Police Officers from around the World?

[Ozcop]

I have put this question under General Topics because it mentions in that heading the opportunity to discuss law enforcement topics with police officers from around the world.

I don't see as many police officers here from around the world as what I used to - say twelve months ago. I wonder why???

[ 06-25-2002: Message edited by: Ozcop ]

[BrickCop]

Mabye because you guys stopped posting!

I don't know why, there's a good percentage of posted topics that I believe, are universal to cops worldwide.

Mabye you can start a trend.

[Sig220Man]

While there's still a lot of cops posting here, and a lot of cops joining, I do agree that we haven't been seeing as many of our international friends as much as before.

[Joseph]

Hey you guys from around the world if you still reading give us a post and let us know you still here and we welcome you to our site. Pass the WORD. Come visit us again.

[KL]

Pete and I are still here and contributing on behalf of the Mounted Police!

[klar]

I am still here in Iowa, or wait that is still part of the united states never mind LOL

Klar

[BrickCop]

Ok you non-US cops I'll give you a reason to post[not you guys in Canada, to me your're just Americans with wool hats ].


What if any, type of sidearm do you carry on duty?

How is your court system set up- like the US?

[Wonga]

Here in England regular uniformed cops don't carry firearms.Only specialist units/officers(AFO's - authorised firearms oficers)carry guns.I'm not an expert but I believe the firearms boys in my force carry Beretta's and H&K MP5s and carbines.

Us regular bobbies make do with an ASP,CS spray(OC in the US?)and speed cuffs.Having said that one Chief Constable's recently released annual report states that firearms offences have risen by 50% in the last year in his force area !! While there isn't a gun culture as such amongst civilians in the UK, with the rise in gun crime here I do envisage(unfortunately)that in my service a lot more regular/street officers will be armed in the future.

Policing in the UK and the Rep. of Ire. is stiil mainly "policing by consent" as opposed to a paramilitary style in continental Europe.Only a small proportion of officers are trained/armed regularly.

In answer to your 2nd question Brick the court system here is probably as complicated as yours but I'll attempt an answer,although I certainly don't know it all,but would expect/like(in a similiar vein to the original post on this thread) to see other UK cops fill in the blanks.

The court system here deals with summary only,indictable only (misdemeanours & felonies)and either way offences.All cases start in Magistrates court.If they are summary offences they stay there for finalisation.Indictable only go to Crown court for trial/sentencing on a guilty plea, while either way offences can end up in either court depending on plea,circumstances and likely sentence if found guilty.

However in the opinion of many the CJ system here has swung too far in favour of the BG's,placing an undue onus on the police/prosecution to such an extent that it is becoming increasingly difficult to obtain convictions for even the most minor of offences.

[Don]

OK Great! You guys have started the ball rolling! Now let's hear from some more of you folks out there who don't live in North America!

[BrickCop]

wonga,

Are convictions hard to obtain because of what we call in the US, "liberal" magistrates?

I also sometimes catch Blair on cable in the US when he is debating other elected officals- forgive my ignorance, is it the House of Lords or Commons???

In any event it's pretty entertaining about how civilly they crap on each other when making a point.

[Urban Jedi]

Brick:
Its a combination of liberal magistrates/judges and the fear of critiscism should they appear to be too harsh in their sentencing. Prior to sentencing, defence lawyers plead for leniency and most are very verbose, articulate and convincing, with some quite phenomenal tales of woe about the defendant. This si rather infuriating, especially for the officers in court who know that the defendant is a prolific street robber etc etc. It is a brave judge or magistrate who hands down a custodial sentence nowadays which accurately reflects the nature of the crime. Defendants are increasingly see as societys victims, and as such are given alternative 'sentencing' to reflect this.

Defendants in the UK are, quite rightly, innocent until proven guilty.

However, unscrupulous solictors/lawyers will advise their client to plead not guilty to an offence where the evidence is weighed against them. Then at the last minute (for instance if the case has gone to Crown Court for trial)the defendant will change their plea to guilty. Why? The defendant still gets credit during sentencing for a guilty plea, and the lawyer/solicitor gets more cash, having dragged the case out for as long as possible. This includes making unreasonable and ridiculous demands for disclosure of evidence from the police, and having witnesses attend court on the day of trial, only to render that a useless exercise by having the client plead guilty.

I have attended court probably about 300 - 400 times. I have given evidence about 40 times. All the other times, I was not required, or the defendant pleaded guilty. Waste of time.

Quite honestly, I could go on and on about our farcical judicial system, but I just get very p***ed off about it, so I'll leave it here. I'm sure its the same in the US.

[Babylon]

please bez dont start me about court...and appearing for no reason...you go to the nick,get your exhibits and tunic...and then find out(a la yesterday !!)wheres the interview tapes gone then??..you turn up as do all the witnesses(its only a bloody pickpocket case..i earned more overtime then was actually stolen)and one of the sods claims to have gastroenteritis and they cant attend...andits all ajourned until later in the year....whats the point!!

[SWAT1]

BRick
I served in the UK for a little under 20 years. I guess the majority of US legislation is based on the old English 'Common Law' and the old 'Larceny Act' a sort of throwback from the old Colonial days?
In the UK there are both the House of Commons(where Members of the Parliament sit) and then The House of Lords (Which Peers of the Realm sit to hear appeals) There is a big difference between the two. Hope this helps?
Steve

[BrickCop]

Thanks guys, very interesting.

Our courts aren't much better. Although I like our jury system there are some problems. I'm sure you guys are familiar with a golfer named OJ.

Can you guys give me an update on that murderer/ex-nanny Louise Woodward? Is she the folk hero over there she was over here? I've talked with investigators who worked on that case. They were disgusted that she was released.

[SWAT1]

I think the Louise Woodward case disgusted people on both sides of the Atlantic. Last I heard her parents were being investigated for putting in a bogus claim for accomodation whilst staying in the States for the trial. Apparently a fund had been set up by the friends of Louise Woodward to fund her trial etc and the parents presented the administrators with a phony receipt
That said, I always thought there was something not quite 'Kosher' with the babys parents??