Why being a police officer now means facing bigger crowds than some London theatres.

Trial by social media leaves officers having to act out in front of crowds when detaining suspects.

A survey held by the Metropolitan Police Federation revealed that a whopping 96% of respondents reported low or very low morale within the force. Not a shocker to any officer.

On the same day-a social media video showed two officers detaining a youth, after searching him and a large crowd in Whitechapel demanding to know why he was being detained and of course, filming every move the police do. The police officer then had to do a public announcement and inform the large crowd that the suspect on his bike, had stolen mobile phones and the ‘piece de resistance’ was, he was also carrying a machete that the officer had to then publicly display to the audience. The final part of the play being acted out for the crowd, was the audience then clapping in praise of the performance they had watched.

Then surely, we must be able to understand just why police morale is so low.

Everytime an officer undertakes stop and search, or detain suspects, their every move is continuously and repeatedly criticised, trial by social media. Officers now gather bigger audiences than some London theatres.

It is correct to hold the police to account and their actions, but at what part do these crowds and social media filmers actually impede the police in their job? The ongoing anti police attacks are now so frequent that a positive police headline actually leaves officers needing to sit down (which of course won’t happen as they have no canteens).

The incident in Whitechapel is just one of many where officers are subjected to large crowds filming their every move and large crowds then left visibly shocked as the officers’ wave the weapon removed from the suspect. Let us remember at this point that no one is tackling knife crime except police officers and anti knife crime campaigners and those in authority who should, can’t because they are too busy knocking the work our officers do daily.

It is no surprise that morale in the Metropolitan Police is so low, or other police forces. They are knocked daily, verbally abused, physically abused, spat at and anything else you can throw at them. Would you do their job?

All across London, thousands of police officers not only do incredible work each day, but ultimately save lives. A job most of us could not do.

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