Sally Redux

I'd rather take my chances with a UK cop.

hungryhorace

I would too, no question. It just means my regard for US cops is lower than it is for UK ones. There are some good UK cops, no question, just as a whole they come off very badly (especially recently).

hungryhorace

Apparently I am supposed to apologise according to this lunatic for suggesting that British cops are not well educated, despite providing evidence pointing overwhelmingly to support my assertion. Indeed, I am simply restating what Tom Winsor, Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary reported to the Home Secretary.

AmerLisa

So, you slag off UK cops for being uneducated and then say your regard for US cops is lower than UK ones....

Wiffle waffle...

Where do you stand exactly?

Pulaski

His opinions, are, I think consistent; he doesn't appear to hold any of them in especially high regard as a group. His opinion of US police is lower than British police.

I have had no negative interactions with the police in either country, though I know more cops and ex-cops here than in the UK. I have also had more dealings with US police than British ones, though aside from a speeding ticket my interaction has been entirely positive. That said at a traffic stop or check point, I do make a point of getting my licence out before the officer gets to my window, and keeping my hands visible on the wheel during any conversation (we get very occasional check points in my area for heaven only knows what reason).

Bob

Stating that one is not well educated is not the same as slagging ones ability as a cop though, it's either an observation or a fact and as they're not required to have a degree....

Though all the ones I knew in the UK did have some level of further education, quite a lot in fact, but that's only anecdotal.

hungryhorace

Absolutely correct. I don't, personally, believe a 'good' copper needs a degree, but I do feel that the current British police recruiting policy fails to attract the brightest and best due to the low entrance requirements combined with the lack of a 'fast track' scheme.

Sally Redux

'lunatic'?

You seemed to state that UK cops are not educated at all.

hungryhorace

..for this gentleman suggesting that I owed someone (yet to be defined) an apology for stating what I did, like it was a personal insult or something (which it wasn't).

Bluegrass Lass

Well technically when you made your statement, you were quoting Lansbury. Lansbury is a former (retired?) UK cop (Met maybe?). So it sort of was an insult directed at him..just my humble opinion.

hungryhorace

If you want to take it that way, you're welcome to. However, it clearly wasn't a personal slight against him (though I welcome his input on educational background, given he wasn't too sure on s172's previously). If I had wanted to do so, I would have made that clear.

BTW - The MPS couldn't be more in the gutter if they tried the last few years; they don't need me to talk them down when they do such a great job of bringing themselves into disrepute.

lizzyq

Ah, you mean the "banana squad"

AmerLisa

I disagree Bob. Like any job there is some need for education. I think he intended to slag them off by saying they were uneducated.

hungryhorace

The academic entrance requirement for a police officer is 2 A-Levels.
In addition to this, less than a third of police officers hold a degree.

A statistician may very well suggest that a majority of the UK police force are 'uneducated', depending on your definition of the word.

dunroving

School isn't the only place education occurs, and I'd say catching someone before they get into university often is a good think, otherwise you might need to uneducate them before you can start re-educating them.