The reason why the British police didn’t arrest the man when he said he was on drugs is because the British police are more interested in catching the people who SELL the drugs, not the people who take them.
It’s not that they’re not interested, is mainly because being under the influence (aslong as it’s not whilst in operation of a vehicle or putting others at risk) isn’t really a chargeable offence, especially people like that who can only afford small amounts so by time they’re high, there’s no longer a possession charge, the most they’ll do is hold you in cells overnight till you sober up hence why they said about the “walking test” it’s more so they know the person is safe and doesn’t just pass out somewhere unsafe not being able to physically protect himself
@@kieranmay5938 even if they carry a small amount of drugs on them still they probably wouldnt really punish them for it, theyd just throw it out, ik from my own experience thats happened plenty of times with some of my weed smoking friends
It's also because the drug addicts are one of the most useful sources of intel they have. I worked at a homeless shelter for a while and we always had fantastic relationships with the police, they would provide us with drug purity testing kits because one of the best ways we could keep our service users safe was via word of mouth - exposing low quality drug dealers via word of mouth. They would also allow us to send in drug paraphernalia to them for testing and let service users anonymously report dealers. The other benefit to getting to know the street scene is knowing which reports to respond to in which ways. If you know this person is often drunk and rowdy but not dangerous its a different response to someone you know often carries a knife.
I’m a retired police officer. I did 25 years. Unfortunately I had to retire 5 years early due to ill health. In all my service all I had was my radio and a women’s truncheon which was a 12” wooden baton ( the men’s truncheons were bigger - no innuendo intended). I only drew my truncheon once in that time. We are taught to interact with the public In the States you have a Police Force. In the UK we have a Police Service. We don’t have the armoury so we have to use our brains to defuse situations. I never talked down to people but I would always converse with them on their level that’s how I was taught. I loved my career and would do it again in a heartbeat. I lived in a seaside town at the time and it was always full of tourists in the summer. I remember one Sunday I was on my own walking down the Main Street in the town when this gang of yobbish tourists were trying to hit a window with a large plank. At the time I was outside one of the pubs in the street which was also full. All of a sudden these youths started heading towards me shouting and waving the plank. They were really nasty. Before I could get on my radio about 5 of the local criminal fraternity came running out of the pub. I won’t lie I was pooping myself. The next thing I know the local crims all stood in front of me and shouted. “She may be a copper but she’s our copper. Touch her and we’ll deal with you far worse than she will”. (There language was a bit more colourful than that) That’s what happens when you treat people with respect even if they are usually bad ‘uns.
A friend and myself were once arrested by a solitary bicycle officer under suspicion of a firearms offence. We were nice and honest with him, got front cuffed and waited for a van to pick us up. Had a nice chat with him whilst waiting, and then a pleasant conversation with the officers in the van. EDIT: I should add that what we'd done was accidentally fired an air rifle within 100 yards of a public highway. Got a small fine but no firearms charges were brought.
I’m a black British female, a police officer saved my life. When I was diagnosed with MS I took about 12 sleeping tablets and laid near the stream. I was so close to dying before a police relentlessly and eventually found me. I’m in better mental health now and not taking life for granted even if I still have MS. ❤❤
I think the best description I heard regarding the difference between UK and US police is their function: American police enforce the law. British police keep the peace.
Well, more specifically uphold the law. There is also the principlel that the police are the public and the public are the police Finally they are way better trained in deescalation, which is a better outcome for all, including the police themselves
@@TryptychUK UK have a police service, US a police force. UK police are there to serve the public, US police to force the law (as they see it) on the public.
I am British. The fact that you guys constantly mention guns is crazy. When I watch our police the idea of guns never comes into my mind. I don’t worry about the police needing a gun because the public don’t have guns.
oh americans are very obssed with them, one of my American friends was thinking of coming to the uk, the amount of times i had to say no you can not bring your guns they will be taken off you. so crazy
I remember seeing UK firearms Officers in an airport for the first time, & it was a shock! Almost surreal - "that's a real gun" kept rolling through my mind. I was young, but I'm really glad it's still unusual.
To be pedantic, gun callouts do happen frequently, but you're right that it's nowhere NEAR the frequency of what I imagine Americans are used to having. I suppose gun crime in the UK is one of those things that people don't realise happens more than you'd expect, Nottingham's a fucker for it
No people in England do have guns...just few and far between...that's why we have a chit knife crime rate...but yes I'm glad we don't arm people with guns because it's there right...that's bull shit.. just don't arm ill educated people
Our police are taught to deescalate situations hence the no guns. As a Brit I don't want police officers with guns unless they are a special trained unit in a volatile situation.
Police have access to guns, quickly, *if they need them* - the point is, *they usually don't.* Back in the days when Mansfield (a small country town in the East Midlands) had a livestock market, a bull escaped. It was shot dead by a marksman in under 5 minutes.
@@wessexdruid7598 No, they don't. Normal police constables are not allowed to firearms. Tasers, yes but not actual guns. Only the specially trained Firearms units are permitted to carry and use firearms and given the recent case, where an armed officer shot and killed someone (who had already been in 2 prior shooting incidents, where they had fired the gun), was acquitted in court and then immediately fired, will likely lead to a lot of the existing firearms officers, quitting carrying.
@@wessexdruid7598 Not true - there are dedicated units of the police for extraordinary circumstances who always have guns. No regular bobby will be given guns.
Police officers in Northern Ireland carry firearms by default so although you are likely correct for your own area that does not mean it's the same in all of the UK.
What disturbs me is their saying ‘you have to have training to talk people like that’. I always just thought that was common courtesy. I am always polite to people regardless of their status. I have regular conversations with the homeless population of my city and would never talk to them any differently than anyone else. This has annoyed a few CEOs that I treat them the same way I do the cleaner.
@@dianef4227 that’s so weird that people don’t like that?? I always talk to homeless people whenever I go to the city, they always have interesting stories.
@@dianef4227 The training is mostly contextual I think, de-escalation training is good for all police officers of course. As a dutchie with similar police, I can still imagine that the idea that every person you interact with could have a gun and therefore could very well be a threat to your life does make things more tense generally speaking. On top, any safety measures can generate an air of distrust which could make situations a bit more volatile and make it so larger amounts of training are required to reach a similar kind of approach.
I had a panic attack on the bus 2 weeks ago and had to get off at the next stop , i was now stuck not wanting to get on the bus again and feeling rough , i saw two Policeman across the road and asked them for a lift home and they did . I was grateful.
" a panic attack" My sympathies - it's terrifying, isn't it? Hope you're getting the help you need; too many people with these problems are simply too proud - or too embarrassed - to do so, and as a result suffer for months and years with anxiety and depression UNNECESSARILY, when their solution is more likely than not just down the road at a GP's surgery. Good luck, anyway, Buddy!
@@gingerbill128 "at the doctors a few days ago." Pleased to hear it, Mate. If only _more_ sufferers were as sensible! Hope you get your life back on track soon.😉
I last had a panic attack 8 years ago. I still suffer with anxiety, so not totally fixed, but just wanted to share with you, (and anyone else reading this that may also suffer) so you know that these things can get better ❤. Exposure therapy is what worked for me. Good luck with your future endeavours! :)
@@metalrainbow2728 Yes, different remedies work for different people. I went through a really ghastly Dark Tunnel experience some years ago (physical and mental), and my wonderful naturopathic lady doctor treated me for just under a year - with great results - save for ONE thing: she could do nothing for my constant anxiety and frequent panic attacks (when I _literally_ had to hide under my duvet, like a child). She suggested I go and see a psychiatrist, declaring that all her techniques were useless against what she described as the worst case of anxiety she had ever encountered in her 30-year career, beginning as a psychiatric nurse in California (of all places!). The thing about _psychiatrists_ , she said, was that they like to prescribe _drugs_ - and "Drugs are good". I was deeply amused by that - coming from a naturopath! She was right, though, and when I was put onto the meds (I don't like drugs, but needs must when the Devil drives) by another wonderful lady - a psychiatrist - the anxiety disappeared within a week: I'd got my life back - and (this was GENUINELY exciting to me), I could once again go shopping in Tesco without feeling I was going to pass out. I hadn't really appreciated before HOW much I loved Life - even at the mundane level of going up and down the food aisles: Normal can be pretty exciting, too - once you've been terrorised by the Abnormal! Hope you don't mind my sharing that with you. It's good to talk!😀 Good luck!
I'd just like to say that as a Brit, it's really refreshing to see people from outside of the UK to look at things from their own perspective and openly discuss them. I can tell from all of your videos that you are both very caring, kind people who are never too quick to judge others, that is amazing, you are both awesome ❤
You mean if you obey their orders and answer all their questions they will be okay with you. Learn the law and tell them to take a running jump the next time they randomly stop you and try to learn your identity.
@@leedsman54 I got stopped by the police a few years ago…I think it was just a random stop. As a woman I was nervous and anxious , the police instantly saw I was in a state and politely told me I could go and to not worry . They were nice and friendly
I@@geraldineafflick3947 Ive had it both ways i got stopped walking to work one morning and they got pretty passive aggressive Cop "Where are you going at this time of the morning" Me " I'm going to work" Cop "Huh and where is work? " Me "The Hospital" points at building in distance. Cop "Um well OK then" drives off. Another time I was walking home drunk from a friends party I got stopped they were looking for somone with the cars buzzing around. They ran my name thanked me for my time and to enjoy my walk home lol
Yeah, if you fit a certain demographic. You're a little bit clueless aren't you, in your cosy little world? Look at likes of Wayne cousens, a psycho murderer that abused his power/privilege as an officer. He and countless officers abuse their position. Mainly men. Some of them get a slap on the wrist and senior staff turn a blind-eye with their behaviour. The stats of domestic abuse from police men are sky high. It's a culture of baked in racism and mysonigy. The amount of women police officers that have left the force due the sexist culture is sad to see. There are great police officers that do the job properly and serve the communities properly and I thank them for that but at the end of the day they will never raise the wrong-doing behaviour (very rarely - and it takes big cojones to do so) of colleagues because if you do you get ostracised and bullied/lack of promotion etc. A gang culture. You really to open your eyes and pull your fingers out of your ears 🤦
Regarding how freaked out you were about the officers heading in to the area where people were sleeping rough without firearms or tasers and worrying about them being attacked - of course there are exceptions, but remember from the officers talking at the soup kitchen that there isn't really an "enemy" mindset between officers and the homeless or addict population in the same way as you are picturing from a US perspective! And also regarding your outro conversation - yes, all officers here receive training in de-escalation on non-violent resolution. These officers probably had extra training on top of that due to the specific nature of their positions. I'm glad you reacted to this video, I have always liked it as a demonstration of a "different" way of policing!
Indeed. Tasers are specialty equipment - They are counted as a firearm for Armory purposes. Also as for what they'd use to deal with someone rushing at them, well there's either the truncheon, or there's that big bugger of a solid metal flashlight they are carrying. Not that any officer uses their flashlight as a weapon, no. Definitely not.
@@pitchdark2024 Some of the officers I have come across over the years, I much prefer them not having guns. Crime might go down, but fatal "accidents" may soar through the roof 😂
I once got in a minor car accident (in the UK). Fortunately everyone was ok. The police were passing and stopped to check on everyone. They called an ambulance to check on me because I hadn't eaten much that day and it was nearly mid afternoon, and also I was very shaken up. Then they gave me a lift home - wouldn't hear of me taking a bus. Absolutely wonderful guys.
I have mad respect for the police here in the UK. They do a hard job and often have to deal with those struggling with addiction and mental issues, let alone your average criminal. They by and large do it admirably. They always treat you with respect and kindness so long as you’re chill with them. That being said if you’re a dick they will be forceful with you, then after they’ll pick you up and offer you a helping hand They don’t carry lethal force (except our armed response units, which every UK county police service has) so much more effort is placed on community policing, intelligence and de-escalation. We should be very proud of our boys and girls in blue
@@katiperry8533 absolutely sleeping rough and homeless two different things , I can be considered homeless but staying at a friend's or in a hotel not on the streets .
@@claregale9011 yup. 'Homeless' has a more vague meaning than 'rough sleeping' tbf. You can be classed as homeless when you've been served with an eviction notice too (not that it'd mean you get council housing any quicker that way)
Yes, also a lot of "rough sleepers" and "homeless" who congregate in city centres are in fact not homeless - they have accomodation provided by the local authority but choose not to use it, or are constantly kicked out for causing issues. Many are also involved in crimes including break ins and street robberies (either on each other or the public). This of course does not represent all people who are rough sleeping and some are very kind people who are just used to the lifestyle.
Homeless people have priorities just like everyone does... for some that is feeding their habit but for most it is about staying safe from harm. Sofa-Surfing is the hidden homeless for people with no place to call home. I know some street sleepers who talk about the place they sleep as 'theirs' even if it is a stairwell or tent in a park. While homeless shelters/hostels are great for some and a way begin reconnecting with society, but they can be really dangerous for vulnerable folk who would choose to sleep rough instead.
Our next door neighbour has a policemen for a son-in-law. One Sunday he dropped by driving a paddy wagon. All the local kids were intrigued, so he locked them up in it. They were thrilled! 😄
Similar experience. My daughter was walking home with her four year old son when a police car stopped next to her and wound their window down. Being a little worried that she might have done something wrong, she went over to speak to them. They reassured her that there was not a problem but just wondered if her son might like to sit in the drivers seat and wear their hat for a few minutes.
As a former police officer in Lancashire, I tried to focus more on a community lead policing and tried to help local addicts with drug referral programs and helped the unhoused homeless with buying food for them. Not to curry favour for information. But to ensure they had something decent in their stomachs. Most officers today are taser trained and carry them as part of their regular uniform. But I just had Pava spray and my PR24 batton. Tasers were just coming in when I retired on health grounds, due injuries sustained in the line of duty.
The official stats are that 14-18% of England and Wales frontline police are taser trained (goes up to 22% for the Met police). You say most are trained and carry them in Lancashire? Just trying to figure out why it’s looking under reported on the face of it.
We are very proud of our police. It amazes me how they manage to de-escalate situations and they are so polite even though they are talking to people who are incredibly rude.
