What's the deal with police in UK ?? - Happy Valley (2014) Discussion

[–] serenity_lopez 10 years ago

You call it craziness. We call it low gun crime. Look at American cops who carry guns, is your country in tip top shape? Do criminals always yield to police? How many cops 'accidentally' shoot people?

Lol, I think Britain is fine without guns, thanks.

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[–] mpboylanjr 10 years ago

No I get it. I'm not saying that it is safer by any means. It's way more dangerous here in NYC I would think but I'm just saying that you watch the show and that you see these cops that I must say don't always see the biggest crimes but in this day in age people are dangerous and I think cops should carry guns to protect themselves. They do not make a lot of money everywhere in the world and the fact that everyday can be your last I say carry a gun so you can go home at night to your family besides risk being killed by a criminal. I wasn't taking a shot at them I just don't understand why they do not carry weapons to defend themselves.?? I still didn't get an answer as to why they do not??

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[–] throwntosafety 10 years ago

Not all police forces carry guns. What you see in the USA is the militarisation of the police force - they use weapons originally designed for military use! It's absolutely disgusting in my opinion.... how many times do we have to read stories about cops killing people and pets? They go into people's houses and kill their dogs.

IMO cops should have a taser, baton and rubber bullets.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Higgins was right.
http://www.facebook.com/BringZackBack

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[–] mpboylanjr 10 years ago

You read the wrong info. First of all a police officer carries a standard 9mm. Not at all a military weapon and cops in the USA have always carried a weapon to defend themselves from hardened criminals. This is nothing new at all. The ones who carry military grade weapons are called SWAT teams and they do that for good reason. We have crimes everyday of maniacs going on killing sprees in our schools and streets. With worse crimes comes more firepower which means that our law enforcement needs to be able to protect themselves that much more. As far as cops going into homes and killing pets I don't know where u get that info from but the only time a pet is killed is usually one that is running wild and attacks a child or a officer themselves viciously . If you know any police officers then you would know that they would rather have a weapon than a frekin baton when facing an assault by another weapon. It's very necessary to defend ourselves against someone trying to kill you. Do things go wrong at times ? Yes of course. But to protect the citizens I'd rather have a officer with a weapon on my streets than one who can only shoot a taser gun at somebody hell bent on killing me or any innocent civilian. I get coming from different countries and very different ways of life and crimes that are probably more violent here than in these small towns in the UK that your views are different in this topic and that is fine. Just saying that I don't see the upside of cops that are supposed to protect against criminals of all sorts to not be able to have the proper weapons to defend yourself. In the US cops are killed all the time by gunmen and cartels and gangs. I think it is very necessary to have weapons for law enforcement especially in a country where 9 year old kids carry guns and the problem of gun control for a country that has in our constitution that all citizens have the right to bear arms that it is a diff. Situation. I guess we can chalk it up to the level of violent crimes that are commited in the US to the UK. I still do not get a real reason for them only carrying something I can buy in most stores in my country. I wish the situation was diff in my country and it was as safe but it's just not the case. I guess that's the reason when u get down to it

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[–] supergran 10 years ago

This article should put UK gun policy into perspective for you:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_politics_in_the_United_Kingdom

Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain.

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[–] TheOzyMan 10 years ago

Thanks for putting up that link supergran. It's a question often asked.

I remember my very first visit to the US (new York City actually) and being shocked at the open display of weaponry ... and that was in 1965! My next stop was St Louis where I repeated the same emotion. I couldn't get used to it! I didn't realise then how little US cops actually use their guns, despite what we see on television. Regrettably, that has changed a bit since 1965!

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[–] raynne1259 9 years ago

Cops kill an average of 25-30 dogs everyday. Check out Dogs shot by cops on Facebook and the web. This is a growing problem and producing many lawsuits against police departments all over the US. One guy had his dog shot when cops entered his back yard looking for a kid. Deadly force against animals is not always necessary.

