewsbury, was the biggest of the big spenders, with an outlay of £185,421.

Ours, Dr Ashok Kumar, Labour, Middlesbrough and South Cleveland, came in at 44th place with £155,572.

(In this list, Ed Balls is listed as No. 35, with £157,076, with Yvette Cooper at No. 82, with £150,658.)

If this level of expenditure is to be sustainable, I suspect that rank-and-file police officers may be required in future to cut back on doughnuts.
 

There are (about) 170,000 officers in the country.

Whay would happen if we all walked out at the same time, and say, went sick?

It would not be against the law and it would not be a strike.

by the way, if we did go on strike, who would arrest us?

Drop tools and lets walk!!!
 

Apparently the PCSOs are also considering going on strike, would anyone notice?

Anyway, work to rule is a far better option I struggle to survive on my police salary let alone striking and not getting paid at all.
 

Re: work to rule, or as we used to have in academia, action short of a strike,

Can a blog, e.g. this one, because it attracts a particularly large number of commentators, be used as a means of setting out strategy and coordinating responses?

Or would that get you de-blogged?

If not, a resource such as this is clearly valuable.
 

I have been a keen follower of the blog and work in the private sector, I'm sure my views will not be popular however here they are -

Yes the Police do a hard and difficult job, yes you face danger on a regular basis, however if you are not happy, look for another job. You know the risks when you sign up.
The private sector has (almost) a zero pension fund, continually lower profits, higher work rate, less people and resource to do the same job. On average rises are 1 - 2% max. The private sector is continually funding the public sector workers and pension funds. As a private sector taxpayer we are ultimatly paying your wages and pension black hole. Everyone wants more money. Yes I agree the politians take the p*ss with expenses and pay, buts thats life.
 

I LOVE the way this post presents the "facts" (it's in inverted commas as I haven't confirmed the accuracy of the figure quoted) in the format the Government loves....they love statistics, then let's see how much they love THOSE ones!

Regarding the pathetic pay rise for the Police Force (I refuse to be politically correct), I'm disgusted at the Government refusing to backdate the rise to September. I have a close friend who works for the DWP, and their pay rise hasn't been backdated as far as it was promised. Also, what monies HAS been backdated has coincided (as it does every year apparently) with their Crhistmas bonus, which has meant that the deductions figure equals the Christmas bonus, meaning they've essentially lost the lot in taxation. Sounds like the Government's shafting ALL it's employees.

Regarding striking, I'm an MOP who FULLY supports the Police, but I would like to urge caution: when Royal Mail had their series of strikes (and yes, I know it's not the same thing) many affected businesses and private individuals were furious at the inconvenience placed upon them. It bothers me that the Police would also lose what little support they have from MOP's by striking.

I believe that the Police deserve more respect for complying with the Fed's agreement (many moons ago) with the then Government not to strike, and it would be extremely detrimental to the Police Force as a whole if they rescinded on that agreement.

It's a matter which needs careful consideration, and whatever action is chosen needs to affect the Government more than the MOP's. Sounds simple, but I know (through my many contacts within the Police Force) that it certainly isn't, and I would hate for the Police to lose any standing they're currently hanging onto by their fingernails through a knee-jerk reaction.

I support all those lads and lasses in that Thin Blue Line....stay safe.
 

Yes the Police do a hard and difficult job, yes you face danger on a regular basis, however if you are not happy, look for another job. You know the risks when you sign up.
The private sector has (almost) a zero pension fund, continually lower profits, higher work rate, less people and resource to do the same job. On average rises are 1 - 2% max. The private sector is continually funding the public sector workers and pension funds. As a private sector taxpayer we are ultimatly paying your wages and pension black hole. Everyone wants more money. Yes I agree the politians take the p*ss with expenses and pay, buts thats life.

5:20 PM, December 07, 2007

I pay 11.5 per cent of my pay packet into MY pension fund .. if you did the same your pension fund would be good.. we have NO profits.. Our work rate is very high with government meddling.. and resources ... If 3 officers to police a population of 60,000 on a friday night is over resourced then hoorah...So to the previous poster and any other detractors.. Join the special constabulary and see what policing is really about ..then you may appreciate our position...

Anglian Militant
 

Quality set of figures - kind of puts it into perspective, although I think there is a "grant" that was missed, where MP's defeated at a general election are entitled to a "re-settlement grant equivilent to between 50% and 100% of their salary". That sounds a bit like a pretty good payout for effectively getting the sack! And I think the idea that anyone who thinks we "have an easy life and if we're not happy with it we should just go and do something else" should perhaps sign up for a week or two is a very good one. Might just change their minds after they've been spat at,thrown up on,headbutted,attacked with a knife/sword/pitbull/Chardonnay (usually not a bottle of) or the multitude of other "easy" matters we deal with daily. It's not just the money, it's the principal here, what will be next!?!?
 

"Yes the Police do a hard and difficult job, yes you face danger on a regular basis, however if you are not happy, look for another job. You know the risks when you sign up.
The private sector has (almost) a zero pension fund, continually lower profits, higher work rate, less people and resource to do the same job. On average rises are 1 - 2% max. The private sector is continually funding the public sector workers and pension funds. As a private sector taxpayer we are ultimately paying your wages and pension black hole."

get real and wake up. we pay through the nose into the police pension. you my friend are not subsidizing anything.

the basic fact of the matter is we have been screwed over in the worst way possible and we have NO means of retaliating.

there is a lot of talk about strikes and the such but do you honestly think yourself or your colleague could sit down knowing someone is shouting for help and not go and help them. i cant even sit through a full meal break (cant remember the last time i had a meal break) without feeling guilty i am not out there responding to the immediate after immediate that continue to come over the radio, no matter what time of day it is. i for one could not sit there and do nothing.

the simple fact is that if the police went on strike for one day society WOULD grind to a halt. terrorists, major organized criminal gangs, bank robbers, pedophiles, petty handbag thieves, vigilantes would all have a field day.

just by being on the street day after day fighting this kind of stuff do we keep 'order' (very loosely at times). any MOP reading this just needs to have a sit down and think what would happen if nobody came to help when you asked for it.

now times that by ten.

all we ask for is what we deserve and have got for the last 30 odd years on a 'gentleman's agreement' we are not greedy. we will not claim thousands on expenses. we DO NOT claim the thousands we are owed on compensation. we are not greedy

sorry for the length of this, just angry

SYP
 

Results of industrial action by the police in the past have been very mixed.

It appears that the same issues of 90 years ago or more have arisen again.
 

The Guardian Comment Is Free section has an article Downing truncheons about Police, pay awards and strikes; it also accepts comments.
 

Why not copy and paste the original post and e-mail it to your local MP. See what his reaction is. It probably wont get us the pay rise we deserve but may, just may make him/her feel a tad guilty...... maybe not :-(
 

20p is the standard HMRC rate for cycle mileage which may be paid free of tax by any employer. (It's 24p for motorbikes; 40p for cars up to 10,000 miles in any one year and 25p thereafter.)
 

""20p is the standard HMRC rate for cycle mileage which may be paid free of tax by any employer.""

True - but MPs and Council employees get it for travelling to work...we don't
 

Rather than the "right to strike" - what about the right to "become active in politics" as other professions.
We could wield more damage to the Government by stating our opinion of them publically. You could almost argue we are expert witnesses at identifying criminals...
 

I may be a small minority, but I'm a Police Constable (not officer) and it fills me with a sense of foreboding when we talk about striking. I am angry and de-morolised at the disgusting and underhand tactics of the Home Sec, but we need to look at and explore other options before strike.

