What are they 'actually' doing

'Britain's rarest wild flower will get police protection from thieves when it blooms this month.The Lady's Slipper orchid is the last of its kind growing wild here and cuttings can sell for up to £5,000.
Wildlife officers are so concerned about theft they are setting up extra patrols and considering installing secret CCTV to monitor it.

Pc Duncan Thomas, of Lancashire Police, said: "You can't help being impressed by this plant's incredible display when flowering.
"Sadly, there are persons who will seek to steal it."
Anyone found damaging the orchid, planted in the 1800s, faces six months in jail or a £5,000 fine'

Excuse me Pc Thomas...any chance of protecting the citizens that pay your wages

Also why do I only see police in takeaways or kebab houses?

for example:

http://www.tayside.police.uk/wildlife/

We have a statutory duty to enforce the law on wildlife and environmental crime

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this means, they have no choice in the matter, and must address the issue....

as for where they eat or are seen, you are more than welcome to take my place on a suicide watch in a cell any time you think you can handle it, with an excrement eating prisoner...or sit with a rape victim, or inform a pregnant woman her husband committed suicide in front of an intercity train, to name a few incidents from the last weeks

Interesting, can't say I think it's the best use of their time but as long as there's no conclusive evidence of failure to prevent other crimes in favour of protecting a plant then I can sort of see why.

Public money and time (IMO) should be spent on more important matters like actually protecting the public? 6 months in jail for a flower for damaging (accidently?) a flower! Guy I know got 3 weeks for kicking the crap out of 3 guys leaving them all in hospital and scarred.

I did not ask what a policemans job entails but observed that in the last 3 weeks I have only seen them in the food outlets. I have seen none anywhere else yet when a neighbour was getting attacked by a group of 20 yobs they turned up 28 hours later? There simply seems to be no police presence thesedays...why. Lack of police, funds?

Jai, we have spoken backstage about the police before and you know I more than anyone is pro-police (I remember saying to you I would willingly pay more tax) but when laws decide that flora comes before the public and there is little or no police presence then things need to change/be done.

T14086 said:

Also why do I only see police in takeaways or kebab houses?

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Sorry, I forgot we aren't allowed to eat.

Most likely because its cheap and quick to make/eat...so if a call does come in...chances are we've already eaten it.

then the public need to vote, and demand that instead of these matters, the services energies are spent where they want them. as for sentencing, that's a matter for the govt, and the edicts they hand down to the courts on how tariffs are handed out. just as with charging, these matters are out of the hands of officers, but are attributed to them because it's easier to have a single point of focus when people want to vent.

any chance of protecting the citizens that pay your wages

Also why do I only see police in takeaways or kebab houses?

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by which rationale, i am self employed....

we have been encouraged to get our food from local eateries, to support local economy, and provide a higher profile presence, coupled with greater choice than the high priced canteen, adds up

Kier said:

Sorry, I forgot we aren't allowed to eat.

Most likely because its cheap and quick to make/eat...so if a call does come in...chances are we've already eaten it.

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You guys don't really get a "break" as such right? Just the local McDonalds seems to be a favourite for the local guys, it's good for them really they get something quick AND get to pick up all the idiots who hang out there making trouble

T14086 said:

Public money and time (IMO) should be spent on more important matters like actually protecting the public? 6 months in jail for a flower for damaging (accidently?) a flower!

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Lancashire isn't London, different areas - different things happen. There was no suggestion of 6 months in jail for accidently damaging a flower - cuttings from it are very valuable, and people will be looking to steal them.

Jai said:

we have been encouraged to get our food from local eateries, to support local economy, and provide a higher profile presence, coupled with greater choice than the high priced canteen, adds up

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and it works, I was out in Sheffield last night and saw 4 officers in a local takeaway. My thoughts weren't "grr do go your job etc etc" it was more a "nice to see a police presence"

popsprocket said:

You guys don't really get a "break" as such right? Just the local McDonalds seems to be a favourite for the local guys, it's good for them really they get something quick AND get to pick up all the idiots who hang out there making trouble

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theoretically, on a normal shift you get a 45min break, on a 12 hour shift, you get an additional 15 mins. in practise, i've hit the ground running 30 mins early, not stopped till 8 hours in (walking away from a victim to grab a bite is frowned upon) found only fast food outlets are open, wolf down crap, and get back into it again, other times, you don't even get that luxury....