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[–] serenity_lopez 10 years ago

The rest of the world just do things differently. It's amazing how a person from say the UK can see nothing wrong with their police not carrying a gun and see everything wrong with police in other countries carrying guns and on the flip side your point of view which is also valid because of your own experiences.

Personally I think guns are bad mkay. It makes me sick to my stomach to see people ranting and raving about their right to own an instrument which has a sole purpose of ending lives.

I hope regular police never get guns in the UK. Furthermore, I hope guns never become normal there. Not a dig at u or your country at all but America (especially right now) is hardly a shining example of sane gun owners/well trained armed cops.

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[–] miki-cza 10 years ago

I'm not either from US or UK but I think police definitely should carry guns. Haven't there been enough deaths of unarmed policemen in UK? Like these?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murders_of_Nicola_Hughes_and_Fiona_Bone

I don't know what's the issue is. Criminals have weapons, that's not something police should ever ignore. How citizens can feel safe if the people who were supposed to keep them secure don't have any means to keep them that way?

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[–] serenity_lopez 10 years ago

I suppose you're from a country where police carry guns? That's great if you feel safe with armed cops. I know I do not and am grateful to live in a country where the majority agrees.
Admittedly most armed cops do not use their weapons but the ones who do sometimes use them incorrectly and without cause.
I don't need to add any links as there are too many.
I'd much rather be disorderly (though I'm really a refined lady) and know the worst I can get is arrested than be disorderly and know the worst I could get is shot dead on the street by a trigger happy lunatic police officer.

If you don't feel safe at the idea of visiting or living in a country where they are not policed by military-like cops then don't go! North America is large and beautiful, as is South America and parts of the Middle East and Africa. Visit there!

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[–] miki-cza 10 years ago

There is no gun culture in my country, we don't have an easy access to guns like in US, but policemen carry guns that are used to intimidate and frighten not to kill or wound. I don't know if you're familiar with Global Peace Index. My country is in top 25 (state of peace - very high). I don't live in a country run by military. It may surprise you, but policemen look pretty ordinary.
If there are lunatic police officers then obviously something is wrong with law enforcement if they accept applications from crazy people.
Nobody said anything about visiting.

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[–] serenity_lopez 10 years ago

Yeah I know what the Global Peace Index is. If your country is in the top 25 then that's really good and u guys are very lucky and should feel proud but that's simply not just because your police are armed. There are several factors as to why that is. Low immigration numbers, good jobs, a competent government, good healthcare, great education etc all contribute to this.
USA has armed police, lax gun control and lax immigration policies as well as a wealth of other problems and they didn't make the top 25 in the GPI but they're going to make top 25 in a whole load of other positive lists that your country probably won't even rank in (no offence)

I wasn't trying to be rude about visiting but believe it or not, people DO feel safe with unarmed police. You said something about citizens not feeling safe which is why I said u should visit countries where police were armed. Again, wasn't trying to be rude, sorry.
You said cops in your country are armed to intimidate and frighten, that sounds just awful. You're quite happy to be frightened and intimidated by a regular person in a uniform and a badge?

There are plenty of police officers who are not in the correct state of mind and some who do not even know how to safely use and store their weapons. The thought of those people being handed instruments that have the one purpose of death is terrifying. Did u see that video of an American cop in a lift trying to holster his weapon but accidentally shooting himself in the stomach?

I'm quite happy for cops to be armed if they feel they need it in their own countries (just not mine). They kinda do at the moment in USA.

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[–] serenity_lopez 10 years ago

Furthermore those two poor cops who were shot in Brooklyn in their own squad cars had guns but that didn't stop them being murdered, did it? In fact you should go back to Wikipedia and look up the list of American police officers killed in the line of duty. All armed but still unfortunately killed.

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[–] shellieeyre 10 years ago

I'm not either from US or UK but I think police definitely should carry guns. Haven't there been enough deaths of unarmed policemen in UK? Like these?