My conspiracy theory mind thinks that this govt has used the target culture to turn the tide of public opinion against the Police, and then has struck with this pay shambles. in which, we, quite rightly are angered, but where's the public support........ I only have to read various web comments on newspaper sites, to see the lack of it.

I have also read the reactions from NARPO, and thank you for your support. I have read the Superintendants Associations reaction, and right up to the last paragraph supports us....before then cow tailing back to the govt with its tail between its legs looking for scraps. Disgrace.

We need to look at re-inventing ourselves where the federation (because like it or not, thats our only rallying point) needs to take a strong lead to abolish ethical crime recording/targets, and other hinderances, and get us back to policing. Also we need to look at lawful ways of attacking the govt. one idea is all CBRN officers hand in your kit,thereby leaving the govt with no re-actionable capability in case of terrorist attack. Other ideas include the old work to rule, and o/t ban. I just can't think that I would strike, leaving colleagues and MOP's in heightened danger of becoming a victim, without a clear conscience. But we do need to hit back. I have to add I don't know what the answer is.

However we, the Police, need to retain OUR MORAL HIGH GROUND, unlike the snake in the grass, Home Sec, and the rest of the corrupt Govt.
 

Now I was convinced [due to intel from the "highest" source]....that it was Gordo who's THE real "snake in the grass". He's sneaky with it see, and has probably mesmerized poor ol' Jacqui Smith. Poor woman needs to be rescued from such a dark corrupting influence.
Quick somebody, enlighten her!
 

Well it's certainly looking like "Animal Farm" folks,but at least you DO get a decent living wage. Special Constabulary get no pay, but provide a valuable service for the country.

One would think that the govt would VALUE those who give of themselves to make a difference and protect the public. But NO, the govt aren't at all bovvered.

3 years I have been waiting for my promised "bonus" for MY JOB DONE.

Bad karma for those who shafted me!
 

>the simple fact is that if the police went on strike for one day society WOULD grind to a halt. terrorists, major organized criminal gangs, bank robbers, pedophiles, petty handbag thieves, vigilantes would all have a field day.

Thanks, that's the funniest thing I've read all week. I can't believe that any of the above pay the slightest heed to the possibility of being detection (and sanctioned) by Her Majesty's Constabulary.

The most likely result of a Truncheons Down would be a night of drugged-up street racing, underage drinking and petty vandalism and casual violence. So, just a normal Friday night then.
 

9.39pm ...So what IS the problem with being called an officer, constable, Sir?
 

As angry as we the police officer are i dont think many of us are really going to actually go on strike i think most of us realise that it is a very extreme thing to do and we are all professionals. That said however there are numerous other things we can do. Starting Monday i am doing the following. I am working to rule i am not going to be doing any pro acitive work i will be staying in my station every day doing paperwork if i get called to a job i will go but it will have to be a grade 1. I will not be giving out any fpns hort or anything every offence i come accross unless it is serious will result in the person getting reported fog lights mobile phones etc they all get reported. I will not be filling in any home ofice required stats no injury accident reports c12 ethnicity forms neg breath tests for the drink drive campain.
I will be asking for any time off in lieu over three months old to be payed some one said if every office in my force did that it would bankrupt them overnight. I f everybody reported instead of arresting the CJS would go into overload within a few weeks We need the federation to start earning there money the only reason i join is that should i be in the shit they will represent me with legal help and and a free diary. Its about time the federation start doing something direct stop talking and lets have some action
 

I wanted to voice my support for your pay plight. Work to rule, it is the only way, stike action is drastic and is likley to cause more anti-police feeling amongst the great unwashed.

In my department we have just voted on our latest enterprise bargaining agreement. There was a strong push for a NO vote amongst some members. Having read your comments (1.9%! I'm aghast!) I feel that our (average) 16% over 14 months isnt so bad after all.
 

You notice all your support is from police.
You have alienated the voting public and the politicians know this.
Who should care about Blair's bobbies when they have become big bummed bureaucrats.
 

I won't strike. It would only harm those I swore to protect. I always find it fascinating how ill-informed some are about what the avearge street copper does day in and day out and how despite the lack of information they still post inflamatory comments.

The pay rise is awful but then so are many others. I can't blame the public not thinking we are ther when they need us (although mostly we are) as most people have an unrealistic expectation of our resources and our ability to respond to crime thats not happening as they ring in. In the past few days I have had calls to resource where the person has phoned up about over night damage and then said they are available for obly two hours of the day. We manage to meet the window and they are not it they then tell us they will be available again and once more hit the window and they are not in. They then moan that we tell them to come to the station. That person will be another one who moans about our lack of service. The reality is most officers don;t like the service we sometimes provide but thats down to low resources and high demand. We are not a bottomless pit of officers. There are so many surrounding issues that impact upon the demands of our time most of them out of our direct control. The police are badly presented in the press. You rarely here of the good work, of the burglars caught in the act the car thieves arrested or the burglar caught going equipped. You do here of the things we don't do although so many of those are not correctly presented. We are an easy target of criticism as everyone has an opinon without actually having a clue.

Back to the point. Striking will only hurt those we protect. Working to rule will only hurt those we protect. I'll just perhaps start to claim for the overtime I don't claim for. That will more than make up for my short fall.
 

cramerj wrote “...You notice all your support is from police.
You have alienated the voting public and the politicians know this. ...

I am a member of the voting public and I a not alienated from the Police. However, a visit to the ACPO website suggests to me that perhaps there are aliens in the Police. I am alienated from these ACPO Multiculti disciples and the laws they selectively enforce and the other Multiculti disciples who legislate and popularise this Cultural Marxism.

From what I have read on Inspector Gadget I would hazard a guess that the majority of commenting front-line officers experience a similar alienation.

The politicians that the voting public have elected have through legislation and policy created a climate quite foreign to the historical approach in Britain. Is it because “A society of emasculated liars is easy to control”? Former prison and NHS doctor Theodore Dalrymple wrote:

... Political correctness is communist propaganda writ small. In my study of communist societies, I came to the conclusion that the purpose of communist propaganda was not to persuade or convince, nor to inform, but to humiliate; and therefore, the less it corresponded to reality the better. When people are forced to remain silent when they are being told the most obvious lies, or even worse when they are forced to repeat the lies themselves, they lose once and for all their sense of probity. To assent to obvious lies is to co-operate with evil, and in some small way to become evil oneself. One's standing to resist anything is thus eroded, and even destroyed. A society of emasculated liars is easy to control. I think if you examine political correctness, it has the same effect and is intended to. ...
 

Do you think because the police arrested a lot of polititians and their money men that they are getting their own back?
 

Police officers cannot strike, but they can withdraw their labour by resigning. It started to happen in 1977.

Of course, they may then have to live in the real world for a while.

If you think that your pay is inadequate, my first month's pay in 1977, including rent allowance, meant that I had less disposable income than when I was on the dole.
 

We will never strike for all the above reasons it simply will not happen. I however would like the RIGHT to strike, along with my basic human right of freedom of association. (It's not just for criminals). I beleive thats the problem. The fed reps are all cops and are subject to all the bullying tactics employed by our management. You all know how it works you stick your head above the parapet and suddenly you no longer work in East Croyden you've been transfered to Leeds central. Work in Leeds you've been transfered to Dover. The reps have pensions aswell. What we need is an independant federation with ex cops and lawyers which can not be controlled. Also has anyone else noticed more bosses reminding us about the CRIMINAL offence of spreding disseffection. MMM threats and bullying.
 