Serving UK street police officer here (30 years in London). De-escalation by communication is a key skill for us, although sadly some officers lack this basic requirement. As stated, not all of us carry taser, it’s a choice if you want to, (I don’t, just another bit of kit to carry and keep track of) although I believe that’s changing if you join from now on it’ll be a requirement. In answer to the question how do you defend yourself if attacked- you fight. In my time I’ve faced knives (been stabbed in the neck during an arrest), had guns pointed at me (twice) and been attacked with various forms of bats, sticks and other makeshift weapons , but dealt with them only using my extendable asp. I also carry an incapacitating spray called (pava- before that CS spray) but never once needed to use it. I rely on talking and my defence skills, and if that fails then my asp and fists, which is getting more difficult now I’m 58 😂 I’ve just under two more years and I retire. 😊
My father was a policeman (now retired), I believe he too was a fan of the asp 😂! Obviously only when de-escalation and judo (mostly I believe) didn't work. Think he was mostly using CS, though he was also firearms trained (don't believe he ever used it - to my knowledge). Don't think he ever had a stun gun. Called him out of a 40 person pub brawl (we didn't know - it was the days of pagers) to ask if we could buy a rabbit 😅, some expletives about not caring about whether or not we got a rabbit later, we had a rabbit 😂, he used to go feed it treats when he thought we weren't watching ❤!!
The "Big Issue" mentioned at about 20min is a magazine provided by a charity so that the unemployed can sell (legally) to get some regular income to help them transition back into employment.
In my experience, they often ask if you really want the magazine: if I don't, I give it back so that they can sell it again. I think the sellers are homeless, not just unemployed.
@@faithlesshound5621Yeah it's sold by the homeless and they don't get the magazines given to them to sell for free. They actually buy them, though for a very small fee, and then sell it on. Like you say a lot of folk don't take the magazine and let them reselling on again.
The most important role of police training in this country, is that is is used as a way of weeding out people with ego issues, and stops them from becoming constables. It doesn't stop every single inadequate bully from from entering the police force, but they are defintely in a small minority. The vast majority of police officers in the UK are kind, intelligent and friendly individuals, even though they do a largely thankless job.
Not just British police, this is true of most European countries. The thing is, you see, in Europe the police a very highly trained and because of that training they recognise that good relationships with the local community is vital. European police are taught to de-escalate any situation and avoid escalating any confrontation. In the US, the police are trained (if you can call it that) that the public are all potential enemies and the officers are aggressive from the outset. They are trained to enforce civil obedience rather than work with the public. In Europe, the public are not scared of their police... in America they are terrified of them.
I agree 100%. We travel to Europe from the UK regularly and we always feel protected just as well as we are at home. In particular, Austrian and German police. However, the Italian police officers all look like film stars whilst looking out for us! 😊
The thing is there is good police and bad police in every country but I have never had a problem with police as I am a law abiding member of society I'm polite and very respectful unfortunately are police force has lost so much money and officers funding from govenment and the job is so hard on the best of days people moan about the police but often because they have only ever come across the bad ones or gave the police a reason to arrest them
@@mothermaclean There are plenty of videos on YT of US police manufacturing ways to arrest and generally destroy the lives of perfectly innocent people.
My ex husband and I were driving home late at night once with our baby and our car broke down on a country road. My husband managed to limp the car to a farmhouse and we parked outside. We had no idea what to do, as this was before we had a mobile phone. Luckily a police car drove past and stopped. We obviously looked suspicious, lol. They saw our plight and immediately gave us a lift home. Fast forward a few years later and was in my electric wheelchair and it broke down in town. A couple of police officers saw me. Stopped and lifted my very heavy wheelchair into their van, along with me and drove me home. I love our police.
My grandpa was in the UK police for half his life. He was for a time assigned to the airport, it was the first time he'd been issued a firearm in the field (he'd had training obviously). It was a revolver and he was instructed to keep the gun unloaded unless a situation arose where he'd need it, he just kept the bullets in his pocket all the time. He never loaded that gun the entire time he was there.
They are armed, their baton counts as a weapon and some might carry tasers (not sure what rank rates one). No firearms though except specialist armed response units.
@@PhoenixDawn93 Taser training can be done at any rank but it is training and ends with certification, its a 4 day intensive course you CAN fail. You can also lose your certification if you're found to have incorrectly discharged your taser and can even be charged with assault if you injure someone from negligence.
Yes they really are friendly and fair, i was caught by a police car after i went through a red light because id had one pint of lager the copper asked me to join him in his car where he explained he was gonna breathalyse me, i told him i appreciate you're only doing your job and that i understood he had to breathalyse me (i passed), he proceeded to explain it was a £60 fine and three points on my licence for going through the light BUT because id been so polite and reasonable he was letting me off with a warning, if that had been America id have been shitting myself, god bless the British police 🇬🇧
Are you deluded the police in this country are absolutely disgusting they think they own the country, Wtf have you been hiding. Check out all the auditors who go all over the country and see and the police abuse what powers they have. Your clueless
The people spoken to are candid because they have trust in the police built up over time. They know they will not get arrested or otherwise hassled for trivial things. They also know that they get a lot of support, help and advice from the police. Police in this country police by consent. There is a reason the UK police are a service where police in the US are a Force.
The police often refer desperate folks (not unlike those shown) to services that can assist, e.g. housing, counselling, benefits, etc. Often, there are not enough resources to help, so the police will remain in contact. That's community policing and it helps. I live rurally, and the police here do what they can despite being under-resourced; they actually maintain professional contact with staff of other agencies such as housing, hotlines (child, unaliving). They try, they really do.
Ask a cop and they will say police force. Yes its police by consent but that's not how the police see it, try telling a cop no when they ask for your name they give it the old "you're refusing to identify" no its not a refusal as you have no legal obligation to comply it a decline.
@Mean-bj8wp I mean, if a PC is asking for your name then chances are you've been doing something reckless/sketchy and/or illegal, are being antagonistic/confrontational towards them, or they think you fit the description of someone they're looking for. Then again, if they were looking for someone, it wouldn't just be your average bobbies having a chat. Also, one glance at your channel suggests that you may fit into category a) doing something they deem reckless, and thus want to know if you have a history of speeding. Which may explain your go-to example of being ID'd. That being said, this is all pure speculation lol. Living in London all my life, I've had a decent amount of interactions with police, and as long as I wasn't doing anything particularly concerning, I never got asked for my name.
@@Mean-bj8wp oh, forgot to add: the term 'police by consent' doesn't mean they need the individual's consent to perform their duties. They don't require your consent to enact laws. "Policing by consent is a fundamental principle that underpins modern democratic societies. It is a concept rooted in the belief that the authority of the police derives from the consent and cooperation of the public they serve, as opposed to the power of the state. It does not mean the consent of an individual. No individual can chose to withdraw their consent from the police, or from a law. British policing is based on consent, meaning the ability of the police to carry out their functions rests on ‘public approval of their existence, actions and behaviour’ What is policing by consent? - ministry of injustice. Check it out, sums it up quite well. With a bit of history.
Absolutely heart-breaking, those people have been abandoned by the state. I remember when they emptied the mental hospitals and had the nerve to call it "Care in the Community".
It's a catch 22 situation with benefits I believe. They can't get benefits(social security) without a home address, they can't get an address without regular income. Incredibly difficult to get a job without an address. Some landlords will not take benefit claimants, and just like the US renting is expensive and in short supply.
I was a British police officer for 30 years. In all my career I only had a radio, a wooden truncheon (later a collapsing steel baton, a can of CS spray, and, in my last 5 years of service, a Taser (that I used twice). I worked in a large city centre and also a very rural area, both for 15 years. In the latter part of my service, it would have taken 30 minutes to get an officer with a gun to my location.
I live in devon and there is more crime in rural Devon than a city like Plymouth per head of population, not so much drugs but gangs stealing from farms and plant equipment. The countryside is violent after dark
So I assume you are retired? If so, can you speak on this 2 tier policing that we're seeing in our beautiful country? Nothing hostile, would just like to hear it from a former officer 😊
@@DaKiffsterthe media outlets show you what they want you to see , I'm assuming you mean the recent riots and all those Muslims were allowed to get away with stuff ?? . That's exactly what certain folk want you to believe it's utter rubbish . You should look into the Nottinghill carnival and how many were arrested there but that does not get a mention .
Once upon a time all senior officers started at the bottom and worked their way up through the rank structure. Now that’s not the case. Senior officers have a direct influence on promotions, therefore they tend to promote clones of themselves. As ‘political correctness’ has impacted society as a whole, so that is reflected in the Police, but the effect is magnified. So senior officers have to demonstrate outwardly their PC, and that has a knock-on effect. That’s why 2 tier policing is manifesting itself.
They tried the same in Manchester with some success but they still need more money. But to explain in a nutshell the idea is to get people into accommodation and then tackle their addiction problems instead of saying you'll offer accommodation once they've tackled their addiction problems.
I had a police visit at my house recently over a drunk comment I sent online. They were more concentrated on my wellbeing and got me extra help. Chatted with me for ages, only 30 seconds was about the comment. It was more like a therapy session. UK police are awesome, respect them and they respect you.
@ Thank you 🙏. They said exactly the same thing. I thought I was going to be dragged away in cuffs. But they were so supportive. I do have to spend 3 months in rehab. But better than prison i suppose.
During the summer there was a guy sleeping rough (homeless / on the street) near my local supermarket. I offered to buy food for him as I was going shopping anyway. When I gave him the food he was very polite and we had a chat. He'd had a medical problem that had wrecked his life (head injury) and I had gone through something very similar a decade earlier. I was lucky and didn't end up on the streets. I continued to buy food for him for a week or so, then he moved on. I hope he's found somewhere more permanent.
Here in Sheffield it's actively encouraged NOT to give homeless/beggers cash because here are TONNES of agencies in the city which provide support. The Archer project you heard about in this video is delivered out of the city cathedral, and provides ANYONE who turns up with a hot meal 6 days of the week. They also provide showers, haircuts, legal advice etc. There are multiple other soup kitchens throughout the city as well. Rough sleeping is the term for homelessness here in the UK. It's because some may have a home to go to, but that home may be unsafe, so they choose to sleep rough. 😢
I’m going to comment in hope this gets more attention . I think they would love “24 hours in police custody “ and would really give them a good insight into how our police operate .
Can I just say that I love this programme, it’s so informative and engaging. We tend to cross the road or just walk on by, people forget they had lives, jobs families etc and seek help in the long run. I’ve volunteered in a soup kitchen and some of these people just want to talk have a fresh start. We really do need to do something more than throw cash at them to help.
I pulled out in front of a police car on a mini roundabout up in London and was absolutely bricking it when the blue lights came on as I thought I was going to get done big time. After the initial vehicle checks and a few on the spot questions of asking if I was from the area and where I was heading, they were fine about it and even thanked me for being a reasonable human being and let me go on my way. Just be compliant and reasonable and you won't have any trouble - it's only when you start being an arse and get into an argument is where things take a turn.
My landlord died, his family wanted to sell the property and I was suddenly homeless. I had a job, some savings and most importantly enough education to navigate through a lot of paperwork. It's easy to see where people fall through the cracks. The police will have baton and pepper spray, but look at how they're approaching situations, "how are you?" is a decent, non-confrontational opener to things - everyone wants to go home in one piece, suspects, beggar, addicts, shoplifters and the police themselves. De-escalation is a big part of police training in the UK, addiction isn't fun to deal with for professionals that work with them, but you have to accept the reality of addiction and that even with support a lot of addicts are just that - addicted. It seems more sensible for the police to take the approach you see here, try to make sure people are "alright", keep the peace. We'll never know, but I'd guess those officers prevented more crime than we'll be able to know. Heroin is pretty much the cheapest it's ever been in Europe/UK and I strongly suspect we're going to see a change to that market yet again with the imminent influx of even cheaper synthetic opiates. We're going to see a big spike in overdoses. The point I was actually going to make was to maybe take a look at how and why Heroin is so cheap these days. Coincidentally, prices started going down after the invasion of Afghanisatan.
I've only recently got out of "temporary accommodation" after living there from Jan 10 til 8th of this month. Only cooking facilities were a kettle in your room and a communal microwave in reception, no fridge or freezer. Glad I'm out of that now and, apart from one blip, I've been sober since moving here.
@@wallythewondercorncake8657 well done for getting through it - enjoy your new place, make it "yours" and do something every day to improve your life, even if it's silly or small, just something you can smile at or be proud of for you.
@@wallythewondercorncake8657well done mate. I’ve been sober 8 years. It’s still hard some days, I will always be an addict. Just a sober one now. I wish you the best my friend xx
It's so nice to hear people saying nice things about us Brits. I'm so happy that the police don't have guns, as you said, things happen really quick but I can only feel that pulling a trigger is horribly and fatally fast. Also, we are taught that the police are there to protect us. I've only ever had positive interactions with british police. Key word: de-escalation.
Begging is illegal in the UK. Also people denying beggars money, drives them to help services like the soup kitchens and shelters, so social services can be active in helping them. It’s hard to say no, but for people wanting to help, donating to soup kitchens is the best way to support.
As ex law enforcement (UK and other parts of the world), and being a regular commentator on law enforcement issues in the US, what you are seeing is how policing is done. By no means perfect, there is always room for improvement, but still light years away from what is going on across the pond. Training - the (lack of) training that US law enforcement receives, borders on negligence on the part of the authorities. In fact I'd go so far as to say criminal negligence, and people are paying for it with their lives sadly. There are guns in the UK, granted not as much as in the US, but then there isn't a single country in the world that has more guns than the US, however, the amount of, and the quality of training required to be a firearms officer in the UK is significant, contrast this with every LEO in the US carrying a firearm, with the least amount of training. I could literally write a book about what needs to be done in the US and where the issues stem from, not least of which the US is the only UN member state that when the UN produced guidance on the use of lethal force by law enforcement, didn't enact that guidance into law. Complete reform is what is needed. Far too many people in the US desensitised to think that's what law enforcement looks like.
Indeed. And their military training isn’t much better. When I was serving in HM Forces (RAF) we heard about a “accidental” shooting at US airforce base close by. It turned out that the guy fired his weapon whilst unloading, luckily nobody was hurt. His punishment was a telling off and being required to pay for the wasted ammunition. Meanwhile in HM Forces that’s referred to as a negligent discharge and you are in serious poop potentially leading to a Courts Martial and even prison. Thankfully it rarely happens as we do far more weapons training, including two days refresher training before every stint of guard duty. An American colleague told me he only went to the range once a year which is insane.
@@ffotograffydd likewise am also a veteran (ex Army Captain) and qualified range control officer. Worked alongside some US troops during my time. Very different mindset indeed. Yeah, ND is no laughing matter. Know of more than a few ND incidents that resulted in fatalities. There was an 'expose' on US police training not that long ago. Lots of money being paid to an outfit that was ex military delivering training to Police officers, on 'the warrior mindset'. Basically viewing civilians as the enemy. Absolutely shocking, inappropriate, and not fit for purpose, nor mirroring any policing expertise or best practice from around the world.
Shocking isn’t it? Only the other day I was reading about a young US airmen who was shot and killed after the police raided the wrong building. They said it was in self-defence because he was holding a gun when he opened his front door, but surely they should have established why he was armed? Instead the police officer just opened fire and shot him multiple times as soon as he saw the gun. I can totally understand why a serving member of the military might arm himself if someone is trying to gain entry to his home and he doesn’t know who they are. What a waste.
