Before You Say Your Off The Cuff Remark ‘You Never See A Copper’, Ask Yourself Why? Instead Be Supportive For These Broken Officers Who Are Doing Everything They Can To Support The Community.

The go to phrase for many when discussing the police is ‘you never see any coppers’. Unfortunately, we do not see officers as we once did on our streets. They key question to ask is why? Hurling abuse is not going to improve the lack of officers. What it sadly does is compound the pressure these officers do face even more and put them on an even further back foot when they arrive at incidents.

The lack of officers across our high streets is something we would all like to see changed. Those who have watched the abuse so many police forces have faced for not just one or two years, but across a decade, is quite outstanding. Successive politicians have actively decimated our police forces and the reality we are now faced with is truly shocking.

What is important before repeating the active phrase of ‘you don’t see any coppers‘ is understanding the work these officers do and the pressure they are under. With the current situation as it is, we are actually lucky to have the few we have left, especially across London.

These are people who go to work and know that they may not return home. People who go to work and are prepared to face the most horrendous scenarios possible. They also deal with-limited resources and having to take call after call. Having to go from supporting a person struggling with their mental health, to tackling a violent criminal with a knife or gun. This could be all in one shift. They rescue people from burning buildings, they perform life saving first aid on people, often our youths, seriously injured. They attend road traffic collisions witnessing scenes that will haunt them forever.

If they have a break, there is no canteen and have to get their food where they can. Often facing further comments from members of the public who do not agree that officers should eat at some point during the day (be it in their vehicle as they have no where else to go).

Abuse against officers is also at an all time high. Nothing better that hurling abuse be it verbal or physical when an officer arrive’s on scene. Most officers have now grown accustomed to abuse sadly, due to the levels they receive.

Many are now struggling with their own mental health. People’s throw away comments do not even big to realise just how much these officers have witnessed in their careers. What haunts them in the middle of the night and what scenes will never leave them for the rest of their life. What we watch casually on social media, they witness everyday and have to pick up the pieces-literally.

Before you state your off the cuff remark ‘you never see a copper’, point that at the ballot box and instead show some support for these broken officers who are doing everything they can to support all members of the community.

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