I thought you'd buggered off to the Canadian Mounties ?? I feel a TV show coming on...
 

Just for the benefit of Steve who posted about living in the 'real world' I do live in the real world every day, its the lower 5 % of the real world I spend most of my time dealing with. I don't do this job to make me rich I do it to make a difference to do something rather than just sitting back and moaning. I could earn far more in the 'real world'. On my team I have two officers who took pay cuts one of over half his salary. The majority I work with could earn more in the 'real world' as they would mostly be in management or similar. The same officers would also never consider striking as it goes against the sort of individual you are and the reasons you join. The officers who would not come into work are the ones I would not notice not being there. I don't want the right to strike and to be honest I'd forgo a number of pay rises to see a strengthened criminal justice system, a fairer complaints procedure and us given once again the ability to serve the public how we want to.
I won't strike I also don't think the federation and such comments help to keep the public on side. We need the support of the public. Striking would put me in the same vein as the firefighters who I respect but did not think they should have played with the publics lives to achieve an end.
I did know what I was getting into when I joined but I did expect government support and not to have my job made harder and harder by them.
 

9.39pm ...So what IS the problem with being called an officer, constable, Sir?

In reply; I hold the office of Constable, therefore, I am a Police Constable. SOCA have officers, Baliffs have Officers, The Police have various officers, but I am a Constable, and am proud that I have been trusted to hold that office, and like the recognition and responsibility that it comes with.
 

Anon 12:55 December 8th

Very good post, lucid well thought out and grammatically correct, pity the same cannot be said for some of the others posted here, But then again that is the result of a progressive education system I suppose.

If we want public support for our grievance and we feel strongly enough to put pen to paper so to speak, then I recommend the use of spell check, Image is everything, and at least NU_Labour understand that aspect as they are masters of the smoke and mirrors of image enhancement. “You can fool some of the people some of the time but not all of the people all of the time”

Most of the posts on this topic are understandably, put on by people who feel at the very least, let down.

As a reward for loyalty treachery is not well received and the Government would do well to recognise that fact.

As far as industrial action goes I would suggest that that is a big NO NO this will only serve to undermine what little respect we have left as a profession.

We have been slowly reduced in effectiveness by successive government actions since the advent of the SHEEHY enquiry, that have been supported from within the service by people seen as forward thinking whereas the truth lies elsewhere, these people were looking out only for themselves. It is unfortunate that we are all tarred by the same brush as some of those placed over us, but unlike those, the vast majority of us are still hard working, well meaning, if not well equipped and honest.

The same cannot be said for those that would severely undermine our welfare with the “I’m alright jack pull up the steps” attitude shown by so many.

The next general election will see a trend reversal I suspect [hope], as I seriously doubt that the incumbent government will find much support from the Police family, its supporters and friends relatives of serving officers etc, This of course will not add up to many voters but when you add the Armed Services, NHS staff and so on well the effect will be quite enlightening

If this issue is a revenge attack on the service, as some would have us believe for real or perceived historical actions against the Labour Movement by it, then how unprofessional, dishonest and downright childish can you get.

Remember “Things can only get better…….”

Jurgen
 

# posted by Ve : 12:06 AM, December 08, 2007

Well it's certainly looking like "Animal Farm" folks,but at least you DO get a decent living wage. Special Constabulary get no pay, but provide a valuable service for the country.

One would think that the govt would VALUE those who give of themselves to make a difference and protect the public. But NO, the govt aren't at all bovvered.

3 years I have been waiting for my promised "bonus" for MY JOB DONE.

Bad karma for those who shafted me!

Hang on - you volunteered for the Specials knowing that you would not recieve pay - I did it myself for several years carrying out upto 60hrs a month for NOTHING. You choose to do it for nowt - all Police Constables want is what we have been awarded - might only be the equivilent of .6% but there is a principle at stake here - today its the rise they decline - whatever next????
 

I was in an Australian Police service (not allowed to call them "force" anymore, implies a "scary" outlook to the hard done by criminals) anyway getting to the point - its the SAME in Australia! Same problems you are all facing there in the UK, the trough feeders have their snouts in it for so long they believe that they are a law unto themselves!..in fact my ex Dept (politically correct enough?) has spent big dollars going over to... the UK! (and elsewhere in Europe) to look for cannon fodder as the Dept is in dire need of walking punching bags to fill the ranks. The resignation/retirement rate is still running at around 30-40 officers per month. Not too many Aussies are putting their hands up to be treated like crap, with lousy Dept/Gov/ Judiciary support - all for crap wages..the day of doing the noble profession is just about over, those perfumed princes & princesses that get paid the big money from the serfs have seen to that. They all enjoy round the clock protection from the very officers that had to fight tooth & nail to get a measly pay rise (which was delayed over & over anyway). Rotten- the entire lot of them are without soul.
 

i don't believe stiking will help us and don't really think it is something we would do anyway. With the federation making noise about demanding the right to strike it's diverting attention away from the governments deceit.
As other comments as said we will lose what little support we have from the public by pushing for strike rights.
We have to keep the moral high ground especially given the many misconceptions the public have about us all taking home loads of overtime and getting massive free pensions.
Roll on the election....
 

AND for the record - I would not strike. It did the Fire Service no good in the publics eyes - and having covered the fire service strikes they are not overly popular with the Police.

At the end of the day whether it was SMITH or BROWN or royally shafted us - they are ALL as bent as eachother!
 

Subject: Letter to MP re Police Pay


Go to http://www.theyworkforyou.com/ and type in your postcode. it will direct you to your MP's details. Cut and paste the below in the bit that lets you send them a message and hit send. It will take about 3seconds and even if you think it won't make a difference you've nothing to lose.

Send it to all Police Officer's - got to try everything!


Dear [MP]


2007 Police Pay Award

I am writing to you as a serving police officer to express my anger and disgust at the underhanded behaviour displayed by the Home Secretary in reaction to the decision of the Police Arbitration Tribunal to award police officers a 2.5% pay increase.

It appears that Jaqui Smith has performed a far from magical sleight of hand in which the 2.5% will not be back dated to 1st September but instead will be paid from the 1st December, thus representing an insulting 1.9% increase – a lower award than any other emergency service or public sector body in England and Wales. What justification can there be for this action? If ACPO and the APA think that 2.5% is affordable and should be backdated to 1st September then why doesn’t the Home Secretary?

Has she forgotten the unique status of police officers who have forfeited the right to strike in order to serve the public? In the absence of this right, we don’t even have arbitration that is binding on the Home Secretary. Is she unaware that police officers face a level of restriction in their private life far exceeding that of any other public sector worker? Can she not understand the increasing level of danger police officers face each day? To compare us as she has with other public sector workers such as teachers and nurses shows a high degree of either misinformation or ignorance.

I wish to convey to you the sense of outrage that this action has created throughout the police service, a service that is able to function as it does due to the sense of duty and goodwill of officers. Whilst it is difficult to diminish that sense of duty the actions of the Home Secretary has put the goodwill in serious jeopardy. Officers face a prison sentence if they take strike action but for many of them this is a path they feel they may have to consider if this situation is not resolved.

I therefore seek your support in this matter by signing the Early Day Motions 494 and 512 and urge you to pass on to your colleagues in Westminster the strength of feeling of the police officers of England and Wales.

Yours sincerely
 

I agree that it's a shit thing to do, but comparing MP's (especially a home secretary) with a frontline police officer like the above is a little disingenuous.
 

