MC

@InspGadgetBlogs Can the Met have him please? 😁

Do we believe this? He's saying things that anon and retired police Twitter & X have been saying for years. It's easy for a CC to say this stuff, but when the IOPC comes knocking, will he be there, gripping the rail with you?

@FestAKINBUSOYE @HistoricRecord We’re still attending as agencies know the “buzz” words to use to force a deployment

@HistoricRecord And that is right as not all mental health related require a police officer. Mental health patients need mental health practitioners not a police officer.

The Met now has fewer officers than it did in 2010. If it continues at this rate of annual shrinkage, it will have fewer officers than it did at the depth of austerity, with less than 30,000 officers. A global city with over 9 million people. Yet the man in charge - the Mayor, will take no responsibility for this mess nor provide solutions for fixing the Met. How does this make London safer?

@Rank_Success Oops *there

@Rank_Success Yet numerous releases from the SLT state their is no retention crisis and recruitment is healthy. I think they genuinely believe it too… 🤡

Here’s the joiners & leavers graphic from the blog…

@RockingRossK @moaningcatsbutt @obbsie What are the hours like?

@moaningcatsbutt @obbsie Come to the railway. They love ex job. Age no barrier either. I was at the tail end of my 40s when I switched after 18 in. Happy to advise/assist if it's something you'd consider.

Today I had a long chat with this officer who leaves the Met in a months time. She has 9 years in & a wealth of skills. She enjoys the streets & was being forced into a role she didn't want. Her exit?? interview by an inspector was dismissive. A major UK company snapped her up. What a waste.

@Northern_Bobby The role has certainly changed. I remember my old school skippers motto of “always look after the troops”. You’d never cross him though, he shouted at me only once and thankfully never again! You try to sort out misbehaviour now and it’s followed by a complaint

@Northern_Bobby Try sorting out a “clique” on team by rotating the callsigns/postings.. almost had a mutiny!

Anyone following who has recently joined the job? Were you taught anything on rank and understanding of lawful orders? Phone call with a new officer earlier regarding an incident. Called me 'mate' 3 times and then said "No, I think that's your job"

@ukhomeoffice All smoke and mirrors, it’ll just get recorded as something else - Mal Coms for example. Every call nowadays demands a reference number of some kind because of how risk adverse the job has become

Police time will no longer be wasted investigating legal social media posts, freeing up officers to patrol the streets and tackle real crime. By scrapping Non‑Crime Hate Incidents, we are balancing the protection of vulnerable communities while respecting free speech.

@BettyBoochichi2 @grahamwettone It’ll just get recorded as something else, every call demands some kind of reference number nowadays

Police will be told to stop recording everyday rows & online spats, as non-crime hate incidents are to be scrapped by the govt. Over recent years, unclear guidance has led to officers being called out to people’s homes over insults and routine arguments. gov.uk/government/new…

@obbsie @Brick_Cop @ukhomeoffice They’re about to lose a ton more with the forced rotation coming in this year…

@Brick_Cop @ukhomeoffice This is a huge loss to the Met & another blow to morale. I know this man; an exceptional police officer in every respect who inspires those under his command. The Brick aspect is a massive bonus. The Met could & should have made better use of his numerous skills. Good luck.

And just like that, 12 years, 2 medals, a whole bunch of memories and wonderful friends later; I’m done. Policing you were my childhood dream. I’m so proud to have been one of you and do my small bit. You’ll always be part of me, but time to live and move on. #ThinBlueLine 🚨

@AWilsonmhealth Isolated is a key term here. Everyone is so terrified of the witch hunt that people have regressed into themselves, dark humour IS a documented coping method, now people are too scared to even have that

#Police of today Inexperienced. Start work. Huge workloads. Single crewed. No breaks. Traumatic incidents. No canteen. Isolated. No one to share the load with A perfect storm of contributors to quitting & the development of #mentalhealth issues & #suicide

@grahamwettone @GBNEWS Oh for sure, I've heard numerous SLT using the phrase "It's healthy churn". It's like a cult

@MaltWu @GBNEWS In agreement with you here. As I said before - policing needs to review why retention is now such an issue. Although I think govt & college are in favour of the 'healthy churn' as they call it.

‘I believe the police service should absolutely be able to strike…they have been failed by absolutely everyone!’ Former Police Officer Norman Brennan explains why he believes the police should be allowed to form unions, thereby having the option to go on strike.

@grahamwettone @GBNEWS I agree with your stance that striking isn't the solution. However there are now more options available to dismiss officers than previously before. Our "protections" are diminishing yet attacks increasing. Officers are terrified of getting complaints and withdrawing themselves

@MaltWu @GBNEWS I think the Fed have needed a CEO figure for some time but alongside elected national chair who deals with 'policing matters'. The salary is a different debate but change must come from within & hopefully started by those same local reps.

