Americans React: How British Police Handle Non-Violent Criminals

Comments · 3.6K

• RO

  @rorywoodward9090 · 1 year ago

  The reason why the British police didn’t arrest the man when he said he was on drugs is because the British police are more interested in catching the people who SELL the drugs, not the people who take them.

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• TE

  @tezdavies6843 · 1 year ago

  Im from UK,  and it was the police who helped me get off drugs and rebuild my life ,they brought me power tools and put a roof over my head

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• TE

  @teenajopataytay · 1 year ago

  I&apos;m in the northeast of England.<br><br>Last year, the police saved me and my dog on our way home from a family party. He&apos;s trained to run beside me while I cycle, so I had both him and my bike to manage. On this night, it had suddenly and unexpectedly started thundering and raining heavily, and my dog panicked and bolted as he&apos;s terrified of thunder. In the process, he snapped his harness. He&apos;d run into the road, and I was desperately trying to tie my scarf and his lead around him to keep him safe. I&apos;d thrown my bike on the ground to go retrieve him, and I was in floods of tears, thinking one or both of us would be hit by a car. Thankfully, it was late at night, and there was no passing traffic.<br><br>There was no one I could call as it was late, and my family were all sleeping.<br><br>A police car stopped, and the officers asked what I was doing. I&apos;m not sure they believed me when I explained, but they gave me the benefit of the doubt, took my address, and offered to take us home. It was maybe 10 minutes by car, 20 by bike. My bike wouldn&apos;t fit in the car, so I cycled home on an agreed safe route, and they took little man. Sure enough, as I pulled up, there they were. Little man happily looking for me out of the back window and an officer petting him. Before they let my dog out, the officers had a little chat with me about him, his breed, age, if he was chipped, tricks he knew, I think to calm me down. They then asked which house was mine and if he knew where he lived. The second they let him out, I told him to go home, and he took off to wait at the front gate, just as I&apos;d taught him.<br><br>The officers checked I was okay, as I was shaken up and still crying, and before they left, they shook my hand and made sure doggo and I got in safely.<br><br>I could cry just thinking about it. The police quite possibly saved my dog&apos;s life that night.

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• TO

  @toastedsandwich1 · 1 year ago

  Our police are taught to deescalate situations hence the no guns. As a Brit I don&apos;t want police officers with guns unless they are a special trained unit in a volatile situation.

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• KI

  @kitkaesque · 1 year ago

  As a Brit who watches a lot of American police body cam stuff, I feel confident in saying that British police are way more compassionate.

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• CO

  @Commandelicious · 1 year ago

  The moment you carry a weapon you automatically escalate the situation. Whatever the weapon.

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• TR

  @TryptychUK · 1 year ago

  I think the best description I heard regarding the difference between UK and US police is their function:<br>American police enforce the law.<br>British police keep the peace.

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• PM

  @pmooreg · 1 year ago

  They are candid and open with the police because they aren&apos;t afraid of them.

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• MA

  @Maniaculi · 1 year ago

  I am Polish living in the UK for almost 20 years and got a few random encounters with English police.<br>First - my friends and I were drinking beer in the park, just chilling and talking, when two Police officers approached us and politely asked us to stop drinking as it is not allowed in that park. I just said we will finish drinking and will not drink anymore. They said thank you and went their way.<br><br>Second - There was a troubled friend of mine (suicide attempt) Police were called and as we were living in a very safe neighborhood we did not lock the doors, they just came and helped her. I enter the house not knowing what&apos;s happening and that the police are on the premises. They were friendly and asked many questions, one of them about why we don&apos;t lock the doors. My answer make them very happy ( that was 10 years ago in St Albans, one of the most beautiful cities in the UK, I recommend visiting.)<br><br>The third one - was an encounter with Police on horses in London. Very polite with a great sense of humor.

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• SR

  @srudkin1 · 1 year ago

  I am British. The fact that you guys constantly mention guns is crazy. When I watch our police the idea of guns never comes into my mind. I don’t worry about the police needing a gun because the public don’t have guns.

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• BE

  @BethsVintageCraftedHome · 1 year ago

  It was really interesting to watch your attitude change from &apos;They have no gun at night? When the worst people come out?!&apos; To: &apos;Oh, these people need help!&apos; Really interesting that just seeing the police talk to them, humanised them to you ❤ That&apos;s how it should be in the US too!

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• JE

  @jeffwalker7185 · 1 year ago

  I once had the most British thing happen with an encounter with two police officers. I was at home one day when two officers knocked on my door. They wanted a cup of tea and the community centre they used for their tea break was closed. I am a key holder, so they came round my house to see if I could open up. Given the urgency of the situation, I naturally complied.

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