This was a grenade attack - how would being armed have helped these WPCs?

I'm the clever one; you're the potato one.

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[–] deniseactress 10 years ago

I'm new to this show and from the US..and I couldn't help but wonder, why is an officer patrolling alone. Calling on backup or telling the station where you are would seem mandatory...especially if the officer is going to the home of the ex con who she knows is clearly dangerous..why wouldn't she call for back up.

what Jordie?

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[–] MarkAnthony1990 9 years ago

Because said officer harbours a personal grudge in the ex con, so was doing surveillance off her own back.

Babies kill TV shows!

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[–] hawthead 10 years ago

Not every country is a gun toting Republican paradise like USA.

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[–] pdrinnon 10 years ago

Just a couple of observations as I've just finished the series 5 minutes ago! Do the police not have taser guns? I kept expecting her to at least tase him when he beat her so badly! My next thought was that the police are at a disadvantage if the criminals are armed but they're not - but then it occurred to me that other than the gun used in Ashley there were NO guns in this series right? Very different than if this series had been set in the US! I wonder how realistic it would be to not expect criminals at that level in the UK to not at least "brandish" a gun in those scenarios?

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[–] serenity_lopez 10 years ago

Ashley wasn't a hardened criminal but he probably would have had a gun that he kept in his home.
The others were petty criminals so they probably wouldn't have had guns but could perhaps get their hands on one if need be.
One of the good things about being a copper in the UK is that u get to fight perps like a man instead of shoot them.

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[–] pinkybanana2000 10 years ago

I thought at least she should have had a gun when she went in alone to confront a clearly very dangerous Tommy. I understand not firing it, but it could have been used to hold him at bay, while calling for backup. If they wanted him at the end of the series they could have allowed him escape despite that, but she would not have been beaten up like that. He could have killed her.

By the way, I hate guns. I think only law enforcement and the military should have them.

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[–] mpboylanjr 10 years ago

I see your points from living in other countries but the fact is it is totally necessary for them to have these weapons. Crime is more prevalent and we have the problem with Mexican cartels and terrorist attacks (from 9/11) and now most recently in NYC (where I'm from ) there was a man who went on a spree and shot 3 officers. (2 in Brooklyn ) who were just sitting in their patrol cars. I respect your opinions but in a country where many states (NY not being one of them) you have a right to arm yourself barring a background check) . It is a major difference in the way of life and the crimes that are committed and I wish it wasn't like that. I myself don't think it should be a right for all citizens to bear arms but it is one of the top amendments in our constitution. . These laws were written a long time ago from our founding fathers during a time when it was very different and carrying a weapon was for good or self protection in a time where guns weren't like they are made now. It is so necessary for our police to carry weapons because to many police lose their lives in random car stops or by psychopaths bent on killing others . If they did not it would be a country like these backward ones (not the UK) that carry AK 47s around and kill people with no reprocusions. If you travel here it may be a little bit of a culture shock but these police won't just shoot you for anything lol. Just don't be a fool and make an attempt on their or a citizens life and you don't have to worry about it.

THERE'S NO ROOM IN MY CIRCUS TENT FOR YOU !!!!

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[–] sokeyt 10 years ago

We Brits find it hard to wrap our heads around shoot-first-and-ask-questions-after American policing, OP.

The explanation for this "rediculous" ! state of affairs is... a reasonably civilized society.

Nazis. I hate these guys.

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[–] serenity_lopez 10 years ago

Exactly. We have our own problems in GB but thank goodness that is not one of them.

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[–] s-s-fergie 9 years ago

Yeah like thousands upon thousands of stabbings and welfare bleeding everyone dry at an unsustainable rate.

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[–] serenity_lopez 9 years ago

This is about guns and police honey. Leave your personal attacks for a suitable time. Ta

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[–] s-s-fergie 9 years ago

Hey you brough up having our own problems in the UK, not me. Not my fault you have such an epidemic of knife crime that police are having to go around confiscating kitchen knives. Not my fault you all are number one in the world for violent crimes and number two in the EU for overall crime rate.

