Forum Topic

Local Police need Etiquette Lessons

The other evening I was scurrying along an alleyway to the local sweet-shop when I noticed a couple of bobbys walking towards me.  These were proper police officers with proper helmets and not some hobby-bobby PSCO wobbling about on a push-bike.  I thought nothing of it.  I was thinking more of which lottery numbers to chose.  As they went past me one of them uttered 'Aw-wight?'  I was mortified.  Surely it should have been, 'Good evening, madam'  Or just walk on.  Who did they think I was?  At this point I did look up at them with a bit of a withering look and they scuttled along pretty smartish.   Admittedly I am a bit on the short side, admittedly I was dressed in trackie bottoms and trainers and admittedly I was on the Haverfield and maybe I should be flattered that they may have mistaken a sixty year old as a sixteen year old but to be addressed with an 'Aw-wight?', to me, is certainly not an acceptable form of address from police regardless of ones age.    I don't think 'Aw-wight' is an acceptable greeting at all and definitely not from police officers 'on the beat'.    

Anya Morris ● 5295d9 Comments

Anya,Just seeing 2 policemen in my vicinity would have uplifted me, and at 60 an aw-wight is a bonus.I'm sure you looked lovely in your trackies and trainers.

Dawn Hardy ● 5293d

What is a pity is that we no longer know our local Police in which case we could call them by their names like we used to. We rarely see a Copper around here, but like all other big organisations there are all sorts, some are really user friendly, others you'd like to slap!

Vanessa Smith ● 5294d

I kind of agree with Angela and Keith, but I think back to afew years ago when a police car pulled up alongside me whilst waiting at a set of lights and started (quite rightly) warning me about my speed, but it was seemingly nothing more than a talking to UNTIL I called the police officer 'mate', at which point I was accused of not taking the matter seriously and they then insisted on doing a full search/condition check on the car etc, with the policeman himself saying that he expected me to address him as 'Officer'.

Adam Beamish ● 5294d

I have to agree with Keith on this one.  You do sound very hard to please.  I know a lot of people are anti police but to complain about being greeted by the word 'Aww-right' as you put it I find simply pathetic.  At least you were acknowledged, and I would imagine that had the said police officer realised his simple greeting would cause you to go running to a local forum to complain, he wouldn't have bothered.You also mentioned in your first post about 'hobby bobby' PCSO's.  People may well call them names, but at least they are out there trying to make the community a safer, what exactly are you doing for the community, other than trying to cause bad feeling and unrest.

Angela Parker ● 5294d

I agree that part of the police's job is to patrol the local area and be approachable and civil but going 'Aw-wight' as a person passes by is, in my book, any but civil.Aw-wight sounds like the utterings from a chavvy yob not something that should be spoken by police constables.

Anya Morris ● 5294d

Anya,That is part of their job,to patrol and get to know the local community,be available,approachable and civil.They are public servants.You sound very hard to please on this one,this is part of policing.

Keith Iddon ● 5295d

Actually, I think is does, Keith.Why bother to greet me at all?  Why not just go about their job at policing?As to your other comment about when crime is committed?  Who knows?  I've seen crimes committed at 5.00am as well as 5.00pm.

Anya Morris ● 5295d

Does it really matter?At least they greeted you and were interested in your welfare and were being friendly.You were lucky to see bobbies on the beat.What is more relevant imo is the times you see officers or pcso's(if you're lucky enough).They patrol in the daytime or when very little crime is commited and no wrong un's on the streets.Surely at night would be better...

Keith Iddon ● 5295d

Does it really matter?At least they greeted you and were interested in your welfare and were being friendly.You were lucky to see bobbies on the beat.What is more relevant imo is the times you see officers or pcso's(if you're lucky enough).They patrol in the daytime or when very little crime is commited and no wrong un's on the streets.Surely at night would be better...

Keith Iddon ● 5295d