Policing Protocol

[mariab]

Fascinating thread.
Anyone informed about the differences between French and British law pertaining to deportation of criminals, or where I could read about this?

[Carol]

In the late 1960s two of the best things to happen in the life of a PC were the introduction of personal radios and the breathalyser. The worst? The introduction of 'Panda Cars'.

Not because PCs wanted to sit on their backsides all day, as you seem to imply, but because it enabled Forces to avoid increasing the establishment of officers on the street. 'Modernisation' and 'Fast Response' were the watchwords instead of feet on the street. This led to 'Fire Brigade' policing and, yes, the divorcing of police from the community, which I believe is behind many of the current disaffections with the current Police 'Service'.
Peter

Hi PC Roadnight,

I can remember the Bobbies on the Beat very well. I was born and brought up in Chatham, Kent, and seeing a policeman walking around our streets was an everyday experience for me. The policemen always said 'Hello' to us children and we were never frightened of them - on the contrary, I think they made us feel safe. They never minded us asking what the time was when we felt we might be late for dinner or tea!

I have continued to have a very high regard for the police force and as far as I am concerned the more policemen out and about the better!

Carol

[Stewart P Evans]

Noticeable

In the late 1960s two of the best things to happen in the life of a PC were the introduction of personal radios and the breathalyser. The worst? The introduction of 'Panda Cars'.
Not because PCs wanted to sit on their backsides all day, as you seem to imply, but because it enabled Forces to avoid increasing the establishment of officers on the street. 'Modernisation' and 'Fast Response' were the watchwords instead of feet on the street. This led to 'Fire Brigade' policing and, yes, the divorcing of police from the community, which I believe is behind many of the current disaffections with the current Police 'Service'.
Peter

Isn't it very noticeable how retired police officers are very disillusioned with the modern police forces.

[Stewart P Evans]

'Panda' cars

In the late 1960s two of the best things to happen in the life of a PC were the introduction of personal radios and the breathalyser. The worst? The introduction of 'Panda Cars'.
Not because PCs wanted to sit on their backsides all day, as you seem to imply, but because it enabled Forces to avoid increasing the establishment of officers on the street. 'Modernisation' and 'Fast Response' were the watchwords instead of feet on the street. This led to 'Fire Brigade' policing and, yes, the divorcing of police from the community, which I believe is behind many of the current disaffections with the current Police 'Service'.
Peter

The introduction of 'Panda' cars, later renamed 'urban beat vehicles' was a double-edged sword and by no means the worst thing to happen to policing.

As far as the deterioration of the police service is concerned, the rot really began to set in during the mid-1980s when a lot of attitudes seemed to change (as well as police related legislation).

[Stewart P Evans]

Police and Criminal Evidence Act

...
However, from the Vagrancy Act in the 1850s the Met had strong powers to question persons whom they suspected of unlawful behaviour in the street. Entering property in pursuit of a suspect was permitted, and search warrants were easily obtained if there was reasonable cause.
This Act formed the mainstay of policing in London until recent years. Certainly in the 60s section 54 arrests for 'Suss' were the main way we defeated the organised vehicle thefts in London.
...

The 'sus' powers enjoyed by the Met did not apply in the provinces. The great change came, of course, with the Police and Criminal Evidence Act in 1984. Policing was never the same again after that.

[mariab]

I'd be very interested in the question of deportation in the 1890s-1900s, though this might pertain to penal law rather than police procedure?

[Bridewell]

Are You Sure

The 'sus' powers enjoyed by the Met did not apply in the provinces. The great change came, of course, with the Police and Criminal Evidence Act in 1984. Policing was never the same again after that.

Hi Stewart,

I'm speaking from memory here, but did the "sus" law not relate to Section 4 of the Vagrancy Act: "suspected person or reputed thief loitering with intent" (to commit an indictable offence)? I'm sure I recall arresting people under that Act & Section before it was repealed. "Reputed thief" being one with previous convictions for dishonesty. "Suspected person" being one who had already been seen to perform one suspicious act and then went on to perform another - at which point the power of arrest kicked in. (Why do I have a nasty feeling I'm wrong about this?!)

