I came across these videos from the Scottish Police Federation and thought they were quite well done, and I thought people here (as this is a US board) might find them interesting as well as a different perspective on policing.
At the risk of sounding like one of those click-bait ads the ‘Maggie Gibson’ video is particularly striking.
The Police Federation of Northern Ireland followed their lead:
No ulterior motives or political commentary intended, I just thought they were pretty thought-provoking and I was wondering what people here might think of them.
for context, if you sort this by date, police deaths average just over one per year in the UK. Most involve vehicles; less than 10 have been shot/stabbed to death in the past 20 years:
Yes, that doesn’t include the PSNI though, sixteen of whom have died on duty since 2001, including two by terrorist attack and four in one incident (I can’t think of any casualties in the past two years but I’ve just woke up…)
And there have been a lot of terrorist attacks, its sheer luck more haven’t been killed than that.
But the OP was more about the nature of the job than the threat they face.
I remember coming across a diversion due to an accident at the border between Tyrone (Northern Ireland) and Monaghan (Republic of Ireland) about 10 or so years ago. The cops on the northern side of the border were armed to the teeth and on high alert for a possible ambush. When we got, via the detour to the south, the cops on the other side were two lads in their patrol car quaffing coffee, they could not have been more relaxed looking. The contrast was stark.
Thanks for the reply! Yes, I’m from Northern Ireland, only last year I was on a business trip to the Republic, driving though a small town I noticed that the Garda station was an ordinary building opening straight onto the street outside. I couldn’t believe it, it made me realise that my idea of what is normal has been kind of skewed…
I believe An Garda Síochána is going through something of a crisis at the moment, the budget cuts have had a major effect here as well, when 97% of officers state they have low morale you know there’s a problem.
Newer entrants have been sold down the river pay wise and recent ructions are trying to address that and other issues. I hope they resolve it soon and to the maximum benefit.