Our friend was licensed to carry a firearm in the Metropolitan Police. He’s calm, level headed and brave. He’s retired now and is still one of the nicest people you could ever meet.
@@ffotograffydd Big issue in the US involving 'no warrant knocks'; LEOs going to the wrong address and literally breaking in; threatening home owners to enter, even though they have no right. If you look at the numbers, it is shocking. Recent welfare check on an elderly woman resulted in the officer shooting her in the head, because she had a pan of hot water. She was about 15 feet away, with a breakfast counter between them. He got charged with murder or something similar.
Some stores have suspended coffees scheme where you can pay for a coffee but not take it and then people who need a hot drink can get the previously paid for item for free
We have "safe spaces" at night where I'm from. You can get a drink, charge your phone, talk to a nurse and a police officer, wait for a taxi or someone to pick you up. It's just as much for people on a night out as it is for rough sleepers
@@clarelawton4653 in Cardiff there is a safe space where drunk students sometimes head for if they have lost their wallet or friends etc. it’s also full of homeless people. It’s useful to get the two groups together , it helps both not see one another as hostile groups.
Adult to adult interaction. Controlling 'parent' (force) to rebellious child is the US alternative. Which works best? In the US, one minor drug offence means a long prison sentence and your ability to be employed in a legitimate job is gone for life! So, it's crime, begging or prison.
I worked at an education charity, and invited the local community police to visit as one student was having problems. One of the officer spoke in British Sign Language as he talked, which for many students it was their first language. The student with the problems after told me this police officer was now his best friend, and now knew he could approach an officer using BSL. The same officer I've learnt has been training all the local community police to learn even basic BSL in the 5 years since.
From childhood you are taught to look fir a policeman if you're scared or lost and that's why the Bobby's hat is that shape so it's tall and can be seen. They treat people as humans not detritus
They cant housing because you need an address to get benefits or a job. Im edinburgh where i live they are building small one bed pods so the homeless move in and have an address its realy helping them.
That's not true to be fair, you do not need an address to get benefits. There are lots of issues that do make it difficult, but that isn't one of them.
@@Yesser-Thistle73 The video is in England. The first sentence they clearly stated was " *They cant housing because you need an address to get benefits or a job* ". They, the people in the video. Even if Universal Credit was different, which as far as I am aware is not for this but I could be wrong, then Scots law being different is completely irrelevant to what I was talking about. You should be making this comment to the OP, not to me.
The problem with begging isn't the genuine people who need help, they just sit there with maybe a sign and they don't bother anyone. It's the aggressive behaviour of some going up to people and bothering them and the professionals beggers who aren't actually homeless but do it for a living. It's generally down to the officers discretion, they don't normally arrest homeless people for asking for help, but ones causing problems are a different case
@@wyterabitt2149 i agree im currently homeless, in edinburgh. The lack of housing, mostly in recent years due to lack of focus or investment in building new homes. Governmental cuts to the extent that the council has allowed over a thousand units of student accomodation to be built as it gains the a little revenue and brings in a small amount of buisness with students with some money behind them. In the last ten years i have seen at least a dozen sites where old buildings were knocked down, land sold for development but the student accomodation more likely to pay more as its for profit, housing associations, council and charity's are limited on funds so can't secure the sites to get housing built. To many decades of mp's who couldn't care less about us degenerates so are happy to cut funding on essential services even though EVERY year the problems get worse due to population increase alone. Add on LESS housing available let alone EXTRA to deal with yearly increases. its a joke, decission makers DO NOT CARE, the volunteers/workers of very valuable services care allpoliticions have done for three decades is cling on to power with every thing they have, its pathetic and REALLY REALLY makes EVERYTHING worse...currently on year five of waiting for psycologist/psychiatrist to help with trauma as the free counciers are overwhelmed and still waiting for nhs help. worked 25 years as a chef paying lots of tax but try and get a litle help to get back on my feet and back to work im invicible!!!
My boyfriend bought some food for a homeless guy; he saw him later that day and the homeless guy accosted him, complaining that he hadn't bought him enough food, to go and get some more for him, etc etc. The best thing you can do for these people is give to a charity or business that helps the homeless. You say in a roundabout way you're helping, but they could be spending the £20 (Brit here) you gave them on large amounts of alcohol, rather than food, getting drunk out of their mind, alone, then collapsing in the cold and dying. Or, they could be spending it on a bed for the night. You have no idea. But you can't help someone who doesn't want to help themselves.
You cant put the reality of policemen not carrying guns in context without understanding that street criminals are almost never going to have guns either.
@@Andreaod73knife crime (per 1000 of the population) is still 480% higher in the US when compared to the UK. So still pretty safe. You are most likely to be stabbed in the UK if you are involved in a gang, or by someone you know. General citizens are fairly safe.
Hiya guys, I am glad you watched this ❤,,look up an old,'adage', which I hope applies to all of us, "There by the grace of God, go I"., Take care, Tony here in the UK 🇬🇧 ❤
Wow that was what my parents taught me many many years ago. With exact same words. I have always lived with that truth. I was blessed through nothing I did with a great family and I know not everyone is as fortunate. So I try to be decent and pay forward. Has worked so far. Being decent to ppl when they are at their lowest is the decent thing to do especially when they are of no threat.
I think the biggest difference is that our police training doesn't portray our citizens as the enemy who is out to get them. Attitude is key to every encounter and it would seem that the American attitude is aggression from the start of every encounter. The people are beneath them. Humanity is key to successful interactions not power tripping officers
I lived on the street as a teen,neglect/sa abuse at home=M.H issues,so can give a little insight. The police can be fairly understanding as long as your respectful and understanding that they've just gotta do their job,they dont want things escalating either. But seriously i will be forever grateful for the support we do have here (obvs torys tried to cut alot but still compared to alot of other places in world i was very lucky) there were places you drop in for support networking,mh chats,support workers etc, they gave advice the on things like -night shelters (real rough though,avoided them),emergency accommodation,(like a bnb till you got a space in a hostel,lots of very strict rules,in by 9 for eg),or ideally got you a space n local hostel, some are shorter term so lots of moving around every few month,some longer term,you had keyworker there who could help set you up with support/disability benefits,or other help/services,theropy groups,harm reduction,docs/dentist van a mix of stuff,they(the hostel) provided donated foods,or had hot meals provided if lucky,(then theres always those sort of soup vans,or larger kitchens), foodbanks/vouchers if you had cooking facilities,(shared kitchen space in hostle). I tried doing big issue(magazine you sell)but town became too saturated,or many folk would sit for a beg,(police often move you +you got alot of abuse thrown at you) or would go choring(shop lifting cheese meats airfreshners lol etc),or be runners for dealers,many of us lassys had to do.. err,bad times,,aaanyway,, Hostels-if you worked with them(your key worker) ie stayed out of trouble some places had longer stay flats connected to hostel,or you would go onto the housing list,which after about 2/3yrs (with silver priority,it can take yeears) i got a council flat! been here 15+yrs,the gratitude to be able to have my own safe space, a door i can lock was just overwhelming,similar feeling to how i wept after 1st being given a room in 1st hostel after all the horrendus stress for so long either sofa surfing(some real dodgy places) or trying to find some old derelict building,watever i could nuckle down with my sleeping bag,had a 2man tent at one point too,but after that to finally feel safe! Comfortable,warm,clean,an actual bed! my own shower! Was just incredible in comparison. I was around 19 doing hostels after leaving home at 15,vulnerable young lass on street,caused alot of further trauma,i stayed in services to work on theropy for CPTSD for a number of years,still a way to go but considering where i was,its a miracle im even here n those folk saved my life,i wish they had better pay though as its so so valuable to the community everything all these folk do. Apologies for spelling/grammar/rambling essay 😅
Homeless people in the UK can be placed into housing, however, these housing units usually have rules like no pets, no smoking or drinking etc. and are, more often than not, in disrepair. So, many homeless people will choose their pets over housing, or are too addicted to their coping substances that they cannot easily give them up for the sake of housing.
I speak to the homeless alot steve and the picture i get they feel safer on the street rather than in a hostel. Hostels are violent places. Many homeless here are ex vets aswell
I may be wrong, but my impression is that homelessness is common among ex-servicemen even if they have not been in combat. There seems to be something about military training that robs young men of the skills needed for civilian life.
@@MostlyPennyCat i would say that is true. As I said though respect goes btoh ways. If you are respectful to them they are most likely going to be the same
@@MattBirch1991 Oh absolutely. They are well trained in de-escalation which involves displaying respect to the people in a situation you are trying to de-escalate. And they're an absolute force of nature when it's time to be forceful, the irresistible force.
The kindest officers are dog handlers in my experience i dont know what it is about the dog handlers but they have a way with people. Maybe as we are nation of dog lovers in britain so talking about the dogs breaks the ice
I've had a similar experience with mounted police being a rider myself I've always had a mutual topic of conversation with them I've never been in trouble with the police but I do attend a lot of events where the mounted police are in attendance 😊
I think especially with member of the public. I think are very aware that the dogs are seen as quite aggressive, so they tend to be extra nice to balance it out.
I've had to call UK police on more than one occasion and they've been brilliant every time - friendly and able to make you feel relaxed in a stressful situation.
My favourite police video ever: traffic cop pulls over a car where all the windows are smashed. On the tv we see him chatting to the driver. He comes back to the police car and he's laughing. He says ' they've just been to the safari park'😂
I know a man who his wife left him and took his kids after an argument. He was a professional IT person who paid his mortgage and had 150k in the bank and nice car. After his wife left him she told him you will never see your kids again and it destroyed him, he never went back to work , home or car.. he slept in the streets and drank until he forgot. 10 years later he still sleeps in the street and refuses to return to society and he has enough money to do it himself but he chooses to remain in his situation. My childhood friend in my neighbourhood committed suicide after his wife left him and took his kids m, it broke him and he just gave up. They are the only ones I know of personally but homelessness is never as simple as people think and they often resort to drugs and alcohol to help with the truama and cold.
weaponizing the kids against another parent is disgusting. there is hope however for anyone in a similar position. kids may "believe" the stories of the parent they are living with while they are children. But once they reached the age of 18 they can visit and live wherever they want. And they're going to be adults for many more decades than they were children. at which age the truth of each parent's character will show. So play the long game and you enjoy your kids company when they are adults
@@bolt-dbtfg Unfortunately, this is not often the case and from personal experience, the adult children, have believed what they were told and never choose to come looking.
Yeah but no respect from the police they believe people have to comply with what ever they say and we don't, try declining your name when not legally obligated to and you will soon find out what the police are really like.
Correct. It works because the unfortunates know that they will not be persecuted by talking with the Police. And the Police are reasonable and keep things 'low key', polite and friendly. This way the Police are able to simply have a talk with the locals, get told confidential / 'off the record' information about the more serious things that happen, and pass that 'info' onto the people investigation certain serious crimes, for them to verify or otherwise. Many would and have come to a Policeman's aid when needed, even if the Policeman had previously arrested and charged the guy. Because the citizen knew that they were treated well / fairly. So they wanted to help that particular cop.... when he was in danger
Policing is about looking after the entire community, not just arresting the bad guys. The people featured in this video, are not the bad guys. They’ve had a tough time. But they are still part of the community, and are looked at with empathy, for the most part.
Local authorities have a statutory duty to provide accommodation for people who have lost their home. However, there's two issues: any such accommodation will have rules, and many homeless people are there because rules make them feel oppressed, and even a cold shop doorway is preferable to having to get up at 7 am, get dressed, and have breakfast. The second issue is that local authorities do not have to provide accommodation for persons who are deemed to have deliberately made themselves homeless. So someone who leaves home because, e.g., he's frightened that if he stays, he might kill someone in his family, will not get assistance from the local authority. He'll have so seek help from friends or see if one of the homeless charities can help him. A lot of people are homeless because they became addicted to drugs, then they had to commit petty crimes to pay for the drugs, then they go to prison for the crimes, then when they come out they still have nowhere to live and probably still have an addiction. Possibly a worse one. It's a vicious and deadly spiral that 'nice' people don't really think about.
Sheffield resident since '93...I have lived all over the city. I currently live in what is considered by some one of the rougher areas. But I have never felt unsafe and have lived here since 97. I am a woman of 63. I try to talk to my regular "beggars" and if it's cold I try and give enough for them to have a bed at a shelter. In my late 20s I was homeless for a while and was put in a bed and breakfast room with a woman and 2 children. I was fragile mentally so ended up in a car for a while away from people. Anyone....anyone can end up without an affordable home. I was fortunate I didn't have an addiction, a landlord took a chance on me and I put my life back together. But no one should judge. It's our responsibility to take care of the vulnerable. Sadly it seems to be an unpopular view. Either give some money with genuine care or leave them alone. You can't dictate what they spend it on. You can't train empathy and compassion. In another life I was a copper and joined to help people not the power
I live in Sheffield the city in the video, they mentioned the Archer Project which is a project set up to help these people, homeless / rough sleepers. The company I worked for were supporters of the Archer Project and we as employees were asked if we would like to volunteer, just one day, to help serve the homeless and on another occasion to spend a night on the street sleeping out to get a perspective on what was happening on the streets of our city during the night. The police were in their community roles there, they are not always that friendly and understanding.
@chucky2316 yeah my next door neighbor held his missus hostage with a crossbow, they literaly took part of his house roof off and went in that way.....mental
Following the Martyn Blake trial, there was an interesting statistic in The Economist last week. On average, the various armed response units around the country are (between them) called to about 10,000 incidents per year. In the past 10 years, they have discharged a weapon 65 times.
@@chrislaing7153 I remember a statistic a few years ago for one Force's armed response unit. They had discharged more weapons putting down injured deer that had been hit by vehicles than any other reason... It was something like half a dozen deer. 1 dangerously out of control dog and the tyres of a car that was fleeing with armed suspects
@@chrislaing7153Yeah, it's about 5-6 bullets fired a YEAR. When they fire they really know that they must fire and if you watch the body cam footage from that incident the officer knew he had to fire and did the right thing.
In the US there is a Police Force, with Law Enforcement Officers. I get the impression that the LEOs are trained to dominate a situation first. In the UK we have a Police Service, Crime Prevention Officers and policing by consent of the people. The words have meaning in both countries. Enforcement versus a service
Hi Steve! Love your channel so much. I'm British and I would suggest that when you do get over to the UK, you should definitely visit Worcester and its Cathedral. Worcester is submerged in History, being the burial place of King John, Prince Arthur (brother of King Henry VIII), the Birthplace of Edward Elgar ( who wrote Nimrod and Pomp and Circumstance etc.), one of the hosting Cathedrals of The Three Choirs Festival (the oldest Music Festival in the world, the other hosting Cathedrals being Hereford and Gloucester, which are also worth a visit, though not as much as Worcester in my opinion), the fleeing place of Guy Fawkes after the Gunpowder Plot, and much more! They have an amazing choir, which I am part of, who sing with Gloucester and Hereford Cathedral Choir every Three Choirs Festival. Definitely worth a Wikipedia search! Love your channel!