The Job is knackered ..we are treated worse than cattle...
Cambridgeshire Constabulary. Cambridge City Radio Channel 0345 hours this am (08/12/07)
Female Officer "VB.. we need more officers at xxxxxx xxxxxx... We're in the shit"
Control room " I have no officers to deploy to you"
Male Officer "VB these staffing levels are Fuxxxxx shit.. i need more officers here now or im really in the shit"
Control room "roger.. trying to deploy officers from Central"
Central is 25 miles away
This is so much more than pay.. Its about our safety..
Strike Now
 

Ihe insulting pay rise is shocking. I was in the RAF and understand the feeling of lavish public praise that is accompanied by a kick-in-the-teeth insult staged pay rise? The police can't strike but why don't those on close protection duties for politicians withdraw from these duties? See how "they" like it then!
 

I don't give a fig for the gripes of the police. I was brought up to respect them and to believe that they protected the community. Very slowly over the years, and I am now 48, my ingrained respect mutated into contempt. You do nothing for the community. You sit behind desks and when you want a change of scene you cruise round in saloon cars or big vans with your chums. The only people you crack down on are the people who used to be your supporters. If we're robbed or mugged you don't want to know - except on those occasions when you go and arrest the victim instead. But you're right there for the slightest motoring offence.

And now you're whining that nobody loves you or thinks you're worth paying.

This is your own handiwork.
 

To Anon at 412pm, 8/12/07.

You, sir, have fallen into the media trap. As a front live officer lets give you some facts:

Traffic offences dealt with by ticket by me this year so far: 12

Arrests so far this year: 45
Of which burglars: 10

Number of jobs I have managed to bin to stop decent member of public being prosecuted because he punched a low life: 3

So there you go. And before you moan about 12 tickets, only 1 was for speeding and that was 45 in a 30 outside a school.

The media would have you believe we go the easy route. If you stand your ground and have a good sgt. behind you (as I am fortunate to have) you can generally avoid arresting burglary victims!!
 

The sad thing is that this is the general view of the police, it's so far wrong though.

This view is not brought about by the police at all, it's brought about by media enforcing an incorrect perception.
 

Dismayed 4.37

Sadly it's all my own experience and that of my family. The media is not responsible for my change of heart (though I admit its constant drip-drip can't help).

You sound like a good egg though. I bet you're not in the Met!
 

Easy ways to get paid . All firearms officers hand in your tickets. That equals no MPs parliament embassy Downing ST ARVS close protection cover. Ok so they may use the army who are full stretch how long will that last. Stop doing all refresher volunteer courses PSU driver training you name it don,t do it. No premier league football no home office prisoners no demos on overtime just do the job you are paid for. you must all Stick together, when your duty day finishes get up & go home. yes they may cancel rest days but insist it is re-rostered in 28 days all the squads tough walk out when the days works done. Crime everything one job at a time, do everything as per the book refuse to interview on your own ect ect. Lets see how it goes then particularly the Government with no armed protection see how they feel.
 

I suspect everyone has read enough, but nevertheless I'm going to add my bit!

I've no doubt that life in the private sector is no bag of roses. However, as a Police Officer there are one or two things that I don't get that some of my colleagues in the private sector do:-
1) Free Healthcare
2) Christmas Bonus
3) Free Christmas Party
4) Expenses Account (I can claim mileage if I go on a course but only what is above my normal daily journey to work. I haven't claimed for the last 16 years).
5) Shift Allowance
6) Free Pension ( I pay 11% of my salary towards my pension.
7) It is at my Chief Constables discretion whether I can have a secondary job. I do not have one
8) I am expected to deal with situations that I come accross when I am 'off duty' and could be subject to disciplinary action if I do not.
9) I do get a company car, with blue lights and sirens, but I am not allowed to take it home or on holiday.
10) I am not allowed to join a union and have other occupations use their industrial might to help me in my cause. By law, all I am allowed to have to battle my corner, is the Police Federation. They have no bite as we are prevented from striking.

This is not about money. To be honest 0.6% of my salary is not worth getting upset about. This is a matter of principal. The governement have allowed us to go to a pay tribunal, and then just ignored the findings. I work harder now than I have done in the past 19 years service. I appreciate that the public get a pretty crap level of service, but unfortunately, that is not my fault. I would love to do the job that most people think I am paid to do. Unfortunately, this government and the puppets they put in charge of the Police, will not allow me to do so.

So to all those who say, stop moaning and leave if you don't like it, I say this. At the moment, I am seriously considering it. However, I joined this job to lock up scumbags and I'm damned if any decitful politician is going to stop me from doing so. So I intend to stay.
 

"The politicians that the voting public have elected have through legislation and policy created a climate quite foreign to the historical approach in Britain."

Labour were elected with 22% of the available votes at the last election; I don't believe that more than 30% of the 'voting public' have voted for them since 1997.

Worse than that, what choice do the 'voting public' have? Scumbag Labour, Scumbag Tories or complete nutters in the BNP or LibDems. None of them are going to fix the problems that they have created; the system itself is broken.

As for striking, I agree with some of the points above; my first thought on reading that the police were thinking of striking was 'but would anyone notice?' I fully support the cops who post here because they just want to be able to do the job they signed up for, and protect the public from the crooks; but that's not what the public see you doing anymore, and you're not likely to get much support unless you make that the basis of any political action.

I think if the police were to come out and demand to be allowed to actually do their jobs properly and strike if they weren't, then they'd see a lot of public support because that's precisely what the public want to see; but demanding higher pay when the 'service' that the 'voting public' sees has declined dramatically in the last decade is only likely to turn them against you. And I'm sure the scum in Westminster are betting on that.
 

To me, the answer seems blindingly simple!

An easy way to keep serving the public, but hurt the government, is not to strike, but to just refuse to complete any 'collating data' or 'monitoring' paperwork.

If there's one thing the government holds dear, it's their statistics!!!......
 

Easy ways to get paid . All firearms officers hand in your tickets. That equals no MPs parliament embassy Downing ST ARVS close protection cover. Ok so they may use the army who are full stretch how long will that last.

I think if the Armed Forces were called up to replace armed police providing VIP cover, it would lead to a very interesting situation.....they would be queuing up to volunteer certain policitians, in anticipation of a "negligent discharge"!

In all seriousness, go for it! Stand up for a pay settlement which shows respect. You have a union and can speak out, which the Armed Forces cannot.
 

Some time ago someone in the house of Lords complained that £80 per night wouldn't cover the cost of a night in a hotel in London and therefore the nightly allowance needed to increase by 40%.

MPs seized on this to claim that their entire salary should be increased by 40%....and they got it.

I don't know what makes me hate the Brown Bottler more. The fact that he screwed up my mum's chances of getting Altzheimer medicine on the NHS or the fact that he screwed up my parents pension so they couldn't afford to buy it privately.

As a kid I always used to think Nov 5th was celebrating Guy Fawkes attempt to blow up the houses of parliament and not celebrating the fact that he failed. As an adult I think my childhood perceptions should have been correct.
 

So after 62 comments, which is all right and proper, what are you going to do - as a concerted effort?

It's entirely reasonable to have a whinge and a moan, but the question is, what next?

PC EllieBee has suggested marching on London.

This may or may not be practical but at least it's a specific, collective proposal and has historical precedent, i.e. Wat Tyler in 1381, a typically British 'gallant failure' but one which has - like others of this genre - gone down in history as an inspiration to all genuine protesters.

Re: elections, who are you going to vote for? The political landscape in this country is now basically the three traitor parties versus the BNP.

