Originally Posted by sallysimmons (Post 9507202)

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).

Originally Posted by sallysimmons (Post 9507202)

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.

Originally Posted by sallysimmons (Post 9506807)

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!

Originally Posted by Face81 (Post 9502712)

The current problems are hard to pinpoint, though most of them can be summed up under the following headers:

1) Immigration

Originally Posted by Mallory (Post 9507270)

You haven't been to Europe much then? I just came back from a trip to 4 different European countries, and saw plenty of cops with guns. I wasn't terrified at all. I lived in Germany years ago, and all the police carried guns way back then. I believe Canadian cops carry guns too. Look closely around any major European airport - you will be surprised at what you see.

Originally Posted by NatalieLucy (Post 9507908)

That's interesting! Didn't think cops carried guns much out in Europe. I know Canadian cops do.

Originally Posted by sallysimmons (Post 9504555)

This can't be said often enough.

Not only that, but Britain today is a better place to live for the vast majority of people than at any time in its history.

The 'good old days' my generation often speak of were also the days of 3-day weeks and rubbish piling up in the streets and IRA bombs and terrible food. I remember when the opening of Kentucky Fried Chicken was a cultural highlight in my little town. :lol: Holidays abroad were the province of the rich and 'foodie' wasn't even a word yet.

Go back a few generations and my family were living in the York slums, surviving on occasional poor law hand-outs and odd jobs, drinking themselves into an early grave (if they weren't murdered in street violence first), all their kids in a 'school' that was just a front for child labor. Just 160 years later, their descendents are all living in comfortable houses, breathing clean air, taking frequent holidays and protected by a slew of labour laws, but complaining louder than ever about how the country has gone to the dogs.

Originally Posted by chris955 (Post 9506427)

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.

Originally Posted by Mallory (Post 9507270)

You haven't been to Europe much then? I just came back from a trip to 4 different European countries, and saw plenty of cops with guns. I wasn't terrified at all. I lived in Germany years ago, and all the police carried guns way back then. I believe Canadian cops carry guns too. Look closely around any major European airport - you will be surprised at what you see.

Originally Posted by the troubadour (Post 9508058)

Found a similar thing myself. Aussie cops do appear to take themselves very seriously and views to match.

Originally Posted by sallysimmons (Post 9508067)

No I don't go to Europe much these days - I rarely get to take a vacation, what with living in the US. :lol: And I'm aware of guns at airports. But I'm unclear as to how German police rules have any impact on my concerns about cops in my own city and my preference for the British approach to arming police.

I don't like guns and I don't like cops carrying guns, whether they are American or German or any other nationality. I'm just not big on trusting the police and have read too many news stories of innocent New Yorkers shot by cops. People who would be alive today had they been born in the UK instead of the US.

Originally Posted by Mallory (Post 9508106)

Unfortunately, the police often needs gun, such as the shooting in Cumbria, where they could only stand and watch.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ukne...intervene.html

Originally Posted by the troubadour (Post 9508046)

Actually quite liked seventies Britain for the reason that it was a far less materialistic and money obsessed country.
A lot of folk had a degree of social/political awareness and far less interest in the rich and famous.
People lived simplier lives and there was perhaps more connection than now days with one another.
The summer was warmer..........