Quote: DaButt @ November 5 2009, 1:20 PM GMTTough on criminals, tough on crooked cops.
That's the synopsis of every James Elroy novel.
Surprise News - Police Officer Found Not Guilty Page 3
Quote: AndreaLynne @ November 5 2009, 1:15 PM GMTAnd get this. The old friend of mine who's an officer that I was considering going on a date with is involved with a lot of this shifty stuff too. Oh well. Glad I found out in time.
Close call.
Quote: DaButt @ November 5 2009, 1:20 PM GMTTough on criminals, tough on crooked cops. That's all I want.
Agreed.
The officers in the Guardian article were territorial support group officers as well, who have long had one of the worst reputations in the police. They were the successors to the Special Patrol Group who were involved in the death of Blair Peach amongst many others.
I guess police officers are never going to be the most liberal members of society. The police, like the army, round the world naturally seems to attract people who are attracted to violence. If you're at a busy police station and news comes in of a fight or violent incident going off in town they'll rush out, and there's a visible sense of excitement and adrenalin.
I would never do the job myself in a million years, so I'm loath to be too critical, but like all organisations that depend on a collective spirit, they do tend to get together to cover up and lie for each other if one of them has done something wrong. And there's definitely still an air of intolerance towards all sorts of minorities, although it's got a lot better than twenty/thirty years ago.
As for not prosecuting them, I think it's often difficult because juries, perhaps understandably, are rarely keen on convicting police officers who are accused of crimes whilst carrying out their duties. The CPS is only supposed to prosecute if there's a 75% chance of conviction, and that's quite a high hurdle with a serving police officer. I can see why they did it here, as a police officer was willing to give evidence against his colleagues, but that's incredibly rare.
In passing, I may be wrong but I get the impression doctors are also quite prone to covering up for their colleagues when things go wrong.
Quote: John Kelly @ November 5 2009, 4:55 PM GMTIn passing, I may be wrong but I get the impression doctors are also quite prone to covering up for their colleagues when things go wrong.
Isn't every profession?
Quote: chipolata @ November 5 2009, 4:59 PM GMTIsn't every profession?
Yes, to a certain extent, but I think more communal organisations like the police, the army or hospitals, where people work as a close-knit team, are more likely to be so, than smaller organisations where people are more inclined to be self-reliant and competitive with each other.
Quote: John Kelly @ November 5 2009, 5:06 PM GMTYes, to a certain extent, but I think more communal organisations like the police, the army or hospitals, where people work as a close-knit team, are more likely to be so, than smaller organisations where people are more inclined to be self-reliant and competitive with each other.
Most people are c**ts, that's true. 
Quote: John Kelly @ November 5 2009, 4:55 PM GMTIn passing, I may be wrong but I get the impression doctors are also quite prone to covering up for their colleagues when things go wrong.
That culture has (thankfully) been pretty much eroded due to the encouragement of whistle-blowing in the patient's best interests, plus far closer independent scrutiny when things go wrong and far more transparent complaints procedures.
Also, I would say there is a world of difference between a mistake and knowingly doing wrong.
Quote: Tim Walker @ November 5 2009, 6:06 PM GMTThat culture has (thankfully) been pretty much eroded due to the encouragement of whistle-blowing in the patient's best interests, plus far closer independent scrutiny when things go wrong and far more transparent complaints procedures.
Also, I would say there is a world of difference between a mistake and knowingly doing wrong.
There sure is a difference, but it's quite a small world's worth. It's little compensation to discover that a terrible situation has been caused by incompetence rather than malice.
Quote: Dolly Dagger @ November 5 2009, 5:07 PM GMTMost people are c**ts, that's true.
*Waits for Roodeye to make an appearance*
A few rotten apples can spoil any barrel.
The knock on effect of these few rotten cops, is it creates resent and exclusion with in the groups they pick on. Who are more likely to be involved in crime and so the whole vicious cycle begins.
Most police I have ever worked with have been fair, honest and genuinely commited to society. But it just takes this few to spoil it for all of us.
Quote: Tim Walker @ November 5 2009, 6:06 PM GMTThat culture has (thankfully) been pretty much eroded due to the encouragement of whistle-blowing in the patient's best interests, plus far closer independent scrutiny when things go wrong and far more transparent complaints procedures.
Also, I would say there is a world of difference between a mistake and knowingly doing wrong.
Don't know about Drs but in nursing and ancilliary staff it's coverup all too often.
Channel 4 did research and it turns out that if you're a nurse the one crime that is unforgivable and will cost you, your job is putting in a complaint.
People are fallible and many are ultimately selfish. Give them responsibility and you can't expect much, sadly.
Quote: Dolly Dagger @ November 5 2009, 8:10 PM GMTPeople are fallible and many ALL are ultimately selfish.
Quote: Dolly Dagger @ November 5 2009, 8:10 PM GMTPeople are fallible and many are ultimately selfish. Give them responsibility and you can't expect much, sadly.
It's a culture thing. Social services and teaching there's such a terror of whistle blowing people are dangerously over cautious.
Nursing no one whistles blows or are taken seriously when they do.
And for my next massive over generalisation!
Quote: sootyj @ November 5 2009, 8:28 PM GMTIt's a culture thing. Social services and teaching there's such a terror of whistle blowing
It's also shocking how referees are treated and they're the same.
Quote: Morrace @ November 5 2009, 10:49 AM GMTI love the photo of the policeman with the cuddly toy.
It's a PC gone mad.