The latter may be dismissed as "nutters" but a BNP result of 20% in a recent by-election is said to be the reason Gordon refrained from calling a general election.

It is also worth noting that at the last BNP meeting I attended, the speakers focussed on the men from Britain and the Dominions who fought at Passchendaele in 1917 and the men from those nations who flew on the Dam Busters Raid in 1943, as an example and an inspiration to all who love this country.

(I know, I was one of the speakers.)

But then, I guess maybe the Allied soldiers* of 1917 and the Allied airmen* of the WW2 617 Squadron were "nutters", too, by today's standards.

*Average age about 19-20
**Average age about 22-23
 

As a retired Police officer I still look through these blogs with interest and wonder just what has happened to a profession I was proud to be a part of? To my recollection there has always been an argument between the Government and Police ovber pay and the Government has always won as they hold all the cards and know that they can do what they like. The Police Federation uses reason and logic and when has that ever applied to a politician's decision making. One blogger suggested reporting everyone rather than using FPNs and watching the Criminal Justice(?) system drown in its paperwork. That will not happen. I recvall sev4ral years ago when the Government decided that we didn't really need our rent allowance after buying our own houses therefore freeing up Police houses. One of the things that Police officers did was report everyone found committing FPN offences (even if it was just parking) for process. All the Criminal Justice wallahs in our Force did was bin every 3rd file and then decided NFA on 70% of the remainder. They went home at the end of the day having earned their money, the yobs were delighted and the officers were fed up and angry having wasted so much time on nothing. The pay award given is disgusting and I don't think there is a real answer to it apart from every single officer writing to their MP declaring this disgust, copying the letter to the Home Secretary, their Chief Constable and an open letter to their local newspaper and asking what, after the current contempt the Government has shown towards the office of Constable, their advice on what action to take to retain their professional pride and committment. Something may, just may, result from this. Strike action is not the way. All it will take is one death and the cry will be something on the lines of
"This person died for 26 pence a day".
 

I forgot to mention that after the full award has been given to Scottish Police officers, but not to English or Welsh officers, does this mean that the Government, which is primarily Scottish or Scottish influenced, can now be termed institutionally racist?
 

I would suggest a blog on the Police is not the place for a thinly veiled recruiting campaign for the BNP, Alanorei mentioned a 20% vote in a recent bye-election but did not mention that in some areas of the country, where traditional voting take place, Dolly the cloned sheep would be elected if she wore a red, blue, yellow or BNP rosette. The BNP is an extreme political party at whose hands I have suffered on several occasions and am upset that they have decided to hijack what is an interesting debate on a profession which is not allowed to have overt political connections. Let's keep it that way shall we? Please.
 

The BNP is a Political party...Agree or disagree with there policies.. When the mainstream parties offer no alternative and the difference in policies is a fag paper in width and the voting public see nothing being done on what they percieve as the main issues of the day, then people will look at the fringe parties as they have alternative policies. This is why the mainstream need to stop preening themselves and set to dealing with the issues of the day,
Jacqui Smith I despise the woman ....self centered arrogant.. I didnt notice her NOT voting for the MP's pay rise, corrupt like all politicians....
The only person to enter the houses of Paliament with Honest intentions was Guy Fawkes
 

"Dismayed" 4:37

It's all the fault of the "meejuh" is it?

So, what were those other 35 arrests for? .. not gratuitous target chasing and easy detections you say?


Nobody believes you.

You lot are all the same. Parasites.
 

I have 20ys service in Derbyshire and I have a cushy little number. There is no way I am going to risk my job or pension by going on strike for the sake of £150.00 that this government has robbed me. I will just be even less productive and have a few more days sick to make up for my loss.
You won't win the ballle with this or any government so you have to settle for you own little victories!!!
 

The BNP!?! Oh good God. Who ever currently holds the reigns of this site, fort God sake delete the above two posts from this fascist idiot. How dare you, men and women of all nationalities died to keep scum like the BNP out of Europe. BNP a political party? So were the Nazis. I am going to stop reading this blog. The comments are getting more and more off the wall. I shudder to think that anyone should read this site as a reflection of what the police rank and file are like. Time to put it down Dave?
 

The only reason I mentioned the BNP was because it got slagged off earlier.

I see that the usual epithets were provoked, however, i.e. "A hit dog yells..."

Nevertheless, the question remains, what kind of concerted action can follow in the wake of hearfelt concerns that have been repeatedly expressed by others?
 

Then again men and women all over Europe died to keep scum like the current labour party from gaining power, and ultimately failed there too. Hey ho.
Personally I have no time for the BNP. I'll sit up and start taking notice when they field their first visibly ethnic minority as a candidate. It could happen you know, why not? All they need to do is concentrate on people loyal to this country as a concept and as a nation irregardless of colour, race, religion or traceable family tree and then the "major" parties will have a problem on their hands. . . .
 

I posted the comment that "the bnp is a political party.." etc ..
In no way was i condoning the BNP ... all i was saying was that i would like to see some alternatives from the regular political parties rather than the bleating of "you stole our ideas.."
You see a number of struggling Police Officers and you see very few struggling Politicians.. The Government should answer not to Parliament but to the people ...
Englands New Chains...
 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/surrey/7135437.stm

Lucky he wasn't working to any rule.
 

The comments on the Guardian article are quite chilling really, not to mention some of the ones on here. It seems it doesn't matter how loud you say that you don't agree with the bureaucracy and number-crunching that goes on now, the public still think rank and file officers are in some kind of conspiracy against them.

But the thing that really got to me was where the reporter says if we went on strike, we would have to keep a few people available to provide essential cover. Does he not realise, that is what we are doing at the moment? My team have run at "recommended" minimum staffing levels or below for the last few months, never having a single officer spare to do some proactive patrol or catch up on paperwork. And now this.

PS Alanorei if you call me EllieBee once more I will bar you from my blog!
 

To: PC Bloggs

Point taken, my sincere apologies for having caused offence.
 

Well done PC Pike I commend you on your actions relating to the attempted suicide recently.

I trust you have done a water rescue course, unlike the PCSOs in a northern force area who refused to enter the water to search for a young lad who was subsequently found dead.

I dare say that there was a good reason for their actions in not entering the water to search... but the one put up by the force was not good enough... not good enough by far.

The public expects ..... and we should be prepared to at least try or give a good impression of trying.

Strike action ... complete waste of time even talking about it.... there will always be someone with a young family and a mortgage to pay who is not strong enough to resist the threats and inevitable bullying from senior officers.

This a cyclical condition that we will have to ride out... pre '79 and "Edmund Davies" the service was losing officers in an unsustainable flow .... then the Government of the day "Real Labour" took solid action that was immediately reinforced by the incoming Tory administration. For 28 years we have had those benefits whilst others have been rode roughshod over, Nurses, Firemen, Prison Officers and so on We helped them break the Unions, albeit not intentionally ... and now they think they can do it better with out us..... Well, time will tell.... eventually there will be another "Edmund Davies" and it will start all over again.

politicians are a fickle lot and don't do history particularly well, so they will not realise it ... Afghanistan is a case in point.

So Chins up, carry on and show who are the real professionals.

I commend you all.

Jurgen
 

ER NO RURAL TRAFIC COP.
You are quite wrong in your assumptions and reasoning. There is ALWAYS the exception to the rule and that applies to me and a unique situation.
I did not "chose" my situation at all. I was chosen. Chosen for a long term special "mission", which was to DO something about child abuse, of which I was/am a victim/survivor/kid special constable.[and not the only one in the 50's] And, to bring down the evil basta*rd who abused many and killed my sister.
JOB DONE.It was personal and long awaited. You really don't know the HALF of it, because the govt are in denial and UNFAIR, plus insulting. They KNOW damn well that there was an historical contract for a special bonus payment, upon "job done". They know what "job" and have acted in BAD FAITH. Shame on them.

