Last weekend my neighbour told me about an alarming incident that changed her outlook on the police. At around 10 on Saturday morning, an elderly, slightly dishevelled looking woman had started pounding at her front door. Amid the loud knocks, the woman was demanding to be let in, claiming she lived there and had forgotten her key. Despite my neighbour assuring her that this wasn’t her house, the woman was convinced and tried to force the door open. There were intervals of silence before the knocking and shouting through the letterbox resumed, growing increasingly aggressive and desperate. It was clear that she was confused and suffering from a mental health condition. After half an hour, my neighbour, unnerved and slightly fearful, was at a loss and called the police. Within 10 minutes, two officers arrived and gently coaxed the woman away from the door, quickly calming her down and even making her smile. They walked her back to her home which was a few streets away and returned to reassure my neighbour that all was well. She recalled how touched she felt at the policeman’s “humanity and ability to deal with a difficult situation professionally and kindly.”
This encounter got me thinking about the more nurturing side of the police force which is rarely discussed in the media. Before the Metropolitan Police Act was passed in 1829, the law was enforced by unpaid, elected parish constables. These smaller scale organisations offered a more intimate relationship between the public and police, strengthening this sense of communal responsibility. It could be argued that the trust and respect each party held for one another has now been lost in contemporary society following this expansion. According to a survey conducted in 2017 by the HMIC regarding public views on policing; only 18% of respondents felt that there was a regular police presence in their local area, with just over half agreeing that they were treated fairly and with respect.
The media frequently feeds the negative perception attached to police, almost encouraging public dissatisfaction. When searching on news articles relating to the police force, the results are saturated with claims of corruption, racial biased and use of force dramatically increasing. Although these are critical issues that deserve public discussion, the media chooses to dismiss positive stories valuing dramatic effect over an accurate representation. Local stories, such as my neighbours, often get forgotten.
We would do well to share and remember acts of positive and caring policing. This acknowledgment and gratitude may enhance a sense trust within the community and potentially help tackle greater problems within the police force.
Ishana Seward, City of London Freemen's School