@@rorywoodward9090 Live right by Stratford on Avon. And ten minutes drive takes me to COUGHTON COURT were old guy Fawkes fled to. Can I confess I have never visited COUGHTON COURT. The local way of pronunciation of is COW...TON.
I volunteer at Sheffield, as an Appropriate Adult in police custody. This involves looking after vulnerable people, so young and mentally ill. A little kindness goes a long way. If a detained person doesn’t see the police as an enemy, they are far more likely to talk and seek help.
Gun laws make a massive difference. Regular cops don’t need guns. However I’m often impressed by the patience and bravery of your cops in the face of gun danger! Love from the uk.
It was really interesting to watch your attitude change from 'They have no gun at night? When the worst people come out?!' To: 'Oh, these people need help!' Really interesting that just seeing the police talk to them, humanised them to you ❤ That's how it should be in the US too!
Having lived in various parts of London, I've seen how quick the SWAT team can get there. I've seen patrolling officers call something in then less than a minute later a van with about 8 armed officers pull up. And yes begging is illegal here but its not heavily enforced.
It's rare that a suspect will have a gun in the uk. Sharp objects are the bigger threat. Which obviously means if you keep your distance and taser them, you remain relatively safe.
Americans seeing the rest of the world is an eye-opening experience that there is no coming back from. You will start to recognize how many horrific problems America has.
My Dad and Granddad were both police officers. This was from the twenties through to the early nineties, with a bit of a break. My county is former industrial, with a lot of poverty, but the police in those days had to live where they worked and they were part of the community. The amount if people who have said to me ' I like your Dad. He was fair.' My Granddad was a tough man but even he had sympathy for the people he was policing, who were often treated badly by landlords and employers. Its a job that can take a big toll though.
@@charlieemslie7708 It's a tough balancing act in those circumstances. As the local Constable, living in your own policing area, in amongst literally everyone, you got to know what was going on. You had to deal with it, while preserving your reputation in the community, and your Police Station / headquarters. Policing was often one your own, or in pairs. On foot (walking the beat). In larger stations you may be assigned a vehicle, with or without a partner, depending on your duties. So you would have to ignore some trivial offences and give advise and or warning, but make arrests, sometimes reasonably violent arrests where required, and prosecute them. If you were good, you would get a good reputation...... like being fair, but don't try to fool him or he will get you, he's a good fighter, don't resist him.... that sort of thing. Yes there is or was, a lot of social work components there. But at the end of the day you are authorised to make an arrest. You have sworn an oath to do your duty to the best of your ability, and without fear or favour. These types of duties are not normally given to inexperienced Constables who are still learning to shave. These Constables are always loading the scales of justice, checking that they still balance, and are reviewing circumstances, all of the time. It's about 'keeping the peace', and using the long arm of the law (arrest and charge), when necessary. JUSTICE, most of the time. About thinking that these British cops are social workers.... well you saw them doing some of that, sure. They were also getting up to date information on the local scene, while keeping alert for a known 'robber'/drug addict... wanted for further inquiries (and arrest). All information gained is shared throughout the Police service in the area (some countries nationally), so if Detective H from 200 miles away wants to know the occupants of an address, or who is using a particular vehicle, a quick query on the local Station computer will give him the info he requested. All this information is collected from street or roadside interviews. It is a shame that this video didn't show viewers a 'hard' arrest, Police unarmed (no taser, no firearms), with a suspect losing it. You would also be reasonably impressed I think. From another former Police officer..... from former British Colony.
googled- 1) Begging has been illegal in the UK for almost two centuries under the 1824 Vagrancy Act. It does not carry a jail sentence under the Act. The maximum sentence is a fine at level 3 on the standard scale (currently £1,000). 2) All UK police officers are not required to carry tasers, but they are authorized to use them. In November 2008, the Home Secretary approved the use of tasers throughout England and Wales for all officers, lifting the Authorised Firearms Officer restriction, with officers who receive training and carry a taser known as 'specially trained units' (STU's)1. To be issued with a Taser, police officers must have completed 18 hours of training and are then required to undergo a compulsory refresher course every year
Firearms teams are usually available to be called upon when needed throughout the UK. i spent a few years out and about patrolling days and nights, we are taught to talk to people, not go in full steam ahead, unless you were walking into a punch up and have no choice. even then you are trying to talk and calm things down if you can. only time i drew my baton was to break a window to get into a elderly person who had fallen and blocked the door. A very wise Sargent of mine told me to remember that we were just people in a uniform, not just the uniform itself.
My husband worked as an officer for 25years, he was on the Special Patrol Group (riot squad), only one of them had a gun, which was kept in his home, and needed to be authorised before he could go and get it lol. It was a truncheon and handcuffs, CS gas, a radio and a notebook lol.
or a fkg big baton and 'cuffs' if it all goes pear shaped..... They start off 'softly, softly' and if good things happen, that's cool. But if they get attacked by someone who has lost control, most are very capable (and well trained and qualified) with the short baton and/or the long baton (aka PR24).... and these days, Tasers.
The biggest issue i found wile homeless around 2010 was not having a fixed address. I was 15 and never got no help other then being told to move to London when i was up north. Eventually got a helping hand 6 years later from an old friend. Got a job miss and my own place.
And I bet you appreciate every little thing in life now , I'm a recovering alcoholic of 6yrs now and know what it's like to be really low . I'm in a really good place now and appreciate all the little things in life some take for granted a roof over my head , food on the table and family all of these things I could have easily lost if not got the help I needed. Best of luck to you 😊
When I was younger I lived in a van for a bit, so had a few run-ins with the police. They were generally pretty nice. Our "good cop, bad cop" is one of them asking if he can have a go on your guitar (and he was really good!) whilst the other checks your tyres and runs the plates. I'm sure they could smell the jazz cigarettes but I think they only wanted to check I was not causing any problems and didn't bring it up. That said, they are not a push over. I was door knocking for a survey once when a team in riot type gear turned up and raided a house along the road. They were dead serious, it was heavy. A plus is that they are regulated, and can have consequences if they are out of line. And it is rare for them to have guns, which is the best bit.
Oh we have a huge heroin and crack (and drugs in general) problem in the UK. Street homeless are very open about talking about stuff here, I was homeless for 7 years and the majority of the homeless are very cordial with the cops, not ALL obviously but there's a lot of mutual respect =)
The city of Sheffield is seeing hard times since the 80's. There is a movie set in the city, called " The Full Monty " a bitter sweet comedy that portrays the woes & a solution for a group of redundant workers.
My friends mum lost her husband quite early and with her children working was quite lovely. A local beat cop came to see her every day to chat and check up on her. When she died he came to her funeral and even got his colleagues to do a ride along and block off the streets along the route!
I occasionally buy a copy of the Big Issue (I don't go into my local town a lot) but knowing the sellers are homeless, I normally make a point of asking if they would like a hot drink and sausage roll or similar.... I worked for a National Charity for some time before I retired last year, and I became more aware of the other local charities as a result. One of these charities was aimed at helping the homeless, and on occasion my work involved me calling in there. They had a good set-up there, which meant that anyone homeless could call in and take a shower, get fresh underclothes, and a decent hot meal. I later discovered that some local food retailers supplied them with unsold stock etc.... Some of the Big Issue sellers I spoke to, already knew about this homeless charity, and had used it. My local supermarket collects donations of food for the local foodbank.... Interestingly, I recently went over to North Yorkshire for a day out, and popped into a village church (I'm not deeply religious, just nosey!) and the church had it's own - quite well stocked - foodbank. A note pinned to the well stocked shelves read "if you are in difficulty, please help yourself" It restores your faith in human nature..... The vicar of the church was also well up with today's technology, as he holds podcasts of his services for those unable to attend in person!
Same here, I sometimes leave a voucher for Gregg's or Costa or some such, that way I know it's going on food, but they still have the dignity of choice too.
My feelings in regards to someone begging and giving them money (as someone who has been homeless in the past…though I’ve never been either an addict or an alcoholic), how they spend that money isn’t my business and if they have to use some substance or alcohol to deal with their situation (and the demons that created this life for them), who am I to decide that they don’t deserve that little bit of peace in their lives. They are not only dealing with the issues that are going on in their own head, they have to deal with people who know nothing of the hardships of life living on the streets, thinking it’s hilarious to urinate on them when they are trying to get some sleep (which will be continuously interrupted by noise and being moved on) or even just laughing at and going out of their way to humiliate people who are sleeping rough (sleeping rough is when you having to sleep regularly without the comforts typically associated going to sleep, like a bed, bedding, warmth, comfort and a sense of safety).
Aye,getting spat on,pissed on,beer poured on ya (what is is wie fluids?) Or fag's chucked at ya-horror story's of folks sleeping bag going up, horrendus. But drunken folk emptying bars shouting allsorts,thinking its hilarious or being agro,endless hassle,just tryna kip,I always tried to find somewhere tucked away,but then I mean there's other risks if alone,its hard to balance,,glad to be away from that living hell
But aye sometimes in the cold n the constant noise/stress,having those few drinks/a charge to help warm you/numb it a little was only was you could sleep
My problem with giving money to registered charities (as opposed to giving it directly to the needy), is that a significant portion is going towards the charity's advertising, marketing, staff wages, commissions, premises, company transport and in many cases, a tidy bonus for the CEO.
I worked with rough sleepers for years, trust is everything, never did i or my team need anything but understanding to try and help, the police officers i worked along side always gad the rough sleeper wellbeing at the heart of the work they did. As a society we need to always remember that something could make us homeless and addicted, so we should see the homeless as people first
UK local government used to have a legal obligation to provide accommodation for the homeless. The Conservatives saw it would save money if the changed the law and removed this obligation.
There is a two part documentary of Prince Williams pilot project to end Homelessness . Its called the Homeward Project . It sort of gels with this idea of getting people help .
Hi to you both sweet people! Yes, on the whole British Bobbies/Peelers/ Fuzz/Hedd Geidwad, are trained to de-escalate potentially tricky situations. They are officially designated as keepers of the King's peace, and as public servants. I've travelled very extensively, and across Europe I've always regarded police as courteous and approachable, as most are in Canada and Australia too. The US is one of few countries I've lived in/visited often, where I am afraid if stopped by police officers.
The people are open and honest as they aren't being threatened, they're being treated with respect and kindness. Not all cops are kind though lol but it's best to keep it like that when the crime isn't violent or happening at the time. They need info and also want to help. But of course every situation is different. Police don't carry firearms (other than the specialised units), they usually wear stab vests, carry truncheons and some have tasers.
The reason why the British police didn’t arrest the man when he said he was on drugs is because the British police are more interested in catching the people who SELL the drugs, not the people who take them.
No they more interested in policing X
It’s not that they’re not interested, is mainly because being under the influence (aslong as it’s not whilst in operation of a vehicle or putting others at risk) isn’t really a chargeable offence, especially people like that who can only afford small amounts so by time they’re high, there’s no longer a possession charge, the most they’ll do is hold you in cells overnight till you sober up hence why they said about the “walking test” it’s more so they know the person is safe and doesn’t just pass out somewhere unsafe not being able to physically protect himself
@@kieranmay5938 even if they carry a small amount of drugs on them still they probably wouldnt really punish them for it, theyd just throw it out, ik from my own experience thats happened plenty of times with some of my weed smoking friends
Thank you they don't care..these ppl are treated like innocent .they are not..they are hard criminals..I've suffered at hands if these low lives
It's also because the drug addicts are one of the most useful sources of intel they have. I worked at a homeless shelter for a while and we always had fantastic relationships with the police, they would provide us with drug purity testing kits because one of the best ways we could keep our service users safe was via word of mouth - exposing low quality drug dealers via word of mouth. They would also allow us to send in drug paraphernalia to them for testing and let service users anonymously report dealers. The other benefit to getting to know the street scene is knowing which reports to respond to in which ways. If you know this person is often drunk and rowdy but not dangerous its a different response to someone you know often carries a knife.
I’m a retired police officer. I did 25 years. Unfortunately I had to retire 5 years early due to ill health. In all my service all I had was my radio and a women’s truncheon which was a 12” wooden baton ( the men’s truncheons were bigger - no innuendo intended). I only drew my truncheon once in that time.
We are taught to interact with the public
In the States you have a Police Force. In the UK we have a Police Service.
We don’t have the armoury so we have to use our brains to defuse situations.
I never talked down to people but I would always converse with them on their level that’s how I was taught.
I loved my career and would do it again in a heartbeat.
I lived in a seaside town at the time and it was always full of tourists in the summer. I remember one Sunday I was on my own walking down the Main Street in the town when this gang of yobbish tourists were trying to hit a window with a large plank. At the time I was outside one of the pubs in the street which was also full. All of a sudden these youths started heading towards me shouting and waving the plank. They were really nasty. Before I could get on my radio about 5 of the local criminal fraternity came running out of the pub. I won’t lie I was pooping myself. The next thing I know the local crims all stood in front of me and shouted. “She may be a copper but she’s our copper. Touch her and we’ll deal with you far worse than she will”. (There language was a bit more colourful than that)
That’s what happens when you treat people with respect even if they are usually bad ‘uns.
Yes,until we have a terror issue and we can see how useless these uk pansy police are.As a jew,I feel much safer in the states,than in UK.
Thanks for your service I worked the other side Solicitor so appreciate your work.
A friend and myself were once arrested by a solitary bicycle officer under suspicion of a firearms offence. We were nice and honest with him, got front cuffed and waited for a van to pick us up. Had a nice chat with him whilst waiting, and then a pleasant conversation with the officers in the van.
EDIT: I should add that what we'd done was accidentally fired an air rifle within 100 yards of a public highway. Got a small fine but no firearms charges were brought.
I love this, respect is the key. I am so proud of our Police Service. Thank you for your service.
That's incredible! Only feeling the need to draw your baton only once. Respect!
I’m a black British female, a police officer saved my life. When I was diagnosed with MS I took about 12 sleeping tablets and laid near the stream. I was so close to dying before a police relentlessly and eventually found me. I’m in better mental health now and not taking life for granted even if I still have MS. ❤❤
That must have been a terrible time for you... I'm so glad you were found in time and things are looking up for you x
Thank God you’re still here. You are clearly meant to be here. Sending love and I hope you continue in good health 🙏🏻🩷
I'm so sorry about your MS diagnosis but I'm glad to hear you are coping better now.
Thank God for the police who found you! I’m glad you are still here and doing well. Sending hugs to you from Canada
I'm glad you're still with us mate 😊
I think the best description I heard regarding the difference between UK and US police is their function:
American police enforce the law.