Where I have given of myself in the service of Queen and Country, of course I do not expect payment for that. I'm not your run of the mill special and was given a wide ranging brief a long time ago.
But I am grateful for my Incapacity payments and food in the fridge, but without a shadow of a doubt, I deserve better treatment from this coniving govt.
 

Had a big long rant typed out about people being derogatory and making pathetic statements about seeing the 'Real' world. Doesnt get much more real than dealing with the most aggresive,violent lovelies of our society. But deleted it all because sometimes you just cant find the words without swearing ;) Suffice to say that from an ambulance crews point of view we need the police more and more as the violence against us is increasing terrifyingly, unfortunately so are the 'The police have no resources to send to you' messages.
Maybe the hecklers are right, we dont have to do these jobs, God knows I'd earn more in a call centre. But off to work we go!
So if your on nightshift tonight and get an 'Ambulance crew under attack' call, please drive fast ;) x
 

Ambo, personally an assistance shout from a Ambulance Crew is treated with the same urgency as an assistance shout from a colleage - unfortunately Comms never see it the same way - they only have to ask and we will down whatever I am doing to assist.

Ve, sorry if I upset your "mission", i'm sure that you did a good job.

Rural Traffic Cop
 

When elections come - many of the Unions have adverts in the paper saying "Vote Labour".
Perhaps the Fed could let the Government know that we shall run some..the caption "We know what villains look like - so vote Conservative"
It may not get us the payrise - but it would sure feel good..
 

Planet Andy 12:15 -

- your factual rebuttals are what exactly?
 

I've just found 2 Christmas cards with red canoes on them. I've sent one to Gordon Brown and the other to that silly tart who others say is the Home Secretary (as if they'd employ a school girl)
 

Ambo, just to second what Rural Traffic Cop said, if you guys shout, we come a runnin'! I'd put myself between you guys and danger in a heartbeat, and my colleagues feel the same. You represent the very finest qualities in a human being and it's a genuine privilege to work alongside you.
When our bosses spout bollocks like "one team, one vision", I don't think they realise we already think like that, just not how they'd like.
 

Ambo, just to second what Rural Traffic Cop said, if you guys shout, we come a runnin'! I'd put myself between you guys and danger in a heartbeat, and my colleagues feel the same. You represent the very finest qualities in a human being and it's a genuine privilege to work alongside you.
When our bosses spout bollocks like "one team, one vision", I don't think they realise we already think like that, just not how they'd like.
 

Think its safe to say that there is def a mutual respect between Amb. Crews and Police. Which is why its dismaying when the 'No resources' message comes thru, it just shows that you have so much on your plates. We know you come running for us when you can, and we appreciate it. You are our very own personal stab-vests with a smile. It would be funnier if it werent true.....
 

"You notice all your support is from police.
You have alienated the voting public and the politicians know this.
Who should care about Blair's bobbies when they have become big bummed bureaucrats.

# posted by cramerj : 6:15 AM, December 08, 2007"

Incorrect.

As I stated in my previous post of 5:39 PM, December 07, 2007, I am an MOP (Member Of the Public) and I fully support the Police Force in their disguat at being refused backdated pay. They were promised it from September 2007 and the Government have decided not to carry out their promise. How would YOU feel if your boss promised you a backdated pay rise, then announced he / she was deducting 3 months worth off you for no valid reason. I presume you would not be a happy bunny.

I have concerns regarding the Police striking as I feel it would be detrimental to their cause (as stated in my previous post) but apart from that, I support their complaint fully.
 

I'd settle for 2.4% if someone would shove a red hot poker up McNulty's posterior. I'd even go to London and do the job myself - no qualms, I've done a diversity course.
 

The front line aspect of the police service has been run into the ground by government interference to such an extent that we do not on many occasions respond in a timely fashion to incidents.

There is less than half the number of bobbies on my shift now compared to when I started 10 years ago and with increased beaurocracy there is so much more work to do.

With an inadequate CJS many offenders are seen to get away with crimes and victims feel let down.

This combined with the constant negative media drip feed has alienated much of the public.

I believe the government has seized the moment to shaft us knowing that we will not have the support of the public re striking/work to rule etc. due to the shambles the service is now in.

Just my thoughts.

P.S. Anyone refused to fill in the activity analysis forms ??
 

None of us do this job expecting huge stacks of cash, but we also don't expect to go to arbitration and be lied to over the amount that has actually been agreed. We wouldn't be quite so riled up if the Home Secretary had just said from the start it was 2%.

And since I've been singled out... Gil, just how much "personal profit" do you suppose I have made from my book? The only money I have so far received will be donated to charity.
 

I think Gil & Ve are missing the whole concept on the blog - and im sure in some respects "136" would suit you both.

We(Police Constables)go about doing the job we joined to do - unfortunately it is controled by spineless wonders who allow the Government to walk allover us making us Crime Recorders rather than any form of Detectives.

We spend so long serving the underclass (the unemployed, the criminals & the mad) that when we do deal with REAL victims of REAL crime all of our sympathy has been drained from us by the leeches of the sh1t society that the Government has created. It reminds me of a poster I once saw:

"WE, THE WILLING, LEAD BY THE UNKNOWING, ARE DOING THE IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE UNGREATFUL".

I suspect that none of you [non-Police] would put up with the conditions that Police Constables have to put up with - we do it because we want to - ALL that we want is fair pay (YES, FAIR) for the work that we do.

We need to stop recording CRAP - but because of NCRS we have to. Give us discretion back, let the Constable decide whether its going anywhere. I'm sure that it wont be long before you see Constables double crewed with a CPS lawyer so that they make the decision if we arrest, issue a ticket or warn offenders.

Its ALL F%C^KED UP!!!!!!

I give up.
 

I read Bloggsy's book (extremely funny) and I read her blog too; haven't heard her boast once about the book or the wedge she's making out of it (which I hope is ginormous).
Stop trolling Gil, not needed.
 

Gill, I dont know what job, if any, you do but it must be a wonderfull one with happy friendly people all helping each other and smiling and all for charity. Why? Because you are on another planet my son.
The whole reason for the books and blogs was to bring the truth of our position and plight out to the public.
We are stuffed! There is nothing we can do. We are made to do the detections and paperwork not because we want to but that we are made to. The litter sweeper does not pick up rubish because he likes people throwing the stuff on the streets but because thats his job.
I repeat there is NOTHING we can do. I know what I'll do, I'll refuse to fill in the form at which point I will be suspended and eventually sacked. Cant stop them see. Cant go out on stike to support the officer who made a stance, it's illegal. Cant have a union to stand up for our rights, it's illegal. Dont get me started on the fed.
So here we are with the books and blogs the public now know. Please please please do somthing for us and your selves. cos we cant!
 

On 29th September 1829 the Metropolitan Police Force was formed. At the end of their very first shift as two men holding the office of constable left work to begin their journey home, one turned to the other and was heard to say "The Job's f*cked!"

Nowt much has changed really, the rest is history
 

Gil, please. As many respondents have explained, they are only obeying orders.
 

