A sign of the times

I found one in the gutter about 10 years ago on my way to work. I phoned the nearest police station, their numbers were available then. The greatly relieved owner came to collect it later that day.

A friend works in courts as a civilian. Recently they've found themselves giving advice about court procedure to young police officers. Cuts mean that there is no one at their station with time to instruct them as they previously used to.

Why can't the government see what their cuts are doing to the police, the NHS, education, and other essential services? Millions are wasted while frontline services are cut.

This warrant card could’ve been lost ages ago, the officer concerned reported it missing and a new one has been issued. It could be a forgery which the police would know as the original hasn’t been reported missing or the name on it hadn’t been recognised. It would have a name on it and could be easily checked. Whatever the reason, for courtesy’s sake if nothing else, someone should have got back to your OH and offered an explanation. No excuses there at all.

It is a relief that your husband is a responsible man and not some scary guy who could have used the warrant card for very serious acts whilst impersonating an officer Mollie.
But it does seem to be a sign of the times that police officers are over stretched and under funded and it is to the publics detriment I'm afraid.
There is a drug smoker in my block of flats. It isn't confined to their flat, behind closed doors. His upstairs neighbours have small children. She has complained to the police but as he doesn't appear to be dealing they aren't bothered. The council say as there aren't any children in the druggies flat & the fact he owns his flat stops it being their problem so call the police. I have confronted this man in the communal area with a lit joint in his mouth and told him in no uncertain terms that he cannot do that. I haven't noticed the smell since but I don't live on his landing. I feel very sorry the neighbours. What are they meant to do when the law is clear that it's an illegal activity but the law are unwilling/unable due to staffing levels to address it???

Our local nick is now luxury flats. Police can be contacted at a table in Planet Organic! Only in opening hours, obvs.

Back in the late 1950s we were surprised to have a visit from a policeman one evening - especially as our house was not easy to find. Reason for the visit? My father had forgotten to renew the dog licence (7s 6d).

I find it very strange that a warrant card and ID have not been missed by the owner as they have to be shown when conducting Police business surely.
Could they have been forgeries I wonder and your OH has saved them from getting into the wrong hands.

Most of our smaller local stations are now closed. Our local police force will not now attend burglaries or shoplifting incidents as they say they do not have the manpower, but they can afford to release 33 police officers and several vehicles to support 20 security staff attending the felling of one tree being impeded by a small group of protesters. They need to get their priorities right. Even a local MP thought it was a totally ridiculous response and the Crime Commissioner is looking into it. I should bloody well think so!

DS2 is in the police force. Where he is based they now cover 3 areas with fewer staff, so have little chance of getting to some of the calls, much as they’d like to.

When I joined the Police 30 plus years ago regularly paraded 16 on shifts plus 3 sgts and a cell guard
Last week spoke to an ex colleague 7 on a night shift
Same large town , albeit now a central lock up
Historic enquiries with dead abusers , terrorism on the doorstep etc etc all absorb staff
Girls and boys in blue doing their best
Cutbacks hurt staff who join to do their best and the public who deserve the best

No Police Station for my Town on the edge of Dartmoor although there is a Neighbourhood Policing team consisting of an Inspector, Sergeant & 2 PCSOs covering a very large area. Nearest actual Police Station is about 12 miles away. Never seen a Police Officer on the street only occasional car passing through driving around

We do however still have a Fire Station

At a recent neighbourhood watch meeting we heard about the shortage of police officers and were told there is no response now to shoplifting. It is similar with fire crew and stations. That clown Boris Johnson sold off many fire stations in London for private building. And don’t get me started on the nhs. As I said in a previous post if you voted for them go to the back of the queue,

When we had photos of drug dealers regularly dealing outside our house in full view of children coming out of school, it took ages and a lot of effort to get the police to take note. The difference came when we went via the Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinator who got the local PCSO to be our contact. As a result some drug gangs from a long way off were arrested. I was also invited to be on the Independent Panel acting as critical friends to the police and conduits for information to & from police and public. Many areas have Neighbourhood Advisory Groups but struggle to get people interested. I guess in these times of cuts we all have to be involved in fighting crime, however much we think it should be otherwise.

It all depends on where you live, and the necessity of keeping a police station going.Where I live there is a police station in most nearby towns.

The police in our small town abandoned the police station which was some way off the town centre and moved to shared premises with the fire service, closer to the centre. The PCSOs have a visible presence.

We are in the same situation and a middle sized town apart from whizzing police cars you rarely see a bobby on foot
My dad told me in his day The police used to meet in the town each morning and march through town to the police station (showing their presence, their size and their military style background) I also remember watching the Bobby on the evening beat trying each shop door as he walked past to make sure they were locked they used to keep an eye on your house if you were going away on holiday and let them know and when I left home my first digs were found by speaking to the police station and asking for any known decent rooms to let in the town I was going to, they came back with a small list

Our local Police station is staffed during office hours, so if you need them between 9-5, Monday - Friday it's fine, but evenings or weekends, no chance!
There used to be a phone beside the doors with a direct connection to the main Police station 5 miles away, but now that's gone and instead we have....wait for it......
A notice on the doors with directions to the nearest public phone box!!!!
Seriously, it beggars belief!

Just remembered I live in a smallish but growing market town. We had a police station in the town for many years it was closed and a new one was built at huge expense on the outskirts of the town. After a very small number of years, it was closed and is now a large white elephant.

Several young people have been stabbed/shot in or near Hackney. There used to be 4 police stations now there is only one, apparently. There must be a connection. Austerity coming home to roost!

All our local stations are shut, there is nowhere we can go and talk to a police officer. Have to report crime online or by non-urgent phone. Now if I were to have to show my licence to a police officer after a speeding offence, where on earth would I go?

I moved very close to the centre of a very large town 14 years ago, and I can honestly say that in all that time I have never once seen a police officer on foot. The only time I have seen a police car in my road is when they have used it as a cut through from one main road to another, never just out on patrol. The police station also has opening times in line with shop opening hours so you're stuffed if you work and need to drop in for some reason.

Years ago my daughter found a wallet and took it to the police station. While there she made a decision to join the police force. She is now a Sergeant and has twelve years service. Just saying ...

I lost my keys at a local beauty spot last summer. I went to the local police station early evening, shut. I made a note of opening times. Went the next morning at the right time 'Sorry, due to staff shortages, we're opening an hour late'. The next week, off I went, same story except they were closing an hour early.
Eventually I got in and waited 30mins in a queue. (No keys btw)
Not enough staff.

We were in Kent recently and were amazed on walking past a police station to read the notice 'closed on Saturdays'. Just couldn't believe it.

The usual government cutbacks on vital services I’m afraid...

Our local police station closed about 5 years ago. It got knocked down and there are about 6 houses on the plot now.