Apologies, Roadnight. I wasn't implying that Pc's in the 1960's wanted to "sit on their backsides". My service didn't go back that far (almost but not quite!). I agree about the personal radios (remember the Pye Pocketphone with the retracting aerial which went up the nose of the unwary?). I was speaking of the modern (by which I mean post 1990-odd) reluctance to patrol on foot. I actually have fond memories of the Panda car, especially the Mk1 Ford Escorts, although my recollection is that the "panda-man" (me!) got sent to everything - even the non-urgent stuff - which I'm sure was not the original idea!

[Stewart P Evans]

Sus

Hi Stewart,
I'm speaking from memory here, but did the "sus" law not relate to Section 4 of the Vagrancy Act: "suspected person or reputed thief loitering with intent" (to commit an indictable offence)? I'm sure I recall arresting people under that Act & Section before it was repealed. "Reputed thief" being one with previous convictions for dishonesty. "Suspected person" being one who had already been seen to perform one suspicious act and then went on to perform another - at which point the power of arrest kicked in. (Why do I have a nasty feeling I'm wrong about this?!)
Apologies, Roadnight. I wasn't implying that Pc's in the 1960's wanted to "sit on their backsides". My service didn't go back that far (almost but not quite!). I agree about the personal radios (remember the Pye Pocketphone with the retracting aerial which went up the nose of the unwary?). I was speaking of the modern (by which I mean post 1990-odd) reluctance to patrol on foot. I actually have fond memories of the Panda car, especially the Mk1 Ford Escorts, although my recollection is that the "panda-man" (me!) got sent to everything - even the non-urgent stuff - which I'm sure was not the original idea!

Without being able to quote chapter and verse I do know that the Met enjoyed greater powers of stop and search and arrest on sus than the provincial forces, which may have been under the Metropolitan Police Act. Provincial forces did have, however, the usual powers conferred by legislation, such as 'going equipped', 'loitering with intent', etc. but the Met Act powers were greater.

The first Panda car that I drove was a Morris Minor 1000 (known unkindly as 'Noddy cars') and the CID used the wood trimmed Morris Travellers, which rather dates me. However, I felt better about driving the cars when we upgraded to the new Ford Escorts. I appreciate that procedures in forces varied somewhat but the Panda cars did not replace the main town foot patrols. They supplemented them and also covered a greater area of the town. In our force you usually did your first two (probationary) years pounding the beat on foot.

If we are to be honest there were always policemen happy to sit in a car and do as little work as possible. They were called 'uniform carriers' in my day and often did not last too long in the job.

[Trevor Marriott]

Without being able to quote chapter and verse I do know that the Met enjoyed greater powers of stop and search and arrest on sus than the provincial forces, which may have been under the Metropolitan Police Act. Provincial forces did have, however, the usual powers conferred by legislation, such as 'going equipped', 'loitering with intent', etc. but the Met Act powers were greater.

The first Panda car that I drove was a Morris Minor 1000 (known unkindly as 'Noddy cars') and the CID used the wood trimmed Morris Travellers, which rather dates me. However, I felt better about driving the cars when we upgraded to the new Ford Escorts. I appreciate that procedures in forces varied somewhat but the Panda cars did not replace the main town foot patrols. They supplemented them and also covered a greater area of the town. In our force you usually did your first two (probationary) years pounding the beat on foot.

If we are to be honest there were always policemen happy to sit in a car and do as little work as possible. They were called 'uniform carriers' in my day and often did not last too long in the job.

Stewart

Is this what you were referring to ?

[Stewart P Evans]

Not quite...

Stewart
Is this what you were referring to ?

Not quite, but...

[Trevor Marriott]

Not quite, but...

Stewart
Shame no one else other than you has a sense of humour on here

[Trevor Marriott]

Stewart
Shame no one else other than you has a sense of humour on here

For those who havent and would like one here is a free download

[Shelley]

Stewart
Shame no one else other than you has a sense of humour on here

Trevor,

I like Noddy & Mr Plod....Sense of humour? I have as yet to be tested on that!

[Trevor Marriott]

Trevor,

I like Noddy & Mr Plod....Sense of humour? I have as yet to be tested on that!

Shelley
The question is did it make you smile ? if it did you are now a member of the laughter cartel o

Even Stewart smiled a clear indication he is considering defecting

[belinda]

For those who havent and would like one here is a free download

Best Download Ever