[unclej]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18900484

PC Simon Harwood cleared of manslaughter today

do you like/trust the police?

personally i do not. riot police and the met especialy, due to their protest tactics, racism and the discraceful amount of young, unarmed men killed by the police.

[Alex17595]

Im a good boy and don't tend to come in contact with the police

[TheCurlyHairedDude]

"and the discraceful amount of young, unarmed men who are usually black." - I'm having severe difficulties deciphering that, maybe I'm thinking to hard, got no idea at all.

And no I don't trust the police.

[Morgsie]

Nope based on previous things

[Manitude]

All my experiences with the police have been positive. I've either been the victim or witness to a crime/fugitive so they've been very helpful for me.

[jumpingjesusholycow]

For the most part, yes. They play an un-invasive part of my life and usually do their job well.

Of course, there are very well publicised incidents where their vested authority has been abused, but as far as my interaction with them, they've always been reasonable and performed their duties as they should.

They're just normal people. If you just go up to them, say hi and initiate a normal conversation like you would anyone else, you will almost always find they respond in a perfectly amiable manner.

[Darth Stewie]

Never had any experience with the police but i wouldn't automatically trust someone because they are a police officer however i do trust that they are capable of performing their job if say for instance i had a break in.

[DeadGirlsDance]

Based on previous experiences I don't. When you do need them they don't actually do anything anyway .

[NWA]

I would like to think most of the police force is honest and works efficiently, and that's why i trust them; however there are always ones that don't, and ones that are corrupt, racist etc.

It's like a bag of grapes really. It only takes one sour squishy one to put you of the rest though so i completely understand why people don't like/trust the police.

[OSharp]

Would I trust most of them not to kill me, yes probably.

Would I trust them to always do their job to their full ability without ever going beyond the call of duty or ever overstepping the mark, probably not. but I would trust them a hell of a lot more than private security firms or door staff.

[timeofflight]

Nearly all my extended family are in the police. I'm quite a fan. :P

[Aust1n]

I do to an extent, but I find their actual knowledge of the law, human rights, et cetera to be thoroughly lacking in most cases and it worries me that a lot resort to aggressive tactics quicker than they should.

My other concern is that with the majority of them not actually being that clever academically that they blindly follow the orders of the heirarchy. For gods sake they only just got off their arses and started moaning about how the police force was going down the pan. This should have happened as soon as the cuts were implimented.

[PhoenixFortune]

Like all humans, they have their flaws and make mistakes, but every police officer I came into contact with when I was a victim of a crime was very nice, even understanding, which for some reason I didn't expect. I trusted them, but I can't speak for any police officers I may or may not (touch wood) meet in the future.

[As_Dust_Dances_]

We live in a society where pizza comes to your door quicker than the police!

[ForensicShoe]

(Original post by jumpingjesusholycow)
They're just normal people. If you just go up to them, say hi and initiate a normal conversation like you would anyone else, you will almost always find they respond in a perfectly amiable manner.

My grandad had a 30 minute conversation with an armed police officer when he was in a London hospital the other day. Apparently this chap had been guarding the hospital room of someone who'd been on the receiving end of an assassination attempt earlier in the week and he gave up quite a bit of his time, just after coming off shift, to talk to my grandad about past military service (my grandad served in the RAF regiment and I think this officer had relatives who had/were serving), his job, his weapon, etc. Thought it was rather sweet of him to do so

[No Future]

I used to, but then after watching one of the student demonstrations in London (as opposed to watching the news/reading the papers afterwards) and after reading more about police violence, I don't.

I am also disappointed about the Harwood verdict.

The way the media reports events can be very skewed indeed.

[Pads]

I trust them.

The problem is the media never report every day good things they do and only report things in a negative light.

edit- and i believe it was the right verdict. Was just a tragic turn of events but these things happens where there are protests like that.

[Cheese_Monster]

I trust them. Not every cop is a baton-happy lunatic.

[Lord Jon]

I trust them. Been a police cadet for a while and applying to become a special constable too.I have had all round positive experiences except for once as a victim of a somewhat serious crime. Although thats more of an issue with other powers of the law not police.Some coppers are rubbish. Most are good likewise , some civillians are bad and some are good.To mistrust an entire force over a few is ridiculous.Oh and OP , the met's riot tactics are standard... All forces in England and Wales use them!!

[internet tough guy]

Its very worrying news that this disgrace of a police officer was cleared, I knew he should've been found guilty, and now that his past record has come to light, well thats just adding insult to injury. You'd have to either be retarded or biased to argue that the guy used 'reasonable' force. Can't believe the jury bought this lie