Would you go to the aid of a police officer

[Adam W]

Generally speaking I like to think of myself as a helpful person, whether it be assisting with the carrying of something heavy, helping an old lady across the road or giving advice on an internet forum.

Unfortunately I have in the past found myself in situations where I have needed the help of the police but been left with a feeling that they could have done a lot more; on other occasions I have been left feeling the officer involved could have been a lot more professional and polite.
If I tell people this their default response seems to be to jump to the defence of the police saying they do a difficult job, I would be glad of their help if I needed it, even that it's not the job of the police to be liked "by criminals", meaning if I felt they had been rude or unhelpful then they were actually doing a good job.

This has left me in a position where I have been defaulted on the side against the police, despite them having never found cause to arrest me.
I don't consider myself to be a criminal, but at the same time I seem to be in a third place where the police don't want me on their side.
I suppose you could say I would help the police by not hindering them.

 

[mickfred]

No way . If you can't take a beating don't be a bizzie and if you're a 5 foot ten stone women get out of the way .

 

[Baker1988]

Well I have always been the guy to help any one don't care if its men fighting or a man hitting a women or even a woman hitting a man, always try and calm things and stop it I have seen 2 people end up in hospital in my time just by one hit so best to stop it before any one ends up in hospital. but also I did try and help a copper once when I was 20 yr old while I was walking to the next night club the officer was struggling to keep the bloke down to cuff him and I went over to help and tried to hold him down and as I did that I got grabbed from behind with a arm around my throat coking me so thinking not was his mate or someone I started defending my self and ended up punching him to realise it was another copper thinking I was trying to hurt his co worker and io ended up getting arrested and ended up spending the night in cells and was only when they looked at the cctv the next day that they released me with no charge. so to be honest unless the copper was being battered I don't think I would step in again.
Sorry for the essay

 

[westward10]

I would like to think I would support the true support services such as the fire service and ambulance service but the police force and any of the armed forces, definitely no.

 

[Midwest]

I would like to think I would support the true support services such as the fire service and ambulance service but the police force and any of the armed forces, definitely no.

Why not help the cops?

 

[Midwest]

I thought it was a criminal offence not to go to the aid of a police officer that needs help.

I recall its a common law offence, to refuse to assist a police officer when asked to do so, with a few caveats.

As essex said it is also offence to assault a police officer or person assisting a police officer. You also not however, that offence requires the police officer to be executing his duties at the time & acting lawfully. So if he makes a mistake, your not covered by this particular offence.

And I've had a similar argument, (can't remember if it was here?) that assault on police only carries the same higher tier punishment as common assault.
Archived Petition: Legislate to introduce minimum sentences for assaulting police officers. - https://petition.parliament.uk/archived/petitions/104360
The injuries to the officers in my thread, probably be charged with offences against the person, ABH etc, which have a higher tier punishment.

 

[westward10]

Why not help the cops?

They have an air of arrogance about them, combine that with low levels of intelligence and you have a dysfunctional unit.

 

[Midwest]

They have an air of arrogance about them, combine that with low levels of intelligence and you have a dysfunctional unit.

I think you've been watching too many episodes of Cagney & Lacy.

 

[FatAlan]

They have an air of arrogance about them, combine that with low levels of intelligence and you have a dysfunctional unit.

Slightly sweeping statement. Like any profession the police have a good proportion of idiots and jobsworths as per any cross section of society. A bit like electricians. It’s a bit like saying all fraudsters are from West Africa and Essex!

 

[Midwest]

Slightly sweeping statement. Like any profession the police have a good proportion of idiots and jobsworths as per any cross section of society. A bit like electricians. It’s a bit like saying all fraudsters are from West Africa and Essex!

You've blown your argument, with your last sentence.

 

[FatAlan]

You've blown your argument, with your last sentence.

Fair do’s mate. You got me there.

 

[MDJ]

I would help anyone in Trouble, even the Filth, anyone.

 

[Adam W]

I thought it was a criminal offence not to go to the aid of a police officer that needs help.

I thought it was also a criminal offence to impersonate a police officer.
Since I have neither been trained to identify when a police officer needs help nor trained to administer that help, unless the police officer in question asks me for help I risk leaving myself open to allegations of interfering, even obstructing a police officer in the execution of his duty, which is also an offence.

There are of course exceptions, for instance if the police officer is injured, in which case I would most likely offer the same help that I would to anyone else regardless of what they do for a living.

 

[Squid]

If it was that officer that pulled me over and gave me the £30 fine as my rear number plate was obscured with the kids bikes years ago a day after I was made redundant then nope. I hope he rots in hell.

 

[mickfred]

To be fair you should not go round robbing kids bikes in the first place . Out of work is not a excuse