double post - I think I spilled vitriol on the keyboard!

Prosecutors said in July this year they did not have enough evidence to bring criminal charges over the death, sparking outrage from Tomlinson's family.

"PC Harwood has now been notified that he will face a gross misconduct hearing to answer allegations that he pushed and struck Mr Tomlinson, and that such dangerous actions inadvertently caused or contributed to the death of Mr Tomlinson," Scotland Yard said in a statement.
It may not be the manslaughter charge he should be facing, but heres one bully boy copper who has to face the music - thank god for mobile phone footage or he'd be the latest in a long line of coppers to get off scot free. We all remember Thatchers bully boys tearing off their numbers to avoid ID - those of them that were plod, that is, and not army in disguise.

In my opinion, peoples views on the police depend on how you are brought up. If you are brought up to respect the police like i believe you should then you will have respect for them. If you are brought up to dislike them which i think is wrong then you will dislike them.

Respect has to be earned, and should be a two way arrangement. Most police officers treat the public with respect and they deserve respect in return - PC Amos being a prime example. There are, however, occasions when some individuals behaviour tarnishes the public image of the whole force - PC Harwood being a prime example. Just as the behaviour of the idiot students who trashed tory HQ ruined the message of the day of protest by a largely peaceful demonstration, this individuals behaviour (amongst others) casts a very large shadow on the public image of the police.

I'm off to listen to some NWA.......

Okay...been watching this thread since it started, and it's time to put my neck on the chopping block.....I AM A TRAFFIC COP, and have been for 15 years (Yes, my parents do know, and I do still have a few friends left !!!).
I agree with the poster's on here who have stated that people's attitude to the police depends on how they were brought up...i.e. with respect for the law, teachers, nurses, doctors, elders, etc, but in the society that we live in today, there are those that will always be against any form of authority regardless. These are the people that keep me in a job !!
BREN2K...with regards to your above comment, I think you will find that you are 20 years behind the times. I joined the force in 1989, and whilst I was aware at the time of "problems" in other forces between the traffic department and other departments, (mainly C.I.D who liked to go to the pub on their way home after a late shift, or even whilst still performing a late shift !!!!!) times have now changed, and where I work in Leeds, we actually share an office with the C.I.D, and have an excellent working relationship with "The Grimmers" .
Now, whilst I am aware that some of my fellow traffic officers don't exactly endear themselves to "our customers" (as we have to call them), I personally take great pride in being professional at all times, and always treat people the way I would wish to be treated myself. I accept that not all of my colleagues are like-minded, but the vast majority are, and without us, the county would be a far worse place to live and drive !!








Rant over

I'm sure you're one of the good guys and I respect and admire that; one of my oldest mates has been a copper since the late 80's, so I know full well that it's a tough and sometimes thankless job. You're right though that some of your traffic colleagues don't help the public perception.

The 'Coppers' documentary has looked to me like a PR disaster for the police; out of interest, what's the view from those on the 'inside'?

Is that Richard Moore lurking around (15 and half minutes)?

Maybe he's banned from the city centre so he wants move on??????

The WPC who said Hulk Hogans, is an example to all those who think they may be too stupid to join the police.

The guy who was impatient and ended up being done for D&D i thought that could have been handled better, the police think they are beyond criticism if the person dishing it out has had a drink.
The young copper with the goatee who had that weak little student verbal him, man up ffs, the lad was a tit but did you need to go in so heavy handed?
Again the guy who was 'spat on', you can do the same job without swearing, I'm sure if i swore I'd expect a telling off or is it a do as i say not as i do attitude with the police ?

I like the Police, but 'some' need to realise you need to be uber professional or you'll get crucified.

Yep.

The view from "those on the inside" is pretty much the same as the views expressed on here, and everywhere else that has been discussing the series...there are "good guys and gals" and not so good ones (didn't want to sound too cheesy by using the phrase "good cops and bad cops" !!!).
You will find that personnel in the police are identical to personnel in all other jobs..there are the professional ones who get on with the job without making a song-and-dance about it, and there are the others who don't..... (token gesture of police brutality added to the end for maximum effect !!!!!!)

Yep, I agree with most of this, but with regards to the squaddy at the front counter at Wood Street Nick, who was wanting to make a complaint of assault, I think the editing of the footage didn't do the police any favours. When my wife saw him being arrested, her first comment was "That's disgusting...why is he being arrested ??...he is the victim !!" .
Now whilst I am the first to admit that I wasn't there, I suspect what actually did happen (because this is what usually happens !!) is that the initial incident would have been handbags at six paces between two drunken idiots, which led to the arrest of the other party, and then the "innocent" victim is asked to attend at the police station to give a statement, and on arrival is asked to wait until an officer is available to take a statement from him. This is because all of the officers are too busy dealing with other drunken idiots fighting on Westgate. Mr Innocent then becomes bored and keeps pressing the bell, and demanding that someone takes his statement quickly, so that he can then go back down town to finish his night off with yet more ale. The help-desk staff keep asking him to be patient, but he keeps pestering and pestering, which subsequently results in the footage of him being arrested, which is what we did see.
I explained this to the wife, and she couldn't believe that there was no one in the station to take his statement, and thought it disgusting that he was being told to wait for an hour !!
The reality of the "Thin blue line" is just that, and it is getting thinner by the day. There are only so many officers on front line duties at 2.00 am, and when they are all tied up dealing with various incidents, then drunken idiots waiting to give a statement go to the back of the queue and have to wait their turn !!!

Not sure how many evenings this 'product ' took to complete but the overall cost can't be a lot.

Cheap telly that grabbed a local interest by virtue of 'selective' editing.