@grahamwettone @GBNEWS Graham, The Fed is as corrupt as can be with the current "CEO" lining his pockets and I have little faith in reforming it. I feel sick that I pay into the subscription that pays him ~700k a year. Local Reps are worth their weight in gold and severely let down

@GBNEWS Fundamentally disagree with police going on strike & I have been in policing as long as Norman & also see & speak to serving officers on a regular basis. They do not need a new or different representative body - they need the fed to speak out & be listened to & govt to act.

@OldLodskins @BettyBoochichi2 There are no loyalties at all anymore. One of the issues with frontline are people making complaints about colleagues. This has frozen supervisors who feel exceptionally vulnerable to malicious complaints and won’t deal with poor performing individuals

@BettyBoochichi2 Are misplaced loyalties an issue? Sticking to truth and justice and their oath appears the best option. Those fighting corruption are not their enemies.

On an anonymous corner of Reddit, rank-and-file police officers have been lifting the lid on life behind the thin blue line. In post after post on the Police UK forum, the picture that emerges in one of exhaustion, anxiety and collapsing morale. Contributors express creeping doubts about the future of policing - with some admitting they are actively plotting their escape routes. One officer announced they had already quit, while another confessed that, for the first time, they had seriously considered handing in their warrant card after a bruising shift. Others piled in to agree: staffing shortages, relentless workloads and what they see as a lack of backing from the top are driving many to breaking point. The frustration expressed online comes as Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood reveals plans to "significantly" cut the number of forces across England and Wales. Ms Mahmood intends to cut the current 43 constabularies to 12 'mega forces' more focused on serious and organised crime. In one post, titled 'Officially just left the job', one fed-up police officer states: 'After several years in policing I have decided to step away.' He tells of his 'complete admiration' for colleagues 'resilient and agile enough to carry on in the current climate' but concedes: 'I could reel off many reasons as to why I am leaving but morale is already low enough.' 'You have done the right thing,' comes a reply. 'I hope you now get to enjoy not working night shifts!' Another writes: 'It’s a shame but sadly it’s the only way forward until people can do the job with adequate resources and conditions.' 'Best decision you'll ever make. Becoming a police officer puts you in a prison in every aspect of your life. You are literally beneath the public,' adds a third. 'Never put yourself in that position.' In another insightful thread, another anonymous police officer tells how he is thinking of leaving his job - despite being 'very proud' of his three-year career on response duties. 'I’m finding myself changing in recent months. I no longer get that sense of excitement to come into work, the times where I actually feel like I’m making a difference are few and far between. 'I’m getting snappier with people, getting into petty arguments with suspects where I usually pride myself on being the calm cop who can talk someone down quite well, but the biggest thing affecting me is I’m losing sleep.' He candidly goes to reveal his worries 'that I’m worried that the suicidal person I went to will do it or that the domestic abuser 'is going to end up doing real damage'. 'I worry about the people I can’t help and whether I’ve done enough for the people that I can. I worry about the scrutiny that is literally everywhere in this job'. Continued…

@BettyBoochichi2 I feel so sad reading this, yet I'm not surprised in the slightest

@grahamwettone I’m just speechless. Where is the justice for Sgt Evans?

Jury trials - conscience decisions or based on law? Await cps decision on any future proceedings before commenting further.

@Brick_Cop @grahamwettone @ShabanaMahmood @PFEW_HQ @PoliceChiefs @Ldn_Ambulance @LondonFire The consistency would suggest it’s all being done on purpose. I dread to think what things will be like in 5yrs time!

@grahamwettone @ShabanaMahmood @PFEW_HQ @PoliceChiefs @Ldn_Ambulance @LondonFire I’ve come to a final conclusion they really don’t care mate, but thanks for trying. 🫡

@ShabanaMahmood @PFEW_HQ @PoliceChiefs @Ldn_Ambulance @LondonFire Something to consider for the UK? 999 responders are facing increasing obstruction & interference whilst responding to incidents. Mobile phones can record from 25 feet to negate claims it prevents accountability.

@Brick_Cop @sherlock_comms @ukhomeoffice And yet nothing changes?

If you’re a politician that doesn’t understand what this means, let me explain. That’s two London Boroughs with no Police Officers to respond to any kind of emergency whatsoever. It’s not like we’ve been saying this for years though is it? Policing is broken. #ThinBlueLine 🚨

@Alanw47 Does this mean we’ll get an actual union and more industrial rights then?

At a time when many forces are struggling to retain their officers, who on earth thought this was the solution? I’d love to hear the views of the Graduate Entry officers bbc.co.uk/news/articles/…