You're a bitter little bunny Gil. I think you really have to understand the concept of Police work being a Vocation. And like any vocation, not just anyone can do it, you need a hardy soul.
Are you this abusive on other emergency service sites? Lets face it none of the 999 services are paid their worth, they all take cr*p from the public they are there to help, they all could walk away to better paid jobs (or not, after all, as you pointed out maybe they arent skilled enough to do important jobs wot lyk you do). I personally dont think its too much to ask for the police to receive the payment they were promised. Its not rocket science, they are being cheated, the pay deal is being reneged on because they are an 'easy' target, cant strike like the firies did, so they are held over the proverbial barrel!
 

Gil, I have read your posts. I am left wondering however what it is you do ? You are incredibly opinionated, seem to have a view of yourself that places you above others. Clearly you value your education and believe yourself of high intelligence (and like to remind us of that at all times) but I'm still left wondering how many lives you have yourself directly saved (me I am up to four currently) how many times you have been in a situation where you have made an actaul difference (at least once a day for myself).
Tell us a little about what you do that has any positive impact upon the society in which we live. Try to do it without sounding high and mighty or correcting my grammar or spelling (after all I am but a mere police officer).
I do this job as I wanted to make a difference, to be doing something rather than sitting back and moaning. There are restrictions on how I do my job, restrictions that I would like to see removed but to leave my job and for all those that I work with to leave would not solve the problem. The police force in general at this time is made up of people who would earn more in the private sector. The whole point is to have people who are earning less than they would elsewhere. The day all those people leave and that we get a force made up of individuals who are earning more than they could ever in the private sector is the day things go wrong.
I am not asking for a pay rise. I am asking the government to follow the agreed formula and to keep its promise. Like my colleagues I would not strike as I don't do this job for the money. My concern is that the Government is riding rough shod over this agreement, what else will they start to do? What other things will they change or laws will the bring in to stop us doing the job that we joined to do.

Back to my point though. Tell us what is your occupation? What is your background? What do you do day in day out to improve society.

Oh and as for Pc Bloggs. You may find (unlike yourself) she works many different shifts so the chances of being able to monitor the blog all day to pass a whitty insight or critique someone over their use of the language is limited.
 

Gil sweetie,
I was far from whingeing, nor was I embarrasing my profession, which, for the record, is not with the Police Force. I was stating facts, they are being screwed over the pay agreement.
Oh, and your assumption that I am male is tedious, not however as tedious as your dreary little rant which is purely for the purpose of provoking. Have to wonder why you bother coming onto a blog such as this? Surely, judging by the contempt you display, its the last place you would want to be involved with?
 

...oh irony. Thy name is Anon 6.15 (That last paragraph of yours is priceless)

However,wading through all the childish tantrums and straight out and out self-contradictions ...what is your point?

Do you disagree with the fact that the police force as a whole is demoralised and de-motivated and that a significant fraction of its members (possibly the majority) with kids and mortgages, if the money were there, would rather be in another job? Any other job?

Do you think that the public actually do have a high regard for the police force?

So, what is your point? You blub and stamp your foot. A lot. Would you describe yourself as a typical representative of your profession?

Any wonder why it might not all be the fault of the "meejuh"?


(... and "Anon" you brave chap you, why not use your usual handle? Been on any trains talking to posh totty called Katy lately?)
 

Do our police constables really expect the public to support them in a stike action?

time and again the police have been used to break legitimate strike action by trade union members,i doubt they will find much support here in the northeast,few around my way make the same money and enjoy the same benefits they do.

Perhaps they should have thought of this when Thatcher bought them off and they allowed themselves to be used as a political tool.
 

Gil, Still so far up yourself but for someone who appears to value how incredibly clever they are still actually unable to answer some simple questions.

What is it you do that adds to society? As I suspected you just pass comment on grammar or spelling or something similar. You don't actually answer the question.

I did not blub or stamp my foot. Your comments (being as in my experience they represent those of the stupid who are unable to distinguish individual officers from the system they work under) are of no concern. I would have more time for them if you would put yourself in to some form of context for all of us here. I'm a police officer of 9 years service. I chose to do this job over other jobs and despite being unhappy at the service we provide am doing my best to along with those I work with to provide the best service we can. I know that the educated amongst us know the government sets the targets and makes the demands and that the court system is a joke. All I can do is go to work and give 100 percent.

Most officers talk about leaving not because they don't like what the police are supposed to stand for but because they feel frustrated that they are being stopped from doing that job and they are fed up with fighting the system. Very few officers do leave and the vast majority I speak to still place value on what they do and would not enjoy any other job. Officers often look to leave due to the constraints on family life or on the standard of living, when they meet people who are not as capable as them earning far more and providing a standard of living you cannot get in the police service.
I know I can earn more in the private sector. I still however choose to put a uniform on and try my upmost to do make a difference every time. Its lucky that so many of us do.

So back to my simple question. What is it you actually do? Try to answer that first before you start to critique my post.

Oh and I have never heard of anyone called Katy on a train???
 

Ah cuddles, you're back !!! I was really worried about you, was wondering where you were. Nice to see you with your new "name".
And by the way, I took a 50% pay cut to join the Police, and judging by the colleagues I left behind, that differential is more now. But you clearly don't understand the concept of a vocation. That is one of the many, many points you have just ignored in order to prove that you could win the Eton debating cup, which of course is something you can treasure as a real contribution to society today. Well Mummy would be proud of you at least. Anyway, cue personal attack on me which I won't understand as it will have too many syllables for my simple brain to understand. But hey, welcome back, we've missed you. (btw, you haven't used the word "risible" yet this time round so get in there quick)
 

Just returning to the subject of the post, do you know the government spent approx £5.5m sending out a "reassuring letter" to each of the people whose details were lost in the HM Customs and Revenues CD fiasco? I'm guessing the pay rise issue has little to do with available funds.

Gil, could you please post your rancourous romments on my blog rather than here? That way I can earn some dosh out of it...

DC - I do apologise for my ill-mannered stalkers.
 

...and my spelling
 

The esteemed Gil is a politician. Asks lots of questions, but never answers one.

Gil, you are Jacqui Smith and I claim my five pounds.
 

Gil, you are Cuddles aren't you!! Still not fessin' up to actually having any form of tax paying employment and merely slating us inbreb uneducated fools. Oh, and the irony of the one trick pony comment... priceless!!! YOU ROCK!!!
 

Gil.. in answer to your serious question, if 90% of what we do is collusion, the other 10% is actually saving lives and would not be done by anyone else. You quite clearly have not experienced the 10% and I sincerely hope you never do have to. That said though, just because you or your social circle don't get to see it, doesn't mean it doesn't happen.

And yes my grammar isn't brilliant, but then there are more important things in life, as I've actually experienced them.
 

NOW NOW RURAL TRAFFIC COP.....Who's a bit grumpy then?, and it appears a bit confused.
DON'T stick me in a box with "Gill" please, particularly with the insult of being suitable for "136". I have not come on here slagging you off sunshine. I may be a bit of a rebel and the "black sheep" of the police family, specials, but I am NOT the enemy, nor against you, nor against the spirit of this blog....which is to bring about change. I have done my bit, but you lot just don't know about it, as it's been behind the scenes, making a difference.

I was NOT off topic and if you think Gordo is O.K, it's YOU who is a suitable candidate for "136"!
He's the control freak who is tight fisted and will not give you more money. And just to make a point here, THE ARMED FORCES GET LESS PAY THAN COPS. If anyone deserves to be at the top of the list for a pay rise, it's them.

I'm even more puzzled by your snipe at me, Rural Traffic Cop, having first apologised if you spoilt my "mission". Well maybe you did and that's something we both have to live with. Bye
 

How about a level playing field?