Facts are not personal attacks. They are facts, and I said nothing about any person here. You however are the one resorting to condescending becuase you can't disprove facts which go against your false idea that somehow GB is all that much better than anywhere else when the real truth that everywhere has its problems. I have a MUCH larger chance of being stabbed in the UK than I do of being shot in the US and that is a fact.

And I am not your 'honey'.

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[–] serenity_lopez 9 years ago

I'm sorry you're so afraid of being stabbed in the UK. That must be truly terrifying for "yall". No wonder you're all armed to your eyeballs. Never mind, remain in the U.S. with your "internet statistics" honey, love, dear, sweetheart, darling etc
Arguing over the internet is ugly and embarrassing so bye friend.

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[–] s-s-fergie 9 years ago

Lol, wow...

First of all I never said I was afraid. What I said was it was more likely, which is true - not based on 'internet statistics', but on facts. Why would something happening across an ocean be terrifying? That makes no sense and it is not 'yall'. That is not a word. What you were trying to say was 'y'all', as in you all.

Also the expression you were looking for is armed to the teeth, not armed to the eyeballs, which is meaningless and a gross exaggeration that just makes you seem ignorant - pretty much like the rest of your post.

This is not an argument but you are right about one thing, your posts are ugly and embarrassing, as they lack substance and you are forced to resort to childish condescension since you can't actually refute anything I said with real facts.

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[–] sokeyt 9 years ago

I have a MUCH larger chance of being stabbed in the UK than I do of being shot in the US and that is a fact.

So I take it you're not black?

Forget it Jake. It's Chinatown.

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[–] s-s-fergie 9 years ago

No I am not, and even if I were that wouldn't change anything based on per capita data.

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[–] ironduke74 8 years ago

yes it would and britain is far more populated for its size so people have far more contact with each other then america.

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[–] s-s-fergie 8 years ago

No, it wouldn't.

There are 8 million people in the capital city of London, the population density of which is just over 5,200 per square kilometre (13,468 per sq mi).

The are 8 million people in New York City , the population density is 27,532 people per square mile, or 10,630 people per square kilometer. Manhattan, however, is 70,951 people per square mile, or 27,394 people per kilometer.

Double and quintuple density included in the per capita stats of the US. We have more landmass but plenty of large cities with high population density. Some much higher than most of the cities in the UK.

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[–] ironduke74 8 years ago

Yeah thousands upon thousands of shootings and healthcare system that is unsustainable.

see how it works funboy

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[–] meikido 10 years ago

Things you're used to that are different or don't exist in other countries often seem crazy at first but they mostly aren't if you think about it a bit.
There are different ways to approach situations and that doesn't always mean one way is better than the other. They are just that, 'different'.

Also there are armed SWAT teams and other armed policemen in the UK.
See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_police_firearms_in_the_United_Kin gdom

It's just the 'uniforms' that aren't armed and they can ask for armed backup if they feel it's necessary.

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[–] Nikon11 10 years ago

In Maine, we have armed police and also very lenient gun ownership laws - and we're the state with the lowest violent crime rate.

I don't know all the factors that contribute to violent crimes or crimes with firearms, but it isn't necessarily proportional to the number of, or ease of access to guns.

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[–] meikido 10 years ago

Did you reply to my post on purpose?
Because I don't see how your comment relates to what I wrote.

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[–] Nikon11 10 years ago

You know, I'm really not sure - it was a few days ago. I don't necessarily think that it matters all that much. At least on my screen, it's sometimes difficult to tell which posts are responding to which. So, don't take it personally if I offended you in any way.

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[–] emuir-1 9 years ago

Because they are more civilized in the UK unlike the Americans who don't feel like real men unless they are shooting at someone.

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[–] draftdubya 9 years ago

I don't think foot patrol cops don't carry guns, but detectives do(Think about Luther)

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