Kier said:

Sorry, I forgot we aren't allowed to eat.

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No I didnt mean it in that respect but simply where are they the rest of the time....doing paperwork? dont know you tell me/us. Surely the law of averages means I should see a police car or policeman on patrol every few days?

Jai said:

then the public need to vote, and demand that instead of these matters, the services energies are spent where they want them. as for sentencing, that's a matter for the govt, and the edicts they hand down to the courts on how tariffs are handed out. just as with charging, these matters are out of the hands of officers, but are attributed to them because it's easier to have a single point of focus when people want to vent.

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ok..your (the police) job is to uphold the law but we (public) dont see the whole picture. What we seek is safer streets and that I admit is a rather naive view as we forget that there is paperwork to be done and other 'unpleasent duties' as you rightly stated but dont you think its time to release the police from the paperwork duties in some way? Is video evidence faster? Rarely do we hear the police give their own views?

I'm not venting (I know the police aint perfect but its better than having the anarchy that there would be if there was no police!) but isn't it about time there was more discussion on the police and the roles of the police force.

Jai said:

we have been encouraged to get our food from local eateries, to support local economy, and provide a higher profile presence, coupled with greater choice than the high priced canteen, adds up

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I see, good point never crossed my mind but surely that is more expensive?

Okay, I understand the argument now - you think red tape is holding police officers back from spending more time dealing with what taxpayers physically see them doing? Is that it?

For an insight into the life of a policeman, try reading 'wasting police time' by david copperfield - it's a real eye opener.
If the guy wasn't dealing with idiot members of the public, he was sifting through reams of paperwork generated by idiot politicians and seniors (who seem to have created this paper mountain just to keep themselves in work!).

popsprocket said:

Okay, I understand the argument now - you think red tape is holding police officers back from spending more time dealing with what taxpayers physically see them doing? Is that it?

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Yes I suppose so but not a argument, more frustration which I suppose many police officers feel aswell?

One thing I could never understand is all this paperwork (I'm not a cop so I dont know) but surely the policemans word is enough afterall if you cant trust the police who can you trust? Why is there all this 100% conclusive evidence with pictures,statements etc then the accused gets off on a clerical or technical error

T, off the top of my head, one of Copperfield's moans was the inordinate amount of paperwork he had to generate for each little thing and much of this had to be done many times over, you had to create numerous copies for different people (and not all the information could be put on every copy so not just a case of write once then print a dozen times).
I'm off out in a minute but if I get chance later I'll see if I can find a relevant quote from the book.

wouldnt it be faster/easier to have a spoken (or video) statements by the officer which could be send my email or stored on USB/disc for future reference?

Another thing is cant the police have representives to speak on their behalf insteard of spending hours/days in court and only be asked to present themselves if the judge decides it is important to the case?

T14086 said:

Another thing is cant the police have representives to speak on their behalf insteard of spending hours/days in court and only be asked to present themselves if the judge decides it is important to the case?

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When I did my Jury service last december it was the actual officers involved that appeared in court.

But T's right couldn't that be streamlined by having a representative of the state there to present a sworn statement?

Yeah I have to agree a lot of the practices have been superseded but the cost of changing procedures would be monumental.

popsprocket said:

You guys don't really get a "break" as such right? Just the local McDonalds seems to be a favourite for the local guys, it's good for them really they get something quick AND get to pick up all the idiots who hang out there making trouble

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I've signed something to say that I don't mind if I don't get a break, don't know if a Regular signs something similar. That being said, last week I did a 15 hour shift, with only 30 minutes break, was a busy night, so even if I didn't sign, I doubt I would have got a break.

sludgeguts said:

For an insight into the life of a policeman, try reading 'wasting police time' by david copperfield - it's a real eye opener.
If the guy wasn't dealing with idiot members of the public, he was sifting through reams of paperwork generated by idiot politicians and seniors (who seem to have created this paper mountain just to keep themselves in work!).

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Fantastic book!

T14086 said:

I see, good point never crossed my mind but surely that is more expensive?

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they get discount in many places and free coffee in others

dave said:

they get discount in many places and free coffee in others

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You forgot the Free Doughnuts



When PCSO's first came out (not in that way) they were everywhere not seen one in months where did they go?