British police keep the peace.
Well, more specifically uphold the law.
There is also the principlel that the police are the public and the public are the police
Finally they are way better trained in deescalation, which is a better outcome for all, including the police themselves
@@bestbehave The police are public servants. THEY work for US.
Americans seem to have forgotten that.
@@TryptychUK UK have a police service, US a police force. UK police are there to serve the public, US police to force the law (as they see it) on the public.
The original Peel's principle, policing is carried out with the agreement of the Public. @kevbrown2532
@@kevbrown2532 Which is basically what I just said. American police are just armed, uniformed, untrained thugs.
They are candid and open with the police because they aren't afraid of them.
I am British. The fact that you guys constantly mention guns is crazy. When I watch our police the idea of guns never comes into my mind. I don’t worry about the police needing a gun because the public don’t have guns.
oh americans are very obssed with them, one of my American friends was thinking of coming to the uk, the amount of times i had to say no you can not bring your guns they will be taken off you. so crazy
I remember seeing UK firearms Officers in an airport for the first time, & it was a shock! Almost surreal - "that's a real gun" kept rolling through my mind. I was young, but I'm really glad it's still unusual.
some have guns but its not the general public it's rich people or people who do clay pigeon shooting so rich people
To be pedantic, gun callouts do happen frequently, but you're right that it's nowhere NEAR the frequency of what I imagine Americans are used to having.
I suppose gun crime in the UK is one of those things that people don't realise happens more than you'd expect, Nottingham's a fucker for it
No people in England do have guns...just few and far between...that's why we have a chit knife crime rate...but yes I'm glad we don't arm people with guns because it's there right...that's bull shit.. just don't arm ill educated people
Our police are taught to deescalate situations hence the no guns. As a Brit I don't want police officers with guns unless they are a special trained unit in a volatile situation.
Police have access to guns, quickly, *if they need them* - the point is, *they usually don't.* Back in the days when Mansfield (a small country town in the East Midlands) had a livestock market, a bull escaped. It was shot dead by a marksman in under 5 minutes.
@@wessexdruid7598 No, they don't. Normal police constables are not allowed to firearms. Tasers, yes but not actual guns. Only the specially trained Firearms units are permitted to carry and use firearms and given the recent case, where an armed officer shot and killed someone (who had already been in 2 prior shooting incidents, where they had fired the gun), was acquitted in court and then immediately fired, will likely lead to a lot of the existing firearms officers, quitting carrying.
@@wessexdruid7598 Not true - there are dedicated units of the police for extraordinary circumstances who always have guns. No regular bobby will be given guns.
Police officers in Northern Ireland carry firearms by default so although you are likely correct for your own area that does not mean it's the same in all of the UK.
@@DavysFlicks Read what I wrote again. And learn not to jump to calling people liars.
As a Brit who watches a lot of American police body cam stuff, I feel confident in saying that British police are way more compassionate.
What disturbs me is their saying ‘you have to have training to talk people like that’. I always just thought that was common courtesy. I am always polite to people regardless of their status. I have regular conversations with the homeless population of my city and would never talk to them any differently than anyone else. This has annoyed a few CEOs that I treat them the same way I do the cleaner.
@ don’t ever change x
@@dianef4227wow seriously don’t change
@@dianef4227 that’s so weird that people don’t like that?? I always talk to homeless people whenever I go to the city, they always have interesting stories.
@@dianef4227 The training is mostly contextual I think, de-escalation training is good for all police officers of course. As a dutchie with similar police, I can still imagine that the idea that every person you interact with could have a gun and therefore could very well be a threat to your life does make things more tense generally speaking. On top, any safety measures can generate an air of distrust which could make situations a bit more volatile and make it so larger amounts of training are required to reach a similar kind of approach.
I had a panic attack on the bus 2 weeks ago and had to get off at the next stop , i was now stuck not wanting to get on the bus again and feeling rough , i saw two Policeman across the road and asked them for a lift home and they did . I was grateful.
" a panic attack"
My sympathies - it's terrifying, isn't it? Hope you're getting the help you need; too many people with these problems are simply too proud - or too embarrassed - to do so, and as a result suffer for months and years with anxiety and depression UNNECESSARILY, when their solution is more likely than not just down the road at a GP's surgery. Good luck, anyway, Buddy!
@@marvinc9994 thanks , i was at the doctors a few days ago.
@@gingerbill128
"at the doctors a few days ago."
Pleased to hear it, Mate. If only _more_ sufferers were as sensible! Hope you get your life back on track soon.😉
I last had a panic attack 8 years ago. I still suffer with anxiety, so not totally fixed, but just wanted to share with you, (and anyone else reading this that may also suffer) so you know that these things can get better ❤. Exposure therapy is what worked for me. Good luck with your future endeavours! :)
@@metalrainbow2728
Yes, different remedies work for different people. I went through a really ghastly Dark Tunnel experience some years ago (physical and mental), and my wonderful naturopathic lady doctor treated me for just under a year - with great results - save for ONE thing: she could do nothing for my constant anxiety and frequent panic attacks (when I _literally_ had to hide under my duvet, like a child). She suggested I go and see a psychiatrist, declaring that all her techniques were useless against what she described as the worst case of anxiety she had ever encountered in her 30-year career, beginning as a psychiatric nurse in California (of all places!). The thing about _psychiatrists_ , she said, was that they like to prescribe _drugs_ - and "Drugs are good". I was deeply amused by that - coming from a naturopath! She was right, though, and when I was put onto the meds (I don't like drugs, but needs must when the Devil drives) by another wonderful lady - a psychiatrist - the anxiety disappeared within a week: I'd got my life back - and (this was GENUINELY exciting to me), I could once again go shopping in Tesco without feeling I was going to pass out. I hadn't really appreciated before HOW much I loved Life - even at the mundane level of going up and down the food aisles: Normal can be pretty exciting, too - once you've been terrorised by the Abnormal! Hope you don't mind my sharing that with you. It's good to talk!😀 Good luck!
I'd just like to say that as a Brit, it's really refreshing to see people from outside of the UK to look at things from their own perspective and openly discuss them. I can tell from all of your videos that you are both very caring, kind people who are never too quick to judge others, that is amazing, you are both awesome ❤
Thank you! We appreciate your support of the channel. :)
If you’re ok and polite with police they are generally ok with you.
You mean if you obey their orders and answer all their questions they will be okay with you. Learn the law and tell them to take a running jump the next time they randomly stop you and try to learn your identity.
@@leedsman54 I got stopped by the police a few years ago…I think it was just a random stop. As a woman I was nervous and anxious , the police instantly saw I was in a state and politely told me I could go and to not worry . They were nice and friendly
That's not true. up north yeah down south they are just evil especially to black people
I@@geraldineafflick3947 Ive had it both ways i got stopped walking to work one morning and they got pretty passive aggressive Cop "Where are you going at this time of the morning" Me " I'm going to work" Cop "Huh and where is work? " Me "The Hospital" points at building in distance. Cop "Um well OK then" drives off. Another time I was walking home drunk from a friends party I got stopped they were looking for somone with the cars buzzing around. They ran my name thanked me for my time and to enjoy my walk home lol
Yeah, if you fit a certain demographic. You're a little bit clueless aren't you, in your cosy little world? Look at likes of Wayne cousens, a psycho murderer that abused his power/privilege as an officer. He and countless officers abuse their position. Mainly men. Some of them get a slap on the wrist and senior staff turn a blind-eye with their behaviour. The stats of domestic abuse from police men are sky high. It's a culture of baked in racism and mysonigy. The amount of women police officers that have left the force due the sexist culture is sad to see.
There are great police officers that do the job properly and serve the communities properly and I thank them for that but at the end of the day they will never raise the wrong-doing behaviour (very rarely - and it takes big cojones to do so) of colleagues because if you do you get ostracised and bullied/lack of promotion etc. A gang culture. You really to open your eyes and pull your fingers out of your ears 🤦
Regarding how freaked out you were about the officers heading in to the area where people were sleeping rough without firearms or tasers and worrying about them being attacked - of course there are exceptions, but remember from the officers talking at the soup kitchen that there isn't really an "enemy" mindset between officers and the homeless or addict population in the same way as you are picturing from a US perspective! And also regarding your outro conversation - yes, all officers here receive training in de-escalation on non-violent resolution. These officers probably had extra training on top of that due to the specific nature of their positions. I'm glad you reacted to this video, I have always liked it as a demonstration of a "different" way of policing!
Indeed.
Tasers are specialty equipment - They are counted as a firearm for Armory purposes.
Also as for what they'd use to deal with someone rushing at them, well there's either the truncheon, or there's that big bugger of a solid metal flashlight they are carrying. Not that any officer uses their flashlight as a weapon, no. Definitely not.
This is not America…not a gun culture…police and communities have a reasonably good relationship. Mutual respect
Not always
@@Linzie157 I agree there will be a few bad eggs but on the whole it’s pretty good.
Policing by consent.
if police had guns i'm sure crime would go down heavily.. way too lenient on criminals here we are
@@pitchdark2024 Some of the officers I have come across over the years, I much prefer them not having guns. Crime might go down, but fatal "accidents" may soar through the roof 😂
I once got in a minor car accident (in the UK). Fortunately everyone was ok. The police were passing and stopped to check on everyone. They called an ambulance to check on me because I hadn't eaten much that day and it was nearly mid afternoon, and also I was very shaken up. Then they gave me a lift home - wouldn't hear of me taking a bus. Absolutely wonderful guys.
I have mad respect for the police here in the UK. They do a hard job and often have to deal with those struggling with addiction and mental issues, let alone your average criminal. They by and large do it admirably. They always treat you with respect and kindness so long as you’re chill with them. That being said if you’re a dick they will be forceful with you, then after they’ll pick you up and offer you a helping hand
They don’t carry lethal force (except our armed response units, which every UK county police service has) so much more effort is placed on community policing, intelligence and de-escalation. We should be very proud of our boys and girls in blue
"Sleeping Rough" is used to describe those who are homeless, sleeping on the streets/abandoned buildings/benches in parks etc.
@@katiperry8533 absolutely sleeping rough and homeless two different things , I can be considered homeless but staying at a friend's or in a hotel not on the streets .
@@claregale9011 yup. 'Homeless' has a more vague meaning than 'rough sleeping' tbf. You can be classed as homeless when you've been served with an eviction notice too (not that it'd mean you get council housing any quicker that way)
@@claregale9011I I used to sleep in towerblocks ideally with a balcony for smoking lecky heater charger 4 phone
Yes, also a lot of "rough sleepers" and "homeless" who congregate in city centres are in fact not homeless - they have accomodation provided by the local authority but choose not to use it, or are constantly kicked out for causing issues. Many are also involved in crimes including break ins and street robberies (either on each other or the public). This of course does not represent all people who are rough sleeping and some are very kind people who are just used to the lifestyle.
Homeless people have priorities just like everyone does... for some that is feeding their habit but for most it is about staying safe from harm. Sofa-Surfing is the hidden homeless for people with no place to call home. I know some street sleepers who talk about the place they sleep as 'theirs' even if it is a stairwell or tent in a park. While homeless shelters/hostels are great for some and a way begin reconnecting with society, but they can be really dangerous for vulnerable folk who would choose to sleep rough instead.
Our next door neighbour has a policemen for a son-in-law. One Sunday he dropped by driving a paddy wagon. All the local kids were intrigued, so he locked them up in it. They were thrilled! 😄
Hahahaha... Great 😂
That's so funny & totally fabulous 😂
Are they still there?
Similar experience. My daughter was walking home with her four year old son when a police car stopped next to her and wound their window down. Being a little worried that she might have done something wrong, she went over to speak to them. They reassured her that there was not a problem but just wondered if her son might like to sit in the drivers seat and wear their hat for a few minutes.
@@jpw6893hopefully nt
As a former police officer in Lancashire, I tried to focus more on a community lead policing and tried to help local addicts with drug referral programs and helped the unhoused homeless with buying food for them.
Not to curry favour for information. But to ensure they had something decent in their stomachs.
Most officers today are taser trained and carry them as part of their regular uniform. But I just had Pava spray and my PR24 batton. Tasers were just coming in when I retired on health grounds, due injuries sustained in the line of duty.
The official stats are that 14-18% of England and Wales frontline police are taser trained (goes up to 22% for the Met police). You say most are trained and carry them in Lancashire? Just trying to figure out why it’s looking under reported on the face of it.
paying kindness onwards will never feel like a mistake. best to you mate
It's less than a quarter who are taser trained, so I doubt your credentials and story since you've just made up a stat.
Thank you for your service ❤
We are very proud of our police. It amazes me how they manage to de-escalate situations and they are so polite even though they are talking to people who are incredibly rude.
i take it you've not spoken to many cops form the met then
@@dannygolightly865 Yes I have. Many times.
Serving UK street police officer here (30 years in London). De-escalation by communication is a key skill for us, although sadly some officers lack this basic requirement. As stated, not all of us carry taser, it’s a choice if you want to, (I don’t, just another bit of kit to carry and keep track of) although I believe that’s changing if you join from now on it’ll be a requirement. In answer to the question how do you defend yourself if attacked- you fight. In my time I’ve faced knives (been stabbed in the neck during an arrest), had guns pointed at me (twice) and been attacked with various forms of bats, sticks and other makeshift weapons , but dealt with them only using my extendable asp. I also carry an incapacitating spray called (pava- before that CS spray) but never once needed to use it. I rely on talking and my defence skills, and if that fails then my asp and fists, which is getting more difficult now I’m 58 😂 I’ve just under two more years and I retire. 😊
Thank you for your service.
My father was a policeman (now retired), I believe he too was a fan of the asp 😂! Obviously only when de-escalation and judo (mostly I believe) didn't work. Think he was mostly using CS, though he was also firearms trained (don't believe he ever used it - to my knowledge). Don't think he ever had a stun gun.
Called him out of a 40 person pub brawl (we didn't know - it was the days of pagers) to ask if we could buy a rabbit 😅, some expletives about not caring about whether or not we got a rabbit later, we had a rabbit 😂, he used to go feed it treats when he thought we weren't watching ❤!!
The "Big Issue" mentioned at about 20min is a magazine provided by a charity so that the unemployed can sell (legally) to get some regular income to help them transition back into employment.
In my experience, they often ask if you really want the magazine: if I don't, I give it back so that they can sell it again. I think the sellers are homeless, not just unemployed.
EASTERN EUROPEAN DRUG GANGS FEEDING THESE KIDS
@@faithlesshound5621Yeah it's sold by the homeless and they don't get the magazines given to them to sell for free. They actually buy them, though for a very small fee, and then sell it on. Like you say a lot of folk don't take the magazine and let them reselling on again.