...stop deleting one side of the conversation.

Typical coppers. Editing the statements to fit your purpose.

Hypocrites.
 

P.S. And the over 80's pensioners got a 1 penny per week increase on their allowance recently, which they also regarded as an insult.
That puts things into perspective, doesn't it?

I think PC Bloggs idea of a march on London is a brilliant idea, and as she says, but NOT about pay. A demonstration by police regarding getting the force back on track and away from all the form filling, so that there ARE police on the streets, WOULD get you public support.

EVERYONE is sick of this useless government and it's obsession with so called "reforms" that make things worse. There are a few politicians who are O.K, but THEY are under the thumb and control of "Stalin", or is he now Mr Bean?

He's the problem, and in case you had not realised, his "master plan" whilst in the Treasury WAS to undermine HM's Police Force and give more POWER of authority and control to HMRC staff and local authorities.
Hence also the "powerless" PCSO's, who do NOT swear an oath to HM The Queen. Blair may well have been openly disrespectful to HM, but Gordo is SNEAKY and underhanded.
Enough is enough.
 

For those interested, the debate regarding Police pay and striking has created quite a discussion on this website by predominantly members of the public. If you want to test the waters and see how the public feels regarding these issues, please have a look:

http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=284861
 

gil 12.37
Errrrrr. is it wrong to edit statements then? Cripes, I've been doing it for years.
 

That for years, you've been purposely misrepresenting and distorting what people say, I have no doubt at all.

That you gloat over the fact does not elicit surprise either. You do indeed live down to people's expectations.
 

Ve, touchy arn't we!! ;-)
 

RURAL TRAFFIC COP.....Yes dear. It would appear that I'm as touchy as yourself and all the other cops who have been shafted by the bad faith of the government, GRRRRRRRR

KICK ASS GUYS!
 

One aspect of the way this government does things is that it just won`t consider doing the bleedin' obvious and insists on trying out new stuff all the time. It`s a completely hit and miss approach.

There`s an article on our force website about the 'night-time economy' in one of our larger towns. Apart from the odd reference to alcopops it could have been written in 1887, not 2007. The reasons we need police on the streets haven`t changed in 100 years but the government won`t leave things as they are, they want to keep messing about with policing until there`s no actual policing left.

Puts me in mind of the BBC decision to take Play School off the schedules some years ago "It`s all been done before" they said, "Yes" we said, but the kids haven`t.

We have generations of children, teenagers, young (and not so young) adults who have grown up not knowing what the police are for.

The government attitude to the pay settlement belies the same confusion. The Govnt found plenty of cash to get Saddam hung and turn Iraq to rat-sh*t.

Oh well, the oil will run out in a few years time and it`ll be every man (and woman) for himself. Humbug.
 

And what about Jackanory while we`re on the subject. They couldn`t just sit someone in an comfy chair and have hime or her read a chapter or two from a nice book.

No. They had to stick in loads of whizzy computer animations and noise and fuss. I was gutted.

But it`s the same problem you see.

Just let the coppers plod the beat and clip some ears and take down names. Let `em tell DuWayne and Shazny to get a life (or arrest them for being chavs).

Whatever policing was like before compensayshun culture and 'elf 'n' safety and risk assessment and the forms and political correctness (a.k.a. agreeing with the government) is in grave danger of being lost forever.
 

been there done that
the fag end labour government 1n the late 70s did the same thing with the edmond davies award; and for how long were they burried at the next election?
 

Rural Traffic Cop.....about me being a bit "touchy" re comments about my state of mind. For a very long time now the legal system, including the police force, have used the label "mental case" to discount and discredit victims of abuse, especially females. It is an insult to anyone who is UPSET by the abuse they have been subjected to. The tag of "mental" is in fact just FURTHER abuse. So yeah, I'm "touchy" about that slur.
 

Oh, how I love the way that some so called 'educated' people attempt to belittle those with lesser academic qualifications. They use their fine words to create screens behind which they hope to hide the fact that their argument has no substance. Ask them a direct question but never expect a direct answer.

Well you high and mighty smarty pants out there, there's a world outside of academia and that's where you get a real education. It's the one in which ordinary people get attacked, robbed, burgled, raped and even murdered. It's where women are beaten by their partners every day, kids are assaulted, old folk left dying or dead in their homes, the list can go on and on, I'm sure you get the picture. So which emergency service is expected to deal with all of these things and more?

The modern police officer has a very difficult job to do in some of the worst circumstances you can imagine. Add to that the various pieces of legislation and policy that serve to restrict their role and you have what is probably the most difficult job in the land. Why do they do it? Because they're dedicated. Because they wanted to help. It certainly wasn't the money!

Like many officers out their, I took a rather large pay cut to follow my vocation. I can earn a hell of a lot more out their in the private sector but this is all I ever really wanted to do. It's the most rewarding career I've ever had in many ways but it's also the most frustrating. Frustrating because this government and its fixation with statistics and targets has all but made common sense policing impossible. Like many others all I want is the support of our government, not the knife between the ribs that it seems determined to twist.

Now I see a lot of talk here about lack of service from the police. To an extent I agree with some of those criticisms, but I know where the blame really belongs. For example, in my division the population is approximately 200,000. It covers more than a dozen large housing estates most of which are high crime areas. Last night there were 17 officers available to serve the division. These officers were 'double crewed' or 'triple crewed', that is to say 2 per car and 3 in a van for safety reasons. That's 9 units to cover 200,000 people. It was a Friday night and there were domestic incidents, fights, burglaries, etc coming in all the time across the division. 7 arrests were made and at one point the division was covered by just 2 units, because the rest were tied up dealing with their detainees and the accompanying admin work, but the calls did not stop. Is this the fault of those 17 officers? No! It's not even the fault of the force which has to deploy limited resources. The blame lays squarely with the government and its (lack of)funding of police services, its restrictive polices, its undermining of the policing role and its obsession with statistics and target culture.

Using this forum to claim that "...the police routinely distort the truth... abuse their power... manipulate evidence... eat babies..." does nothing but show ignorance of the real issues. Whatever your problem is with us, do your research, get your evidence and present a well reasoned, supported argument. Then we might care what you have to say.
 

Well its quite clear you're in the wrong job as you have proved, idiot. Maybe next time train harder and get a diffrent job and stop making up figures you clearly cant back up. You total arse!
 

Facts and figures? You made half od them up and left spaces for quesses from the general public. You have no idea what your talking about. Incase you haven't noticed MP's and the goverment pay your wages and give you your pensions so stop complaining and get over your selves.
 

I found this site by accident but is amazing how it sounds from both sides a load of moaning windbags. The real problem with the U.K. at the moment is the ability of those residents ethnic or foreign who bleed a system which was designed on a principle that everyone wants to work for less than they can claim on benefit and when they are caught seem to go unpunished. A system which is run not by politicians but by unelected judges barristers and solicitors who seem to support human rights if it makes them money. There is no point in crying for change when the legal system undermines a punishment which would be a deterrent. The answer is simple add one line to the charter of human rights. The line should read " Anyone found guilty of abusing the rights of any person or persons protected by this charter by word deed or action will have their own right of protection revoked for a period decided by their peers in the country in which the act was committed." This would allow prisons to be tougher like a 3 shift system for the beds and capacity would be tripled over night and all inmates have to work for bed and board. When anyone commits a crime the first thing they ask before the act is the gain worth the cost of getting caught and society must make sure that the cost is to high to pay.