Idiot police

[Invader Zim]

I'm not going to make a statement about the politics of the police (unnecessary here, I think), hence this being in non-political, but more about their general incompetence.

I was out for a few pints with some mates last night, and I was ambling home and came across a woman surrounded by a crowd of people. She was clearly passed out pissed and had been vomiting. The police had rocked up by this point and put her into the recovery position and called for an ambulance. Which is exactly right. However, they were exactly wrong in that they had put her facing up hill on a steep incline. The whole point of the recovery position is that, if they vomit, then gravity causes the vomit to drain from the airway. Placing her facing up hill was liable to cause her to choke on her own vomit defeating the entire purpose of the recovery position.

So, I tapped the copper on the shoulder and politely explained that they should think about turning her over. The beligerant idiot though I was having a go or questioning his professionalism or something. He shouted at me to get back and told me it was none of my business. I walked back but continued to make the point. He asked me if I thought I knew more about first aid than trained police. I told him that I am a qualified First Aid trainer, and am also qualified to crew volunteer ambulances and that I know, personally, the guys who teach them first aid (they are my colleagues) and exactly what level of training they receive, so basically, yeah, I do know more than he does. He then says, because I'd been out on the piss that what I said was invalid. I responded that, drunk or not, up is still down and gravity still causes fluids to run down hill. He got a bit pissed off and told me to back off. So, I had to leave the poor woman in their obviously incompetent hands.

I don't know what it is, but apparently getting a uniform turns people into intransigent wankers unwilling to take even common sense suggestions.

[Vladimir Innit Lenin]

Classic case, as you say, of people deriving a perceived authority (in reality social control) through a uniform.

It's a really sad example that shows what the politics of individualism and greed leads to.

Hope the woman was OK, though.

[ÑóẊîöʼn]

At least you didn't get beaten senseless or killed, which is what would have happened with a US copper.

Although that ain't saying much, since it seems only a matter of time before things get that bad here...

[Red Economist]

good for you for trying (and for knowing what you're doing). I hope the woman is all-right.

[Sasha]

We have a cop station across the street of my work, so if we call an ambulance or just first aiding someone in front of the door I have so often that stupid cops try to wade in and take over. I once had to physically prevent a cop from trying to shake and slap someone awake he thought was drunk while i knew he crashed on his neck stagediving. Fucking idiot.

[Sasha]

On the other hand, there is nothing more annoying than being at your trained job and drunk bystanders who once did a first aid course are interfering, so I understand the initial reaction of your cop as well. But if someone clearly knows what they are talking about you should acknowledge that too.

[Invader Zim]

On the other hand, there is nothing more annoying than being at your trained job and drunk bystanders who once did a first aid course are interfering, so I understand the initial reaction of your cop as well. But if someone clearly knows what they are talking about you should acknowledge that too.

True, but as I said to the copper, my being pissed or not doesn't prevent fluids from flowing downhill.