Major current problems in the UK?
Jul 19th 2011, 2:54 pm
#46
The Kwisatz Haderach
Joined: Aug 2008
Location: North Wales
Posts: 8,080
Re: Major current problems in the UK?
Worst thing about the UK is the police. The corruption in the Met goes right to the top and the way peaful protestors are arrested and harassed strikes at democracy. I thought having a "Ministry of Justice" sounded Orwellian, but recent events and all the CCTV I'm the UK convince me that the UK is closer to 1984 than ever.
OK changed my siggie so you can see where I am/have been.
Last edited by Mummy in the foothills; Jul 19th 2011 at 2:56 pm.
Jul 19th 2011, 2:56 pm
#47
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2006
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 12,865
Re: Major current problems in the UK?
Worst thing about the UK is the police. The corruption in the Met goes right to the top and the way peaful protestors are arrested and harassed strikes at democracy. I thought having a "Ministry of Justice" sounded Orwellian, but recent events and all the CCTV I'm the UK convince me that the UK is closer to 1984 than ever.
Jul 19th 2011, 6:10 pm
#48
BE Forum Addict
Joined: May 2007
Location: England
Posts: 4,211
Re: Major current problems in the UK?
Parliamentary Democracy...does that really happen...to me as soon as a politicain (most of them anyway) go through those grand gates of parliament they seem to forget about being there by grace of the public and do mainly their own thing....better politicians are not going to happen until they answer to the public who voted them in to parliament.
Jul 19th 2011, 6:17 pm
#49
BE Forum Addict
Joined: May 2007
Location: England
Posts: 4,211
Re: Major current problems in the UK?
This is my biggest gripe with the UK too... the police coupled with the erosion of civil liberties over the last quarter of a century. I read somewhere that the UK has more CCTV cameras in public places than the rest of the world combined. Wtf? Lots of other examples too, like the cavalier removal of the absolute right to remain silent, the taking of DNA samples of anyone arrested (as opposed to convicted) etc.
Jul 19th 2011, 8:05 pm
#50
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 85
Re: Major current problems in the UK?
So true. I have had tons of people comment on us moving back home. Like they have this really fabricated view of America. It must be like you see in the movies or on TV show's. Yet 99% of them have never been to America let alone actually lived there to see the true side of the country. It is a horrible country with no culture nor class. Oh I met some wonderful people there, My wife is American, but damn it is one horrible mess of a place. Not to mention they are super proud of being able to buy machine gun's lol.
Jul 19th 2011, 8:44 pm
#51
Home Sweet Home
Joined: Jan 2010
Location: Surrey, England
Posts: 5,128
Re: Major current problems in the UK?
I thought my family & friends would be overjoyed that we were looking at coming back. The first thing I got was "you've got it all out there why would you want to come back" I agree they see what life in America is like through TV and it's all good. In reality it's a different story. I hate the fact that people can just buy guns out here. And they wonder why there are so many drive by's and high school shootings.
Lots of Brits think Ameerika is all Rodeo Drive and Doris Day movies, just like they think Australia is all kangaroos and BBQ's on the beach, TV and the movies have a lot to answer for.
You will also find most of these people will have not been further than a fortnight in Benidorm once a year, never mind actually live in another country.................
Jul 19th 2011, 8:56 pm
#52
Just Joined
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 8
Re: Major current problems in the UK?
This is my biggest gripe with the UK too... the police coupled with the erosion of civil liberties over the last quarter of a century. I read somewhere that the UK has more CCTV cameras in public places than the rest of the world combined. Wtf? Lots of other examples too, like the cavalier removal of the absolute right to remain silent, the taking of DNA samples of anyone arrested (as opposed to convicted) etc.
Jul 19th 2011, 9:00 pm
#53
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2006
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 12,865
Re: Major current problems in the UK?
Jul 20th 2011, 8:13 am
#54
Banned
Joined: Jan 2011
Location: The REAL Utopia.
Posts: 9,910
Re: Major current problems in the UK?
OMG, anyone complaining about the UK Police has obviously never been to Australia. I have never had a really bad experience with cops in England, they just seem more relaxed and friendly.
Jul 20th 2011, 8:14 am
#55
Banned
Joined: Jan 2011
Location: The REAL Utopia.
Posts: 9,910
Re: Major current problems in the UK?
I've never really understood the whole CCTV thing, I don't care who watches me walk down the street, why do people have such an issue with it ?
Jul 20th 2011, 12:04 pm
#56
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 4,754
Re: Major current problems in the UK?
Oh please....if there is a country out there that has the perfect system of keeping people safe and with liberties then I am the first one to buy my ticket...we have been and lived in a few countries in our time and each one have different ways in dealing with crime etc...I have never found one to be "truly fair" and would not protest to live in a country where it is....in this day an age (if ever) the law is one unto itself.
Jul 20th 2011, 12:22 pm
#57
Finally Home!
Joined: Mar 2010
Location: Used to be New York, now North Yorkshire
Posts: 3,610
Re: Major current problems in the UK?
I'm not camparing UK policing with another country. I'm saying that the growth of CCTV and the arrogance of the police has diminished liberty and democracy in the UK. My opinion of the UK police at all levels has become far more skeptical since the implementation of a surveillance culture and the suppression of peaceful dissent
We found the cops we saw on our last visit back to be very friendly and helpful with directions. At least they don't carry guns. It terrifies me when I pass cops in the street here, their guns right there for anyone to see. Not to mention walking into Grand Central station and seeing army guys with massive automatic weapons and dogs. Yikes!
Jul 20th 2011, 3:01 pm
#58
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2006
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 12,865
Re: Major current problems in the UK?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/ap...rotest-liberty
We found the cops we saw on our last visit back to be very friendly and helpful with directions. At least they don't carry guns. It terrifies me when I pass cops in the street here, their guns right there for anyone to see. Not to mention walking into Grand Central station and seeing army guys with massive automatic weapons and dogs. Yikes!
Last edited by Giantaxe; Jul 20th 2011 at 3:04 pm.
Jul 20th 2011, 3:20 pm
#59
Finally Home!
Joined: Mar 2010
Location: Used to be New York, now North Yorkshire
Posts: 3,610
Re: Major current problems in the UK?
Maybe I'm too much of a cynic but I always assume that the police are crooked everywhere in the world (and always have been). Since power always corrupts, it's really just a matter of degree. I do agree it's disturbing - I'm just surprised that so many people are surprised by the latest revelations. And that so many people view police corruption as a new development rather than an inevitable result of human nature.
