Political Correctness

[dickR]

What is being Politically Correct?  Well, I can uderstand a politician wanting to be politically correct, they want to please the most people and upset the least, so they can get votes.  That's politics! 
But as police officers we're NOT politicians, so why can't we just be impartial and basically, well, CORRECT! - do the right thing, using the law and some common sense thrown in, why should we be politically correct?  Leave all that rubbish to the politicians, they need to get something correct, they clearly can't see right from wrong when it comes to expenses...

[Litew8]

Probably because politics has become so invasive in what the police does and how it does it that the "customer base" (<-- see... politics in action already) has come to expect that their own personal idiosyncrasies are pandered to when they come in contact with officers rather than receive a level service across the board which is blind to factors outside of the law and common sense.

In part, the Police themselves have to take some blame when a bad apple tarnishes the reputation of a force and policies are put in place to show it won't/can't/shouldn't happen again, other than that officers work in a 24/7 media environment with CCTV, TV, press, and even MOP's mobile phones recording anything and everything we're involved with...

The government themselves need to shoulder some blame too. Policing is a hot-potato, and government initiatives (read: Red-tape) are doing nothing much other than to get officers entangled in more paperwork (read: Arse Covering Exercise), depriving response teams of officers due to Specialist Squads being set up to pander to some whim or another and giving the public an impression that they are special enough above everyone else to warrant kid-gloves or bespoke services; rather than a fair and consistent performance across the board.

The police has become nothing more than a piece on a chess-board, unfortunately we're on the side that appears to be losing the battle for public respect/support as politicians make promises to win votes.

Sorry for the rant... I just want to get on with my job to the best of my ability, upholding the law and preserving the peace as I promised when I made the pledge rather than ensure someone can tick a diversity box somewhere giving me more paperwork to do for the same incident...

[c3po]

I think common sense will prevail in the end, the press have latched onto the ridiculous things happening because of P.C.  The councils are the worst offenders for Elf & Safety and political correctness, they employ so many people to check up on everything it's getting like a police state.  You can get fined more for not closing your dustbin lid than for mugging an old lady.  The government has encouraged this and given the councils far too much power, they are there to administrate our communities, NOT to police them, well that was originally their job, now they are just another department to bully and fine the public.

[jo90]

Get back to proper policing, let teachers and police officers shout at the yobs again, all this violence breeds violence crap, since we have had all this tip toeing around the yobs they know they can do what they like and we have had much more violence in society, stabbings and beatings everywhere.  No discipline at all, even parents can't chastise their kids properly.  Kids are better off if they are treated fairly but firmly, how else can you teach them any respect.  It will go full circle - one day, hopefully.  I don't agree with bashing kids, but being shouted at by a teacher or police officer does hurt their feelings and make them jump a bit, that's how they learn right from wrong.

[FN21]

Get back to proper policing, let teachers and police officers shout at the yobs again, all this violence breeds violence crap, since we have had all this tip toeing around the yobs they know they can do what they like and we have had much more violence in society, stabbings and beatings everywhere.  No discipline at all, even parents can't chastise their kids properly.  Kids are better off if they are treated fairly but firmly, how else can you teach them any respect.  It will go full circle - one day, hopefully.  I don't agree with bashing kids, but being shouted at by a teacher or police officer does hurt their feelings and make them jump a bit, that's how they learn right from wrong.

Well Said Jo!  Bucks aren't afraid of the Police anymore and think they can get away with anything!

[jimbob]

That's the trouble, not only are they not afraid of police officers, they have no respect whatsoever for police or even their parents or teachers any more.  But what ever you do, don't shout at them in case they get startled, it's common assault you know, and unless it is summer time and you need some gardening leave it's not worth it....