The most important role of police training in this country, is that is is used as a way of weeding out people with ego issues, and stops them from becoming constables. It doesn't stop every single inadequate bully from from entering the police force, but they are defintely in a small minority. The vast majority of police officers in the UK are kind, intelligent and friendly individuals, even though they do a largely thankless job.
Not just British police, this is true of most European countries. The thing is, you see, in Europe the police a very highly trained and because of that training they recognise that good relationships with the local community is vital. European police are taught to de-escalate any situation and avoid escalating any confrontation. In the US, the police are trained (if you can call it that) that the public are all potential enemies and the officers are aggressive from the outset. They are trained to enforce civil obedience rather than work with the public. In Europe, the public are not scared of their police... in America they are terrified of them.
I agree 100%. We travel to Europe from the UK regularly and we always feel protected just as well as we are at home. In particular, Austrian and German police. However, the Italian police officers all look like film stars whilst looking out for us! 😊
@@Whippy99 That's all Italians...
@ Oh, I agree!
The thing is there is good police and bad police in every country but I have never had a problem with police as I am a law abiding member of society I'm polite and very respectful unfortunately are police force has lost so much money and officers funding from govenment and the job is so hard on the best of days people moan about the police but often because they have only ever come across the bad ones or gave the police a reason to arrest them
@@mothermaclean There are plenty of videos on YT of US police manufacturing ways to arrest and generally destroy the lives of perfectly innocent people.
My ex husband and I were driving home late at night once with our baby and our car broke down on a country road. My husband managed to limp the car to a farmhouse and we parked outside. We had no idea what to do, as this was before we had a mobile phone. Luckily a police car drove past and stopped. We obviously looked suspicious, lol. They saw our plight and immediately gave us a lift home.
Fast forward a few years later and was in my electric wheelchair and it broke down in town. A couple of police officers saw me. Stopped and lifted my very heavy wheelchair into their van, along with me and drove me home.
I love our police.
My grandpa was in the UK police for half his life. He was for a time assigned to the airport, it was the first time he'd been issued a firearm in the field (he'd had training obviously). It was a revolver and he was instructed to keep the gun unloaded unless a situation arose where he'd need it, he just kept the bullets in his pocket all the time. He never loaded that gun the entire time he was there.
These people are not armed. They provide us ordinary souls with safety and service...❤️❤️
They are armed, their baton counts as a weapon and some might carry tasers (not sure what rank rates one).
No firearms though except specialist armed response units.
@@PhoenixDawn93 Taser training can be done at any rank but it is training and ends with certification, its a 4 day intensive course you CAN fail.
You can also lose your certification if you're found to have incorrectly discharged your taser and can even be charged with assault if you injure someone from negligence.
The proof of the pudding is in the eating. Police officers are rarely murdered. If one is killed in the line of duty, it’s front page news for days.
Yes they really are friendly and fair, i was caught by a police car after i went through a red light because id had one pint of lager the copper asked me to join him in his car where he explained he was gonna breathalyse me, i told him i appreciate you're only doing your job and that i understood he had to breathalyse me (i passed), he proceeded to explain it was a £60 fine and three points on my licence for going through the light BUT because id been so polite and reasonable he was letting me off with a warning, if that had been America id have been shitting myself, god bless the British police 🇬🇧
Are you deluded the police in this country are absolutely disgusting they think they own the country,
Wtf have you been hiding.
Check out all the auditors who go all over the country and see and the police abuse what powers they have.
Your clueless
I bet you never did that again! 🙄
So glad you took it well, not everyone would, and the police appreciate it 😊 That was very honest of you 👍
@JenniferRussell-qw2co I try my best, honesty is after all the best policy
👍🤗🙋♀️
@@JenniferRussell-qw2co enjoy the rest of your evening Jennifer and be happy, safe and healthy ✌️
The people spoken to are candid because they have trust in the police built up over time. They know they will not get arrested or otherwise hassled for trivial things. They also know that they get a lot of support, help and advice from the police. Police in this country police by consent. There is a reason the UK police are a service where police in the US are a Force.
Police in the UK have to keep the King's Peace. In the USA they have to enforce the law. The two ideas are very different.
The police often refer desperate folks (not unlike those shown) to services that can assist, e.g. housing, counselling, benefits, etc. Often, there are not enough resources to help, so the police will remain in contact. That's community policing and it helps. I live rurally, and the police here do what they can despite being under-resourced; they actually maintain professional contact with staff of other agencies such as housing, hotlines (child, unaliving). They try, they really do.
Ask a cop and they will say police force. Yes its police by consent but that's not how the police see it, try telling a cop no when they ask for your name they give it the old "you're refusing to identify" no its not a refusal as you have no legal obligation to comply it a decline.
@Mean-bj8wp I mean, if a PC is asking for your name then chances are you've been doing something reckless/sketchy and/or illegal, are being antagonistic/confrontational towards them, or they think you fit the description of someone they're looking for. Then again, if they were looking for someone, it wouldn't just be your average bobbies having a chat.
Also, one glance at your channel suggests that you may fit into category a) doing something they deem reckless, and thus want to know if you have a history of speeding. Which may explain your go-to example of being ID'd. That being said, this is all pure speculation lol.
Living in London all my life, I've had a decent amount of interactions with police, and as long as I wasn't doing anything particularly concerning, I never got asked for my name.
@@Mean-bj8wp oh, forgot to add: the term 'police by consent' doesn't mean they need the individual's consent to perform their duties. They don't require your consent to enact laws.
"Policing by consent is a fundamental principle that underpins modern democratic societies. It is a concept rooted in the belief that the authority of the police derives from the consent and cooperation of the public they serve, as opposed to the power of the state.
It does not mean the consent of an individual. No individual can chose to withdraw their consent from the police, or from a law.
British policing is based on consent, meaning the ability of the police to carry out their functions rests on ‘public approval of their existence, actions and behaviour’
What is policing by consent? - ministry of injustice. Check it out, sums it up quite well. With a bit of history.
British police and community officers understand the importance of showing respect and kindness even to criminals
Absolutely heart-breaking, those people have been abandoned by the state. I remember when they emptied the mental hospitals and had the nerve to call it "Care in the Community".
It's a catch 22 situation with benefits I believe. They can't get benefits(social security) without a home address, they can't get an address without regular income. Incredibly difficult to get a job without an address. Some landlords will not take benefit claimants, and just like the US renting is expensive and in short supply.
I was a British police officer for 30 years. In all my career I only had a radio, a wooden truncheon (later a collapsing steel baton, a can of CS spray, and, in my last 5 years of service, a Taser (that I used twice). I worked in a large city centre and also a very rural area, both for 15 years. In the latter part of my service, it would have taken 30 minutes to get an officer with a gun to my location.
I live in devon and there is more crime in rural Devon than a city like Plymouth per head of population, not so much drugs but gangs stealing from farms and plant equipment. The countryside is violent after dark
So I assume you are retired? If so, can you speak on this 2 tier policing that we're seeing in our beautiful country? Nothing hostile, would just like to hear it from a former officer 😊
@@DaKiffsterthe media outlets show you what they want you to see , I'm assuming you mean the recent riots and all those Muslims were allowed to get away with stuff ?? . That's exactly what certain folk want you to believe it's utter rubbish . You should look into the Nottinghill carnival and how many were arrested there but that does not get a mention .
Thank you for risking your safety to keep us safe. ❤
Once upon a time all senior officers started at the bottom and worked their way up through the rank structure. Now that’s not the case. Senior officers have a direct influence on promotions, therefore they tend to promote clones of themselves. As ‘political correctness’ has impacted society as a whole, so that is reflected in the Police, but the effect is magnified. So senior officers have to demonstrate outwardly their PC, and that has a knock-on effect. That’s why 2 tier policing is manifesting itself.
Look at how Finland solved that problem. Here in the Netherlands we deal with it quite reasonably as well.
They tried the same in Manchester with some success but they still need more money. But to explain in a nutshell the idea is to get people into accommodation and then tackle their addiction problems instead of saying you'll offer accommodation once they've tackled their addiction problems.
I had a police visit at my house recently over a drunk comment I sent online. They were more concentrated on my wellbeing and got me extra help. Chatted with me for ages, only 30 seconds was about the comment.
It was more like a therapy session. UK police are awesome, respect them and they respect you.
We've all done daft things after a few jars, if it was a sign of something else I hope you're okay.
@ Thank you 🙏. They said exactly the same thing.
I thought I was going to be dragged away in cuffs.
But they were so supportive.
I do have to spend 3 months in rehab. But better than prison i suppose.
@@orrbugger I hope it goes well. I supported a friend through rehab, it's not easy. Good luck, stay strong, you'll be better for it.
@ thanks brother. I’m terrified. Did your friend become a better person afterwards?
During the summer there was a guy sleeping rough (homeless / on the street) near my local supermarket. I offered to buy food for him as I was going shopping anyway. When I gave him the food he was very polite and we had a chat. He'd had a medical problem that had wrecked his life (head injury) and I had gone through something very similar a decade earlier. I was lucky and didn't end up on the streets. I continued to buy food for him for a week or so, then he moved on. I hope he's found somewhere more permanent.
Here in Sheffield it's actively encouraged NOT to give homeless/beggers cash because here are TONNES of agencies in the city which provide support.
The Archer project you heard about in this video is delivered out of the city cathedral, and provides ANYONE who turns up with a hot meal 6 days of the week. They also provide showers, haircuts, legal advice etc.
There are multiple other soup kitchens throughout the city as well.
Rough sleeping is the term for homelessness here in the UK.
It's because some may have a home to go to, but that home may be unsafe, so they choose to sleep rough. 😢
24 hours in police custody is a tv programme that is very informative.
I’m going to comment in hope this gets more attention .
I think they would love “24 hours in police custody “ and would really give them a good insight into how our police operate .
Really great insight into how the police actually work, so different from most TV depictions!
Can I just say that I love this programme, it’s so informative and engaging. We tend to cross the road or just walk on by, people forget they had lives, jobs families etc and seek help in the long run. I’ve volunteered in a soup kitchen and some of these people just want to talk have a fresh start. We really do need to do something more than throw cash at them to help.
I’m ex police and 24hrs in Police Custody is probably the most realistic program showing how the police actually work. It’s the only one I watch 😉
And ‘to catch a copper’.. very insightful
I pulled out in front of a police car on a mini roundabout up in London and was absolutely bricking it when the blue lights came on as I thought I was going to get done big time. After the initial vehicle checks and a few on the spot questions of asking if I was from the area and where I was heading, they were fine about it and even thanked me for being a reasonable human being and let me go on my way. Just be compliant and reasonable and you won't have any trouble - it's only when you start being an arse and get into an argument is where things take a turn.
My landlord died, his family wanted to sell the property and I was suddenly homeless.
I had a job, some savings and most importantly enough education to navigate through a lot of paperwork. It's easy to see where people fall through the cracks.
The police will have baton and pepper spray, but look at how they're approaching situations, "how are you?" is a decent, non-confrontational opener to things - everyone wants to go home in one piece, suspects, beggar, addicts, shoplifters and the police themselves. De-escalation is a big part of police training in the UK, addiction isn't fun to deal with for professionals that work with them, but you have to accept the reality of addiction and that even with support a lot of addicts are just that - addicted. It seems more sensible for the police to take the approach you see here, try to make sure people are "alright", keep the peace. We'll never know, but I'd guess those officers prevented more crime than we'll be able to know.
Heroin is pretty much the cheapest it's ever been in Europe/UK and I strongly suspect we're going to see a change to that market yet again with the imminent influx of even cheaper synthetic opiates. We're going to see a big spike in overdoses.
The point I was actually going to make was to maybe take a look at how and why Heroin is so cheap these days. Coincidentally, prices started going down after the invasion of Afghanisatan.
I've only recently got out of "temporary accommodation" after living there from Jan 10 til 8th of this month. Only cooking facilities were a kettle in your room and a communal microwave in reception, no fridge or freezer. Glad I'm out of that now and, apart from one blip, I've been sober since moving here.
@@wallythewondercorncake8657….good luck Wally and well done 👊👋👋👋
@@wallythewondercorncake8657 well done for getting through it - enjoy your new place, make it "yours" and do something every day to improve your life, even if it's silly or small, just something you can smile at or be proud of for you.
@@wallythewondercorncake8657well done mate. I’ve been sober 8 years. It’s still hard some days, I will always be an addict. Just a sober one now. I wish you the best my friend xx
@@wulfgold Been going to a community group at a local church, got a library card, little things but do make a difference
It's so nice to hear people saying nice things about us Brits. I'm so happy that the police don't have guns, as you said, things happen really quick but I can only feel that pulling a trigger is horribly and fatally fast.
Also, we are taught that the police are there to protect us. I've only ever had positive interactions with british police. Key word: de-escalation.
Begging is illegal in the UK.
Also people denying beggars money, drives them to help services like the soup kitchens and shelters, so social services can be active in helping them. It’s hard to say no, but for people wanting to help, donating to soup kitchens is the best way to support.
As ex law enforcement (UK and other parts of the world), and being a regular commentator on law enforcement issues in the US, what you are seeing is how policing is done. By no means perfect, there is always room for improvement, but still light years away from what is going on across the pond.
Training - the (lack of) training that US law enforcement receives, borders on negligence on the part of the authorities. In fact I'd go so far as to say criminal negligence, and people are paying for it with their lives sadly.
There are guns in the UK, granted not as much as in the US, but then there isn't a single country in the world that has more guns than the US, however, the amount of, and the quality of training required to be a firearms officer in the UK is significant, contrast this with every LEO in the US carrying a firearm, with the least amount of training.
I could literally write a book about what needs to be done in the US and where the issues stem from, not least of which the US is the only UN member state that when the UN produced guidance on the use of lethal force by law enforcement, didn't enact that guidance into law. Complete reform is what is needed. Far too many people in the US desensitised to think that's what law enforcement looks like.
Indeed. And their military training isn’t much better. When I was serving in HM Forces (RAF) we heard about a “accidental” shooting at US airforce base close by. It turned out that the guy fired his weapon whilst unloading, luckily nobody was hurt. His punishment was a telling off and being required to pay for the wasted ammunition. Meanwhile in HM Forces that’s referred to as a negligent discharge and you are in serious poop potentially leading to a Courts Martial and even prison.
Thankfully it rarely happens as we do far more weapons training, including two days refresher training before every stint of guard duty. An American colleague told me he only went to the range once a year which is insane.
@@ffotograffydd likewise am also a veteran (ex Army Captain) and qualified range control officer. Worked alongside some US troops during my time. Very different mindset indeed. Yeah, ND is no laughing matter. Know of more than a few ND incidents that resulted in fatalities.
