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Post by hywel on Dec 5, 2011 9:35:17 GMT
Last Friday I went to the local town, and I usually get off the bus by the petrol stn, and walk in over the river bridge. Well as I was crossing the bridge, a police car stopped, and an officer got out and came towards me. He said "Hello sir, how are you today ?" I said i was fine, except that I wasn't - I had some discomfort from my arthritic knees and hips - but I don't like to moan, so I didn't say anything about that. He started to ask me some questions, like my full name, DOB address etc. And then he asked if I had ever been in trouble with the police  What was this all about I asked, but he said he would tell me after his colleague arrived  Then he went on about how cold it was, and how sorry he was I had arthritis (by now I had told him I was in some pain standing there on the bridge in the cold, with nowhere to sit - but he didn't invite me in to his car Then his colleague arrived, and they looked at each other, and at me, and one of them said "What do you think" The other one said "Hm! I don't know" So I asked them AGAIN what was it all about, and they told me a man had been seen on the CCTV stealing things from Boots, and they thought he looked like me   WHAT ! I've never stolen anything in my life (well maybe the occasional biro from county hall might have found it's way back home, but that's all) I was wearing a grey coat with a hood, a grey strpey scarf, and one of those hats that looks like a tea cosy, that you can pull over your ears - and I suppose 100s more people wore the same. So I took my tea cosy hat off for them to see me properly, and they said "Nah! It's not you" Well I felt a bit fuddled, so I caoght the next bus home, and made myself a nice coffee with Bailies in it  |
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Post by Geranium on Dec 5, 2011 9:39:07 GMT
Oh dear, Hywel! I didn't know you were a master criminal on the quiet ;D I hope they apologised to you - it can't have been a very pleasant experience.  |
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Post by hywel on Dec 5, 2011 9:44:55 GMT
No they didn't appologise Geranium. They did say thank you though. I had a fright. I thought they were going to tell me someone had died |
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Post by Cherry on Dec 5, 2011 10:08:56 GMT
I shouldn't laugh, but I did. It was the thought of you going straight back home and having a fortified coffee.
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Post by merlin on Dec 5, 2011 13:06:53 GMT
They should have apologised !!!!
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Post by Lou78W on Dec 5, 2011 14:02:00 GMT
.......welll....they were only doing their job after all........  An awful shock for you Hywel....its not every day a copper "feels your collar"........I like your "shock remedy" |
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Post by SueA on Dec 5, 2011 15:01:21 GMT
I'm not surprised you were worried Hywel & I do think they should have apologised even though they were only doing their job. I remember years ago being in a local shop wandering round & looking at the Christmas decorations when the shop assistant came over & asked if I needed any help ( I said no thanks, just choosing some baubles) & then asked me if I was going to buy the curtain tiebacks I'd put in my bag! I said I had no idea what she was talking about, & then it clicked, I'd taken off my green knitted gloves with loops & tassles on them & put them in my bag- they looked very similar to some of their tiebacks. She apologised but didn't offer me a discount on my purchase as compensation! ;D I think the police, storekeepers, security staff etc. just presume everyone is out for what they can get & tar everyone with the same brush which is a shame but perhaps understandable nowadays. |
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Post by Louise on Dec 5, 2011 15:02:21 GMT
I agree with the shock remedy too ;D
Scary experience though, my adrenalin would have got me home without the need for the bus !
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Post by grindle on Dec 5, 2011 15:19:29 GMT
I must admit, I would be a bit miffed if they hadn't apologised, I know they're only doing a job but a 'very sorry sir' or even a thank you for being patient, wouldn't have gone amiss would it?
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Post by Louise on Dec 5, 2011 15:26:34 GMT
I agree Grindle.
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Post by peony on Dec 5, 2011 16:29:45 GMT
Not a pleasant experience for you Hywel and I agree they should have apologised.
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Post by merlin on Dec 5, 2011 17:10:05 GMT
I once was attacked by three men. It was in my shop where there were knives about. A policeman came after one of the girls screamed in the road. He waited at the door for what seemed ages until his mates came. The three Policemen stopped the fight and bundled me into a black maria, I was stripped of all I was carrying and literally thrown in jail. Over an hour later I was told I could return on foot to my shop where the staff were very distressed and were trying to brush up all the broken glass and look for what money was left.
Next day I was asked to return to the station where I was told that there were "some red faces" no apology.
In court I refused council and spoke for myself. I was told by the reporter from the local paper that it was the best prosecution hee'd heard. They all went to jail and I received state compensation.
The ploice were very good at twisting my arm behind my back which hurt. Pity they couldn't differentiate between a Chip-shop proprietor in a white smock, with three well known local villains.
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Post by hywel on Dec 5, 2011 17:21:43 GMT
Yes I agree they were 'only' doing their job, but there are good ways and bad ways of doing a job. Sue Well you must have been bewildered at that shop supervisor. I think they should have given you something free on your purchases that day. My mother used to be a store detective in Woolworths (she was only 4 foot 10 lol) and the stories she used to relate were hilarious ;D Merlin that must have been an awful experience for you. Not bad enough that you were attacked, but put in jail aswell. Doesn't give one much confidence in the police does it |
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Post by sweetpea on Dec 5, 2011 17:53:59 GMT
I have very little confidence in the police nowadays. over the years I have had more than a few run-ins with the long arm of the law but always came out on top. I feel that now I need to sort out any problem without involving the police as they have degenerated into farce with possibly one or two exceptions. I have been stopped at night while driving a royal mail van at 30mph and when I asked why, I was told that it was because I was sticking to the speed limit on an empty road Well what would you do with a police car behind you? A gang of youths were having a fight outside my front gate one night and when the police eventually turned up after I called them I was threatened with arrest for daring to criticise them for taking so long to turn up. I was giving evidence in court as a witness to a rather nasty accident and the defending lawyer couldn't accept my account of what happened but had to in the end when it was pointed out that I was an 'Expert' witness. And so it goes on... |
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Post by merlin on Dec 5, 2011 19:23:48 GMT
Maybe it all stems back to when we started to drive, before then we weren't potential criminals and the local bobby was on our side.
Where would we be without them but....I wouldn't dare crack a joke or even say hello to one. They seem to have isolated themselves.
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