‘Not all cops are bad cops… most are good’ – what’s your opinion?
The fallout from Baroness Casey’s damning report into the Metropolitan Police will last for years. Readers share their thoughts on the force – add yours in the comments below.
Elsewhere, talk of receipt etiquette has debate raging – do you take yours? Let us know.
■ Regarding the damning report that found the Metropolitan Police force in London is institutionally misogynistic, homophobic and racist (Metro, Tue), nearly four decades ago I worked with the Met and was married to a PC for four years.
I quickly realised that the force, like all organisations, was made up of good ’uns and bad ’uns. It may surprise people to know that this applied equally to the female officers.
Once I married into ‘the job’, my eyes were opened to many things that were not for me. Hence, after trying to make a difference, I gave up both the job and my husband.
‘Some’ is the key word here. Some female officers were extremely promiscuous and two frequently got involved in sex romps while on duty with the local football team. If men were to do this, I can only imagine the outcry.
Affairs and swingers’ parties were rife and misappropriation of confiscated goods was the norm for some. Bullying was commonplace.
An officer was caught by another force running a brothel. It was all hushed up.
I tried to raise this with a senior officer and was told that no one would listen to me and did I not know that my husband was having multiple liaisons with female colleagues.
Trying to confront things at work got me heckled and bullied. At 27, my dream of making a difference was shattered.
The Met has a very lumpy carpet covering decades of wrongdoing. It needs to look at females and males. Ex-Job Wife, Yorkshire
■ Not all cops are ‘bad’ cops. Most go about their police business calmly and effectively, even when inside they may be seething at the stupidity of the situation, or annoyed that you have put yourself in harm’s way.
Cops go home carrying scenes in their heads of horrific situations as well as ridiculous ones. Many leave the force because they feel unable to do more.
Yes, there are ‘bad’ cops, and the Met absolutely must weed them out from the top ranks down. But let us not forget the hundreds of ‘good’ cops. And be glad we don’t live in the US. Ann, Kingston
■ In talking about changing attitudes to mental health, Joe (MetroTalk, Wed) asks whether R French (MetroTalk, Tue) just ‘getting on with it’ when younger included being on the receiving end of racial or homophobic abuse. Is he joking?
Joe says he is not of the young generation. Well, neither am I and I well remember that in the 60s, 70s and 80s, racial and homophobic abuse was so rife it was basically sanctioned in everyday life, not to mention the rampant sexism us women were exposed to all the time.
Joe also claims that ‘getting on with it’ created ‘a generation with the worst alcohol and drug intake in recent history’. He doesn’t make it clear whether he means illegal drugs or prescription drugs for mental health issues.
If he means illegal drugs, people take them for the euphoric high they get from them and the reason the problem is worse today than it was during my youth is that they weren’t available on every street corner then. Veronyca Bates, Westbury, Wiltshire
■ I agree with Michele (MetroTalk, Tue) who says most mental health problems are caused by not being able to talk about what makes you anxious. Let’s talk about mental health and not dismiss those who are suffering or have suffered from problems because we don’t relate.
People have different experiences and deal with challenges individually. Let’s afford others the grace we would want to be extended. Cheryl, Glasgow
■ Sandra from Yorkshire (MetroTalk, Tue) is dead right about older people’s knowledge and experience being an asset that should be used. Unfortunately, I must agree with one of my fellow cynics who said we terrify some employers because we have a shedload more experience than those in post.
Having been called back to a company to clear up someone else’s mess on a couple of occasions, I can testify to the sheer folly of that attitude. Roger Capel, Stocksbridge
■ Like a lot of MetroTalk readers, I have to manage on my state pension – I also have two small work pensions. The combined total is just over £13,000, and so the taxman takes a share.
Those among us such as Mark in Fair Oak (MetroTalk, Mon) who are bemoaning pension pots of £33,000 or more should consider how fortunate they will be.
I received a higher state pension through my late husband’s contributions and I know I have a lot to be thankful for. Many complaining should follow the old saying and ‘cut your cloth accordingly’. Sandra Miller, East Kilbride
Save our trees
■ Thousands of trees planted along the A14 have died because of a National Highways blunder (Metro, Wed). How many have died because of HS2? There are thousands of dead saplings along once abundant hedge lines. One massive stretch of mature trees was destroyed by mistake and is now fenced. Madness. Lynda Davies, Water Orton
If you saw our bins at work, you’d ask about receipts, too
■ Lyn (MetroTalk, Wed) says checkout assistants should give you a receipt, not ask whether you want one, and wonders whether they’re too lazy to change the till roll.
The checkout screens prompt cashiers to ask for a receipt and will not continue until ‘yes’ or ‘no’ is selected
Think of the savings in buying till rolls. I would prefer shops cut down on that rather than raise prices. Jenny, Dagenham
■ I work in retail and many customers leave without taking their receipt. I imagine the rest throw it away having returned home. Once it is printed, many people say they don’t require one and it ends up in the bin.
By the end of a busy day, the bin can be full of them. However, it is key for the retailer to ask if one is necessary. Colin, by email
■ I wish more cashiers would ask – I have way too many receipts in my wallet. Stephen, Edinburgh
■ I saw a man forced to accept a receipt he didn’t want because the superstore exit requires a barcode printed on it to let you out. Valerie, London
Start a text with VIEWS followed by your comment, name and where you live to 65700. Standard network charge applies. Or email mail@ukmetro.co.uk. Full T&Cs on metro.co.uk/terms. Metro is a member of the Independent Press Standards Organisation. Comments may be edited for reasons of legality, clarity or space.
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