There was an 'expose' on US police training not that long ago. Lots of money being paid to an outfit that was ex military delivering training to Police officers, on 'the warrior mindset'. Basically viewing civilians as the enemy. Absolutely shocking, inappropriate, and not fit for purpose, nor mirroring any policing expertise or best practice from around the world.
Shocking isn’t it?
Only the other day I was reading about a young US airmen who was shot and killed after the police raided the wrong building.
They said it was in self-defence because he was holding a gun when he opened his front door, but surely they should have established why he was armed? Instead the police officer just opened fire and shot him multiple times as soon as he saw the gun.
I can totally understand why a serving member of the military might arm himself if someone is trying to gain entry to his home and he doesn’t know who they are.
What a waste.
Our friend was licensed to carry a firearm in the Metropolitan Police. He’s calm, level headed and brave. He’s retired now and is still one of the nicest people you could ever meet.
@@ffotograffydd Big issue in the US involving 'no warrant knocks'; LEOs going to the wrong address and literally breaking in; threatening home owners to enter, even though they have no right.
If you look at the numbers, it is shocking.
Recent welfare check on an elderly woman resulted in the officer shooting her in the head, because she had a pan of hot water. She was about 15 feet away, with a breakfast counter between them. He got charged with murder or something similar.
Some stores have suspended coffees scheme where you can pay for a coffee but not take it and then people who need a hot drink can get the previously paid for item for free
We have "safe spaces" at night where I'm from. You can get a drink, charge your phone, talk to a nurse and a police officer, wait for a taxi or someone to pick you up. It's just as much for people on a night out as it is for rough sleepers
@@clarelawton4653 in Cardiff there is a safe space where drunk students sometimes head for if they have lost their wallet or friends etc.
it’s also full of homeless people. It’s useful to get the two groups together , it helps both not see one another as hostile groups.
They're people.... there's good and there's bad
Adult to adult interaction.
Controlling 'parent' (force) to rebellious child is the US alternative.
Which works best?
In the US, one minor drug offence means a long prison sentence and your ability to be employed in a legitimate job is gone for life! So, it's crime, begging or prison.
I worked at an education charity, and invited the local community police to visit as one student was having problems. One of the officer spoke in British Sign Language as he talked, which for many students it was their first language. The student with the problems after told me this police officer was now his best friend, and now knew he could approach an officer using BSL. The same officer I've learnt has been training all the local community police to learn even basic BSL in the 5 years since.
😭
Id totally watch a police exchange programme between 5 UK and US officers and see the difference
From childhood you are taught to look fir a policeman if you're scared or lost and that's why the Bobby's hat is that shape so it's tall and can be seen. They treat people as humans not detritus
You need to get out more. It is not the 1960s anymore and British police are very definetly not your friend.
@@sarahprice1375 it's actually a helmet it's hard as rock my sons got one . Protection from flying objects being thrown .
Scottish police don't wear the helmets. They have military style hats with skips.
Another vote for ‘24 hours in police custody’ for you to watch, excellent programme.
They cant housing because you need an address to get benefits or a job. Im edinburgh where i live they are building small one bed pods so the homeless move in and have an address its realy helping them.
That's not true to be fair, you do not need an address to get benefits.
There are lots of issues that do make it difficult, but that isn't one of them.
@@wyterabitt2149 Bear in mind that English Law and Scots Law are two different things.
@@Yesser-Thistle73 The video is in England. The first sentence they clearly stated was " *They cant housing because you need an address to get benefits or a job* ". They, the people in the video.
Even if Universal Credit was different, which as far as I am aware is not for this but I could be wrong, then Scots law being different is completely irrelevant to what I was talking about.
You should be making this comment to the OP, not to me.
The problem with begging isn't the genuine people who need help, they just sit there with maybe a sign and they don't bother anyone. It's the aggressive behaviour of some going up to people and bothering them and the professionals beggers who aren't actually homeless but do it for a living. It's generally down to the officers discretion, they don't normally arrest homeless people for asking for help, but ones causing problems are a different case
@@wyterabitt2149 i agree im currently homeless, in edinburgh. The lack of housing, mostly in recent years due to lack of focus or investment in building new homes. Governmental cuts to the extent that the council has allowed over a thousand units of student accomodation to be built as it gains the a little revenue and brings in a small amount of buisness with students with some money behind them. In the last ten years i have seen at least a dozen sites where old buildings were knocked down, land sold for development but the student accomodation more likely to pay more as its for profit, housing associations, council and charity's are limited on funds so can't secure the sites to get housing built.
To many decades of mp's who couldn't care less about us degenerates so are happy to cut funding on essential services even though EVERY year the problems get worse due to population increase alone. Add on LESS housing available let alone EXTRA to deal with yearly increases. its a joke, decission makers DO NOT CARE, the volunteers/workers of very valuable services care allpoliticions have done for three decades is cling on to power with every thing they have, its pathetic and REALLY REALLY makes EVERYTHING worse...currently on year five of waiting for psycologist/psychiatrist to help with trauma as the free counciers are overwhelmed and still waiting for nhs help. worked 25 years as a chef paying lots of tax but try and get a litle help to get back on my feet and back to work im invicible!!!
My boyfriend bought some food for a homeless guy; he saw him later that day and the homeless guy accosted him, complaining that he hadn't bought him enough food, to go and get some more for him, etc etc.
The best thing you can do for these people is give to a charity or business that helps the homeless.
You say in a roundabout way you're helping, but they could be spending the £20 (Brit here) you gave them on large amounts of alcohol, rather than food, getting drunk out of their mind, alone, then collapsing in the cold and dying. Or, they could be spending it on a bed for the night.
You have no idea. But you can't help someone who doesn't want to help themselves.
If a British police officer is 'horrible to you' then you started it
You cant put the reality of policemen not carrying guns in context without understanding that street criminals are almost never going to have guns either.
They have other reasons though, knives
@@Andreaod73 And even with knives, the UK's knife crime figures are about 5 times lower than the US's per capita. So even then the chances are low.
Unless your name is Chris Cabba. 🙄
There are a lot of guns in London now, but like most the big citys they have capable Armed Response Vehicles for these calls.
@@Andreaod73knife crime (per 1000 of the population) is still 480% higher in the US when compared to the UK. So still pretty safe.
You are most likely to be stabbed in the UK if you are involved in a gang, or by someone you know.
General citizens are fairly safe.
Hiya guys, I am glad you watched this ❤,,look up an old,'adage', which I hope applies to all of us, "There by the grace of God, go I".,
Take care, Tony here in the UK 🇬🇧 ❤
There, but by the grace of God go I . Sorry but the but is important ❤❤❤
Wow that was what my parents taught me many many years ago. With exact same words. I have always lived with that truth. I was blessed through nothing I did with a great family and I know not everyone is as fortunate. So I try to be decent and pay forward. Has worked so far. Being decent to ppl when they are at their lowest is the decent thing to do especially when they are of no threat.
I think the biggest difference is that our police training doesn't portray our citizens as the enemy who is out to get them. Attitude is key to every encounter and it would seem that the American attitude is aggression from the start of every encounter. The people are beneath them. Humanity is key to successful interactions not power tripping officers
I lived on the street as a teen,neglect/sa abuse at home=M.H issues,so can give a little insight. The police can be fairly understanding as long as your respectful and understanding that they've just gotta do their job,they dont want things escalating either.
But seriously i will be forever grateful for the support we do have here (obvs torys tried to cut alot but still compared to alot of other places in world i was very lucky) there were places you drop in for support networking,mh chats,support workers etc, they gave advice the on things like -night shelters (real rough though,avoided them),emergency accommodation,(like a bnb till you got a space in a hostel,lots of very strict rules,in by 9 for eg),or ideally got you a space n local hostel, some are shorter term so lots of moving around every few month,some longer term,you had keyworker there who could help set you up with support/disability benefits,or other help/services,theropy groups,harm reduction,docs/dentist van a mix of stuff,they(the hostel) provided donated foods,or had hot meals provided if lucky,(then theres always those sort of soup vans,or larger kitchens), foodbanks/vouchers if you had cooking facilities,(shared kitchen space in hostle).
I tried doing big issue(magazine you sell)but town became too saturated,or many folk would sit for a beg,(police often move you +you got alot of abuse thrown at you) or would go choring(shop lifting cheese meats airfreshners lol etc),or be runners for dealers,many of us lassys had to do.. err,bad times,,aaanyway,,
Hostels-if you worked with them(your key worker) ie stayed out of trouble some places had longer stay flats connected to hostel,or you would go onto the housing list,which after about 2/3yrs (with silver priority,it can take yeears) i got a council flat! been here 15+yrs,the gratitude to be able to have my own safe space, a door i can lock was just overwhelming,similar feeling to how i wept after 1st being given a room in 1st hostel after all the horrendus stress for so long either sofa surfing(some real dodgy places) or trying to find some old derelict building,watever i could nuckle down with my sleeping bag,had a 2man tent at one point too,but after that to finally feel safe! Comfortable,warm,clean,an actual bed! my own shower! Was just incredible in comparison. I was around 19 doing hostels after leaving home at 15,vulnerable young lass on street,caused alot of further trauma,i stayed in services to work on theropy for CPTSD for a number of years,still a way to go but considering where i was,its a miracle im even here n those folk saved my life,i wish they had better pay though as its so so valuable to the community everything all these folk do. Apologies for spelling/grammar/rambling essay 😅
Homeless people in the UK can be placed into housing, however, these housing units usually have rules like no pets, no smoking or drinking etc. and are, more often than not, in disrepair.
So, many homeless people will choose their pets over housing, or are too addicted to their coping substances that they cannot easily give them up for the sake of housing.
I speak to the homeless alot steve and the picture i get they feel safer on the street rather than in a hostel. Hostels are violent places. Many homeless here are ex vets aswell
I may be wrong, but my impression is that homelessness is common among ex-servicemen even if they have not been in combat. There seems to be something about military training that robs young men of the skills needed for civilian life.
@faithlesshound5621 yeah outside nobody looks after you. In the forces all you got to do is do as youre told and they look after you
The police here are quite nice to be honest if you are nice to them. Respect goes both ways those Steve.
Unless you do something stupid. Then they're still _technically_ nice, just on the floor in hand cuffs
B@@MostlyPennyCatnot anymore - a lot of them now are thugs to British people
@@MostlyPennyCat i would say that is true. As I said though respect goes btoh ways. If you are respectful to them they are most likely going to be the same
@@MattBirch1991
Oh absolutely. They are well trained in de-escalation which involves displaying respect to the people in a situation you are trying to de-escalate.
And they're an absolute force of nature when it's time to be forceful, the irresistible force.
The kindest officers are dog handlers in my experience i dont know what it is about the dog handlers but they have a way with people. Maybe as we are nation of dog lovers in britain so talking about the dogs breaks the ice
I've had a similar experience with mounted police being a rider myself I've always had a mutual topic of conversation with them I've never been in trouble with the police but I do attend a lot of events where the mounted police are in attendance 😊
I think especially with member of the public. I think are very aware that the dogs are seen as quite aggressive, so they tend to be extra nice to balance it out.
I've had to call UK police on more than one occasion and they've been brilliant every time - friendly and able to make you feel relaxed in a stressful situation.
In the UK the police call you sir.
In the US you call the police sir.
lol - if you call a uk police office "sir" they would arrest you for being sarcy
My favourite police video ever: traffic cop pulls over a car where all the windows are smashed. On the tv we see him chatting to the driver. He comes back to the police car and he's laughing. He says ' they've just been to the safari park'😂
😂😂😂 Love that!
I know a man who his wife left him and took his kids after an argument. He was a professional IT person who paid his mortgage and had 150k in the bank and nice car. After his wife left him she told him you will never see your kids again and it destroyed him, he never went back to work , home or car.. he slept in the streets and drank until he forgot. 10 years later he still sleeps in the street and refuses to return to society and he has enough money to do it himself but he chooses to remain in his situation. My childhood friend in my neighbourhood committed suicide after his wife left him and took his kids m, it broke him and he just gave up. They are the only ones I know of personally but homelessness is never as simple as people think and they often resort to drugs and alcohol to help with the truama and cold.
weaponizing the kids against another parent is disgusting.
there is hope however for anyone in a similar position. kids may "believe" the stories of the parent they are living with while they are children. But once they reached the age of 18 they can visit and live wherever they want. And they're going to be adults for many more decades than they were children. at which age the truth of each parent's character will show.
So play the long game and you enjoy your kids company when they are adults
@@bolt-dbtfg Unfortunately, this is not often the case and from personal experience, the adult children, have believed what they were told and never choose to come looking.
Search 'policing by consent' This only works when there is a two-way respect between the police and populace.
Yeah but no respect from the police they believe people have to comply with what ever they say and we don't, try declining your name when not legally obligated to and you will soon find out what the police are really like.
Correct. It works because the unfortunates know that they will not be persecuted by talking with the Police. And the Police are reasonable and keep things 'low key', polite and friendly. This way the Police are able to simply have a talk with the locals, get told confidential / 'off the record' information about the more serious things that happen, and pass that 'info' onto the people investigation certain serious crimes, for them to verify or otherwise. Many would and have come to a Policeman's aid when needed, even if the Policeman had previously arrested and charged the guy. Because the citizen knew that they were treated well / fairly. So they wanted to help that particular cop.... when he was in danger
Policing is about looking after the entire community, not just arresting the bad guys. The people featured in this video, are not the bad guys. They’ve had a tough time. But they are still part of the community, and are looked at with empathy, for the most part.
Local authorities have a statutory duty to provide accommodation for people who have lost their home. However, there's two issues: any such accommodation will have rules, and many homeless people are there because rules make them feel oppressed, and even a cold shop doorway is preferable to having to get up at 7 am, get dressed, and have breakfast. The second issue is that local authorities do not have to provide accommodation for persons who are deemed to have deliberately made themselves homeless. So someone who leaves home because, e.g., he's frightened that if he stays, he might kill someone in his family, will not get assistance from the local authority. He'll have so seek help from friends or see if one of the homeless charities can help him. A lot of people are homeless because they became addicted to drugs, then they had to commit petty crimes to pay for the drugs, then they go to prison for the crimes, then when they come out they still have nowhere to live and probably still have an addiction. Possibly a worse one. It's a vicious and deadly spiral that 'nice' people don't really think about.
Sheffield resident since '93...I have lived all over the city. I currently live in what is considered by some one of the rougher areas. But I have never felt unsafe and have lived here since 97. I am a woman of 63. I try to talk to my regular "beggars" and if it's cold I try and give enough for them to have a bed at a shelter. In my late 20s I was homeless for a while and was put in a bed and breakfast room with a woman and 2 children. I was fragile mentally so ended up in a car for a while away from people. Anyone....anyone can end up without an affordable home. I was fortunate I didn't have an addiction, a landlord took a chance on me and I put my life back together. But no one should judge. It's our responsibility to take care of the vulnerable. Sadly it seems to be an unpopular view. Either give some money with genuine care or leave them alone. You can't dictate what they spend it on.
