To protect and to serve ... whom?

**BrilloPad** · 24 June 2009, 13:55

I always thought the job of guarding 10 Downing Street etcetc. should be done by army : not armed police. Does not help the police image....

**DimPrawn** · 24 June 2009, 13:56

You mean like this?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_Patrol_Group

I blame Thatcher.

**NotAllThere** · 24 June 2009, 13:57

Swiss police seem really scary, with guns an' all. But the local plod, at least, seem to understand they are part of the community, and are really cool.

I got stopped for not having my lights on at dusk. ( I have a volvo and leave them on - the garage servicing them turned them off, the dashboard remains lit ). When he found I was resident locally, he gave me a little telling off, and let me go.

**ace00** · 24 June 2009, 14:02

It is your imagination citizen.

doublebad

**bogeyman** · 24 June 2009, 14:06

The first (and increasingly, only) duty of the police is to protect their paymasters.

They are not interested in controlling crime, just controlling the population.

**Amiga500** · 24 June 2009, 14:08

Originally posted by NotAllThere View Post

I got stopped for not having my lights on at dusk. .

That's outrageous behaviour.

**NotAllThere** · 24 June 2009, 14:23

Originally posted by Amiga500 View Post

That's outrageous behaviour.

That's what he said. But we sat down, I poured him some absinthe, and matters resolved themselves. Ok, we blocked a major roadway for a couple of hours, but some things need to be taken seriously for civilisation's sake.

**The Lone Gunman** · 24 June 2009, 14:36

Originally posted by bogeyman View Post

The first (and increasingly, only) duty of the police is to protect their paymasters.

They are not interested in controlling crime, just controlling the population.

Dont forget their role as random tax collectors. It seems more and more that the role of the Police is to generate as much money from speeding fines and fixed penalties as they can.

**Peoplesoft bloke** · 24 June 2009, 15:16

Originally posted by The Lone Gunman View Post

Dont forget their role as random tax collectors. It seems more and more that the role of the Police is to generate as much money from speeding fines and fixed penalties as they can.

Speeding fines aren't a tax (unless you think GBH fines are a tax on violence) - slow down a bit= no fine.

To protect and to serve ... whom?