The UK police force has recently taken a “battering” as everything from scandalous “behaviour, to poor PEEL assessment scoring has damaged the public’s trust. Now, young kids are speaking out, saying they’re afraid.
Gaining a Bad Reputation?
Amid everything happening in the UK, it seems that the police are in the middle of it all. In the past few months, there have been reports of some officers treating civilians poorly. From disturbing footage at Manchester airport to the people pushing back in riots on the street.
Poor Assessment Outcome
While things are already looking bad for UK cops, it gets even worse after Police Effectiveness, Efficiency, and Legitimacy (PEEL) reports highlighted “poorly performing” police departments and, for some, inadequacy and underperformance.
Checking in on the Youth in Manchester
Is it really going that bad? Recently, the Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, visited a youth centre in Manchester. Since being appointed in her position, Cooper has been consistently busy making changes to improve the safety of the UK and its communities.
Afraid & Lack of Trust
At the youth centre she learned some of the young people expressed being “afraid” of the police. This is a disheartening reality since the community is supposed to be able to trust the police to protect them and not feel afraid.
What the Kids Said
An African-British teen boy told her that police had stopped and randomly searched him without telling him why. He said he was just walking along the street and that it had happened three times.
Young People Are Scared & the Police Have a Bad Reputation
Some of the kids were also afraid because of all the bad news going around, showcasing the police in a bad light. Who could blame them for feeling the way they did?
What Would She Do?
One of the youngsters asked Cooper how she would restore the people’s faith in the police. “The police have been getting a bad reputation,” the young boy said.“ Cooper wants to transform the local community and “restore neighbourhood policing.”
The Vision
Cooper said she wants to change policing so that local residents will know the names of the local officers who serve and protect them. She also spoke of a program dedicated to the UK youth called “Young Futures.”
Young Futures Program
The program will bring young people, police, mental health workers, and social workers together. It will also be a lifeline to young people who are offenders.
Some Hard Questions From Concerned Youngsters
Yvette admitted to The Guardian that some of the questions the children presented her with were pretty tough. She appreciated that the young people were feeling strongly about the negative things they’d seen.
Determined to Change the Neighbourhood
Cooper has already begun easing into her role as Home Secretary and is motivated to help the young people to keep on the straight and narrow. She spoke of the youth program she planned to launch, which is dedicated to young people and keeping them out of crime.
The Following Is Some Insight to the Police Side
While the misdoings of some force members are unacceptable, some feel the brunt of being overworked and unfairly treated. Officers have admitted that the public mistreats them sometimes. Often, the police have to deal with difficult and dangerous situations daily, and feel “under valued.” for the work they do.
Understaffed Departments
Amidst all the challenges, UK police have also voiced their concerns about how “overworked” and “understaffed” they are. Some issues are derived directly from the lack of staff to help do a proper job.
The Environment Is “Toxic”
Police have mentioned that many feel their work environment has become a “toxic” place and that some were too “afraid” to voice their opinion or report issues.
Low Morale & Mental Health Concerns
Many officers have stated that they have been experiencing low morale for a long time. They also worry about their mental health, with many saying they have “poor mental health.”
Who’s Looking out for Police?
The Police Federation “is not a union” according to their website. Instead, the Police Fed is a neutral representative for members of the force that are under the rank of Superintendant. Today, the federation is the voice for over 140,000 police officers.
Undervalued & Low Pay
The police have said that they were promised plenty but given nothing. PC David Bowley, who is a father of two children, said that the police were underpaid, and this made many of them feel undervalued.
New Recruits Wanted
Countries like Australia pay police higher compensation and offer amazing packages, including time off. South Australia Police have advertised that they’re looking to recruit UK police amongst other countries.
It Was His Only Option to Beat Financial Troubles at Present
Bowley sadly pointed out that they had “to dip into the savings funds that was set up for university for my children.” He also said it felt like “every element of our pay and conditions has been gradually eroded.”
Possible Future?
The hope for the future is that police will be happy in their workplace and have a better sense of workmanship and communication. Furthermore, the public, including teenagers, will feel safe once more and will no longer be afraid of the police.
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Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / Martin Suker.