You can't train empathy and compassion. In another life I was a copper and joined to help people not the power
Good luck. Sheffield and its people are the salt of the earth, IME.
I live in Sheffield the city in the video, they mentioned the Archer Project which is a project set up to help these people, homeless / rough sleepers. The company I worked for were supporters of the Archer Project and we as employees were asked if we would like to volunteer, just one day, to help serve the homeless and on another occasion to spend a night on the street sleeping out to get a perspective on what was happening on the streets of our city during the night. The police were in their community roles there, they are not always that friendly and understanding.
Also we have "armed response" to be honest you DONT wanna mess with these chaps!
They only act if they have reason to. The guns don't come out of the veichle for nothing
@chucky2316 yeah my next door neighbor held his missus hostage with a crossbow, they literaly took part of his house roof off and went in that way.....mental
Following the Martyn Blake trial, there was an interesting statistic in The Economist last week. On average, the various armed response units around the country are (between them) called to about 10,000 incidents per year. In the past 10 years, they have discharged a weapon 65 times.
@@chrislaing7153 I remember a statistic a few years ago for one Force's armed response unit.
They had discharged more weapons putting down injured deer that had been hit by vehicles than any other reason...
It was something like half a dozen deer. 1 dangerously out of control dog and the tyres of a car that was fleeing with armed suspects
@@chrislaing7153Yeah, it's about 5-6 bullets fired a YEAR. When they fire they really know that they must fire and if you watch the body cam footage from that incident the officer knew he had to fire and did the right thing.
In the US there is a Police Force, with Law Enforcement Officers. I get the impression that the LEOs are trained to dominate a situation first. In the UK we have a Police Service, Crime Prevention Officers and policing by consent of the people. The words have meaning in both countries. Enforcement versus a service
Brilliantly put.
Hi Steve! Love your channel so much. I'm British and I would suggest that when you do get over to the UK, you should definitely visit Worcester and its Cathedral. Worcester is submerged in History, being the burial place of King John, Prince Arthur (brother of King Henry VIII), the Birthplace of Edward Elgar ( who wrote Nimrod and Pomp and Circumstance etc.), one of the hosting Cathedrals of The Three Choirs Festival (the oldest Music Festival in the world, the other hosting Cathedrals being Hereford and Gloucester, which are also worth a visit, though not as much as Worcester in my opinion), the fleeing place of Guy Fawkes after the Gunpowder Plot, and much more! They have an amazing choir, which I am part of, who sing with Gloucester and Hereford Cathedral Choir every Three Choirs Festival. Definitely worth a Wikipedia search! Love your channel!
@@rorywoodward9090 Live right by Stratford on Avon. And ten minutes drive takes me to COUGHTON COURT were old guy Fawkes fled to. Can I confess I have never visited COUGHTON COURT. The local way of pronunciation of is COW...TON.
We are all only a few steps away from losing the life we’ve built , in this day and age.
Yep unless you are a multi millionaire.
So true, and most people don't seem to know this.
I volunteer at Sheffield, as an Appropriate Adult in police custody. This involves looking after vulnerable people, so young and mentally ill. A little kindness goes a long way. If a detained person doesn’t see the police as an enemy, they are far more likely to talk and seek help.
Gun laws make a massive difference. Regular cops don’t need guns. However I’m often impressed by the patience and bravery of your cops in the face of gun danger! Love from the uk.
It was really interesting to watch your attitude change from 'They have no gun at night? When the worst people come out?!' To: 'Oh, these people need help!' Really interesting that just seeing the police talk to them, humanised them to you ❤ That's how it should be in the US too!
Having lived in various parts of London, I've seen how quick the SWAT team can get there. I've seen patrolling officers call something in then less than a minute later a van with about 8 armed officers pull up.
And yes begging is illegal here but its not heavily enforced.
It's rare that a suspect will have a gun in the uk. Sharp objects are the bigger threat. Which obviously means if you keep your distance and taser them, you remain relatively safe.
Americans seeing the rest of the world is an eye-opening experience that there is no coming back from.
You will start to recognize how many horrific problems America has.
My Dad and Granddad were both police officers. This was from the twenties through to the early nineties, with a bit of a break. My county is former industrial, with a lot of poverty, but the police in those days had to live where they worked and they were part of the community. The amount if people who have said to me ' I like your Dad. He was fair.' My Granddad was a tough man but even he had sympathy for the people he was policing, who were often treated badly by landlords and employers. Its a job that can take a big toll though.
POLICE OFFICERS OR SOCIAL WORKERS??AS A RETIRED POLCE OFFICER I THINK THESE TWO ARE THE LATTER🤔🤔
@@charlieemslie7708 It's a tough balancing act in those circumstances. As the local Constable, living in your own policing area, in amongst literally everyone, you got to know what was going on. You had to deal with it, while preserving your reputation in the community, and your Police Station / headquarters.
Policing was often one your own, or in pairs. On foot (walking the beat). In larger stations you may be assigned a vehicle, with or without a partner, depending on your duties.
So you would have to ignore some trivial offences and give advise and or warning, but make arrests, sometimes reasonably violent arrests where required, and prosecute them.
If you were good, you would get a good reputation...... like being fair, but don't try to fool him or he will get you, he's a good fighter, don't resist him.... that sort of thing. Yes there is or was, a lot of social work components there. But at the end of the day you are authorised to make an arrest. You have sworn an oath to do your duty to the best of your ability, and without fear or favour. These types of duties are not normally given to inexperienced Constables who are still learning to shave. These Constables are always loading the scales of justice, checking that they still balance, and are reviewing circumstances, all of the time. It's about 'keeping the peace', and using the long arm of the law (arrest and charge), when necessary. JUSTICE, most of the time.
About thinking that these British cops are social workers.... well you saw them doing some of that, sure. They were also getting up to date information on the local scene, while keeping alert for a known 'robber'/drug addict... wanted for further inquiries (and arrest).
All information gained is shared throughout the Police service in the area (some countries nationally), so if Detective H from 200 miles away wants to know the occupants of an address, or who is using a particular vehicle, a quick query on the local Station computer will give him the info he requested. All this information is collected from street or roadside interviews.
It is a shame that this video didn't show viewers a 'hard' arrest, Police unarmed (no taser, no firearms), with a suspect losing it. You would also be reasonably impressed I think.
From another former Police officer..... from former British Colony.
googled-
1) Begging has been illegal in the UK for almost two centuries under the 1824 Vagrancy Act. It does not carry a jail sentence under the Act. The maximum sentence is a fine at level 3 on the standard scale (currently £1,000).
2) All UK police officers are not required to carry tasers, but they are authorized to use them. In November 2008, the Home Secretary approved the use of tasers throughout England and Wales for all officers, lifting the Authorised Firearms Officer restriction, with officers who receive training and carry a taser known as 'specially trained units' (STU's)1. To be issued with a Taser, police officers must have completed 18 hours of training and are then required to undergo a compulsory refresher course every year
Firearms teams are usually available to be called upon when needed throughout the UK. i spent a few years out and about patrolling days and nights, we are taught to talk to people, not go in full steam ahead, unless you were walking into a punch up and have no choice. even then you are trying to talk and calm things down if you can. only time i drew my baton was to break a window to get into a elderly person who had fallen and blocked the door. A very wise Sargent of mine told me to remember that we were just people in a uniform, not just the uniform itself.
My husband worked as an officer for 25years, he was on the Special Patrol Group (riot squad), only one of them had a gun, which was kept in his home, and needed to be authorised before he could go and get it lol. It was a truncheon and handcuffs, CS gas, a radio and a notebook lol.
Our police are amazing. They go in amongst people in full on psychosis and use kindness
Yes,until we have a terrorist,and those unafmed pansies we call police in UK,show how useless they are.
or a fkg big baton and 'cuffs' if it all goes pear shaped.....
They start off 'softly, softly' and if good things happen, that's cool. But if they get attacked by someone who has lost control, most are very capable (and well trained and qualified) with the short baton and/or the long baton (aka PR24).... and these days, Tasers.
The biggest issue i found wile homeless around 2010 was not having a fixed address. I was 15 and never got no help other then being told to move to London when i was up north. Eventually got a helping hand 6 years later from an old friend. Got a job miss and my own place.
And I bet you appreciate every little thing in life now , I'm a recovering alcoholic of 6yrs now and know what it's like to be really low . I'm in a really good place now and appreciate all the little things in life some take for granted a roof over my head , food on the table and family all of these things I could have easily lost if not got the help I needed. Best of luck to you 😊
@@claregale9011 Very true with the little things....stay strong bud🦾🔥👑
Stay strong out there bro, had a similar path myself !
Finland has solved homelessness. All western countries could do the same but people don’t want it to happen
When I was younger I lived in a van for a bit, so had a few run-ins with the police. They were generally pretty nice. Our "good cop, bad cop" is one of them asking if he can have a go on your guitar (and he was really good!) whilst the other checks your tyres and runs the plates. I'm sure they could smell the jazz cigarettes but I think they only wanted to check I was not causing any problems and didn't bring it up.
That said, they are not a push over. I was door knocking for a survey once when a team in riot type gear turned up and raided a house along the road. They were dead serious, it was heavy.
A plus is that they are regulated, and can have consequences if they are out of line. And it is rare for them to have guns, which is the best bit.
Oh we have a huge heroin and crack (and drugs in general) problem in the UK.
Street homeless are very open about talking about stuff here, I was homeless for 7 years and the majority of the homeless are very cordial with the cops, not ALL obviously but there's a lot of mutual respect =)
Begging is illegal in England and Wales. In Scotland it is not unless they are aggressively begging.
Begging is also illegal in Northern Ireland under the Vagrancy Act of 1824. This law also criminalizes rough sleeping...
The city of Sheffield is seeing hard times since the 80's. There is a movie set in the city, called " The Full Monty " a bitter sweet comedy that portrays the woes & a solution for a group of redundant workers.
Fab film.. great music too 😊
Omg havnt seen that in yeears! Forgot about that,might need to go find it again,thanks fer reminding us!
My friends mum lost her husband quite early and with her children working was quite lovely. A local beat cop came to see her every day to chat and check up on her. When she died he came to her funeral and even got his colleagues to do a ride along and block off the streets along the route!
"You guys have this really kind persona." And yet, we play the villain in every Hollywood movie ever made.
I never give money I always give a sandwich & a drink in winter a cup of soup
I occasionally buy a copy of the Big Issue (I don't go into my local town a lot) but knowing the sellers are homeless, I normally make a point of asking if they would like a hot drink and sausage roll or similar.... I worked for a National Charity for some time before I retired last year, and I became more aware of the other local charities as a result. One of these charities was aimed at helping the homeless, and on occasion my work involved me calling in there. They had a good set-up there, which meant that anyone homeless could call in and take a shower, get fresh underclothes, and a decent hot meal. I later discovered that some local food retailers supplied them with unsold stock etc.... Some of the Big Issue sellers I spoke to, already knew about this homeless charity, and had used it. My local supermarket collects donations of food for the local foodbank.... Interestingly, I recently went over to North Yorkshire for a day out, and popped into a village church (I'm not deeply religious, just nosey!) and the church had it's own - quite well stocked - foodbank. A note pinned to the well stocked shelves read "if you are in difficulty, please help yourself" It restores your faith in human nature..... The vicar of the church was also well up with today's technology, as he holds podcasts of his services for those unable to attend in person!
Same here, I sometimes leave a voucher for Gregg's or Costa or some such, that way I know it's going on food, but they still have the dignity of choice too.
My feelings in regards to someone begging and giving them money (as someone who has been homeless in the past…though I’ve never been either an addict or an alcoholic), how they spend that money isn’t my business and if they have to use some substance or alcohol to deal with their situation (and the demons that created this life for them), who am I to decide that they don’t deserve that little bit of peace in their lives.
They are not only dealing with the issues that are going on in their own head, they have to deal with people who know nothing of the hardships of life living on the streets, thinking it’s hilarious to urinate on them when they are trying to get some sleep (which will be continuously interrupted by noise and being moved on) or even just laughing at and going out of their way to humiliate people who are sleeping rough (sleeping rough is when you having to sleep regularly without the comforts typically associated going to sleep, like a bed, bedding, warmth, comfort and a sense of safety).
Aye,getting spat on,pissed on,beer poured on ya (what is is wie fluids?) Or fag's chucked at ya-horror story's of folks sleeping bag going up, horrendus. But drunken folk emptying bars shouting allsorts,thinking its hilarious or being agro,endless hassle,just tryna kip,I always tried to find somewhere tucked away,but then I mean there's other risks if alone,its hard to balance,,glad to be away from that living hell
But aye sometimes in the cold n the constant noise/stress,having those few drinks/a charge to help warm you/numb it a little was only was you could sleep
My problem with giving money to registered charities (as opposed to giving it directly to the needy), is that a significant portion is going towards the charity's advertising, marketing, staff wages, commissions, premises, company transport and in many cases, a tidy bonus for the CEO.
I worked with rough sleepers for years, trust is everything, never did i or my team need anything but understanding to try and help, the police officers i worked along side always gad the rough sleeper wellbeing at the heart of the work they did.
As a society we need to always remember that something could make us homeless and addicted, so we should see the homeless as people first
I’ve been in contact with the police in England twice, no fault of my own, they were very nice people.
UK local government used to have a legal obligation to provide accommodation for the homeless. The Conservatives saw it would save money if the changed the law and removed this obligation.
Rubbish my council didn't get me my flat till I went 2 jail 4 smashing up the probation office 😂
So there was no homelessness under Labour governments or when this law was in place? Get real.
@@andrewbrown1712 rough sleeping and the use of food banks became worse under new labour
There is a two part documentary of Prince Williams pilot project to end Homelessness .
Its called the Homeward Project .
It sort of gels with this idea of getting people help .
Hi to you both sweet people! Yes, on the whole British Bobbies/Peelers/ Fuzz/Hedd Geidwad, are trained to de-escalate potentially tricky situations. They are officially designated as keepers of the King's peace, and as public servants. I've travelled very extensively, and across Europe I've always regarded police as courteous and approachable, as most are in Canada and Australia too. The US is one of few countries I've lived in/visited often, where I am afraid if stopped by police officers.
I love the names list! In Scotland, they are "the polis" mostly.
The people are open and honest as they aren't being threatened, they're being treated with respect and kindness. Not all cops are kind though lol but it's best to keep it like that when the crime isn't violent or happening at the time. They need info and also want to help. But of course every situation is different.
Police don't carry firearms (other than the specialised units), they usually wear stab vests, carry truncheons and some have tasers.
Sheffield. My hometown, born and raised, now live in the Cotswolds. And yes, I do talk like that. 😂