Ask Bluebottle

[miliitant]

Re: Ask Bluebottle

so what does that make the armed services

when i took the queens shilling i had to swear an oath to the queen, not a political party

[bluebottle]

Re: Ask Bluebottle

so what does that make the armed services

when i took the queens shilling i had to swear an oath to the queen, not a political party

Armed Forces are also Crown servants, Miliitant.

[Inca]

Re: Ask Bluebottle

Im the daughter of a copper,,and my Dad commanded respect,and gave respect where it was due.It's a crying shame that the powers that be have restricted the police from clipping a little ***** round the ear'ole. I bought my son up to respect the police

[miliitant]

Re: Ask Bluebottle

the police are not respected any more

respect is earned and not a right just because you stick on a uniform (ex squaddie)

[Hurricane Puffrose]

Re: Ask Bluebottle

Why can a police car do 100mph to catch a speeder doing 90 and yet not get arrested?

Just always wondered what would happen if they got clocked with a speed gun.

[labman]

Re: Ask Bluebottle

Are the Probation Service part of the police force?

[Guest]

Re: Ask Bluebottle

Police officers are Crown Servants, not Public Servants. The office of Constable is an appointment by the Crown. During the Oath of Attestation (Swearing-In), police officers swear allegiance to the Queen and to uphold the Queen's Peace. They also swear to uphold the law and to enforce it without fear or favour, malice or ill-will and to discharge their duty according to law.

Civil Servants are Crown servants, like police officers, but Local Government Officers (LGOs) are Public Servants, as they do not take any oath on taking up their appointments.

Still accountable to, and working on behalf of the public though?

Since in theory they uphold and are regulated by the law, and the law is made by parliament and parliament is us.

I say in theory

D

[Sapphire]

Re: Ask Bluebottle

Is it true that a copper without his helmet can't arrest you because he's technically out of uniform ?

[bluebottle]

Re: Ask Bluebottle

Your probably to young to remember the song,"If you want to know the time ask a policeman".

Wouldn't mind but he got it wrong it's 15:07

D

I can remember that song. The time on my watch when I posted was 14:20.

[bluebottle]

Re: Ask Bluebottle

the police are not respected any more

respect is earned and not a right just because you stick on a uniform (ex squaddie)

Very true.

[bluebottle]

Re: Ask Bluebottle

Is it true that a copper without his helmet can't arrest you because he's technically out of uniform ?

Some offences require that a police officer be in uniform in order to execute a certain power. A police officer in plain clothes can arrest you. I don't know where the one about a copper wearing their helmet is not in uniform and cannot arrest you comes from. A lot of forces do not wear helmets anymore, except on ceremonial occasions.

[bluebottle]

Re: Ask Bluebottle

Still accountable to, and working on behalf of the public though?

Since in theory they uphold and are regulated by the law, and the law is made by parliament and parliament is us.

I say in theory

D

Although a police officer swears an oath to the Queen, this also includes her subjects, i.e. us. Police officers are required to discharge their duties according to law and obey the law as well. As you correctly state, law is made by elected representatives in Parliament. However, some politicians can't seem to grasp the basic concept that they are elected to serve the public, not lord it over them and behave as if they were the public's masters.

Incidentally, a police officer's primary duty and responsibility is the protection and preservation of life.

[miliitant]

Re: Ask Bluebottle

Incidentally, a police officer's primary duty and responsibility is the protection and preservation of life

thats why the go around with MP5

in america they now use the tazer more than live ammo
they have shotguns that shoot bean bags
let alone the fire brigade with water cannon

if someone points a gun at you they deserve all they get but the firearms squads are no more than john wayne and alot of police shootings do not need a leathal response

[Guest]

Re: Ask Bluebottle

I can remember that song. The time on my watch when I posted was 14:20.

"A policeman lot is not a happy one" was another of my favorites.

What time does it say now.

D

[bluebottle]

Re: Ask Bluebottle

It depends on the police force and where they are that determines whether they carry H & K MP5s or MP7s. One of the forces I was with, MoD Police, carry both MP5s and MP7s on duty at certain locations, particularly where nuclear material is stored. The Met's Airport Division carry H & Ks at Heathrow Airport and their Royalty & Diplomatic Protection Group are armed when on duty.

It sounds like US police forces have realised just how trigger-happy their cops were and decide to take their guns off them. However, they misuse Tasers, as do some British officers. The bean bag guns have been around for a while and they are, generally, a good idea, as they are intended to knock someone off their feet, not kill or seriously-injure them. The only British police force I know that has water cannon is the Police Service for Northern Ireland (PSNI).

My personal feelings about police officers being armed are that unless it is to prevent terrorists getting their hands on nuclear material to make a dirty bomb, they should not be armed. This is the view of the majority of serving officers. It is preferable to use a Taser to disarm a person brandishing a firearm or who is armed with a weapon, like a sword, for example. My personal view on Tasers is that they should only be used when there is an immediate risk to life and limb, not as has been witnessed, as a means of controlling people. Any police officer who uses a Taser in that fashion is not fit to wear a police uniform, let alone hold the office of Constable.