I see that Melksham's in the news tonight - and sadly after an assault. But this was no drunken brawl in a pub - this was an assault by a police officer, inside the police station, on a lady in her late 50s. She's shown on the Guardian web site with a spectacular black eye and fears she will need an operation. There's no picture of the police officer - but then she didn't respond violently (she didn't have a chance - he's 6 foot 3, ex-army fit and aged just 37).

Of course, things are not always what they seem, are they? The 59 year old might have been a terrorist about to explode a suicide bomb ... except she wasn't - apparently, she had had a "domestic" with her partner, driven off from home and slept in her car ... where the police had found her and apparently assumed she was drunk. Oh - no case was ever brought against her. I'm able to retell this story in some detail because it's now been through the courts and the policeman involved has been convicted of the assault. Full report [here].

There has of course been an independent inquiry since the assault ... which has taken two years to go through the system. And the report doesn't make the happiest of reading. For sure, the police have a difficult job to do, but ... "systems for dealing with complaints were confused", "toilets lacked privacy and toilet paper was not routinely supplied" and "most of the cells surveyed failed to pass safety tests". Ouch!

---

We know a number of local police - including those still working, those retired, and others who are "PCSO"s - support staff who provide a presence without the expense of full officers. (See [psco details]). For the most part, they're lovely people, but there are one or two oddballs, and indeed I've previously written a blog, based on personal experience, entitled "Over zealous police activity?". And nor is this the only time there have been questions to ask ... see "Melksham manslaughter case concludes - sort of" where I really find myself wondering if the police reached their own verdict, then set out to find evidence that backed it up. From reports on this latest episode, they come across to me as condescending and smug at times ... or perhaps that's based on the time a few weeks ago when I walked into reception at Melksham Police Station and felt treated like an idiot for not walking past a sign that said "don't walk past here without permission".


I'm afraid this is a blog without answers - and even short on positive suggestions. How do you ensure that only people who are correctly motivated get into the police? That they continue to be correctly motivated and don't become complacent, smug, and arrogant with the majority of people who come into contact with them so little because they're law abiding citizens? How do you "turn the police around" so that people such as me - who should be a strong supporter of the organization - don't fear them?

---

There is so much to be proud of in Melksham. But just occasionally, something happens that we should be ashamed of.
(written 2010-09-07, updated 2010-09-14)

 Z300 - Politics and Religion
  [3676] Rising prices, changing habits and society - (2012-03-31)
  [3592] Are we one man, one vote? No, and we never have been. - (2012-01-26)
  [3438] Melksham to become a part of Trowbridge? - (2011-09-13)
  [3325] The Olympic Torch, and Melksham House - (2011-06-14)
  [3323] Is Melksham town centre dying? - (2011-06-11)
  [3313] What does our MP do on a Bank Holiday? - (2011-05-30)
  [3264] Alternative Vote (AV) - explaining and an example - (2011-04-25)
  [3051] Positively reforming the system - could it be done? - (2010-11-14)
  [2971] Should the public sector compete with businesses? and other deep questions - (2010-09-26)
  [2870] Old prices - what would the equivalent price have been in 1966? - (2010-07-14)
  [2864] Changing with weather and seasons - (2010-07-10)
  [2856] Two sides of the coin - (2010-07-06)
  [2824] A pint of Black Rat, and a lazy barman - (2010-06-25)
  [2792] Should Government compete with private industry? - (2010-06-03)
  [2757] Bodicea, Lincoln, and our new MP - (2010-05-09)
  [2752] Voting day - UK General Election - (2010-05-06)
  [2740] Melksham Hustings at George Ward School - (2010-04-26)
  [2712] A more informed decision than ever before - (2010-04-08)
  [2689] Can my dog eat potatoes? Doggie Dietary Research, and political sleaze! - (2010-03-23)
  [2640] How is your tax pound spent? - (2010-02-18)
  [2353] All change - Wiltshire Parliamentary - (2009-08-13)
  [2288] Wiltshire Community Area Partnerships - (2009-07-15)
  [2279] Understanding the new local government structure in Wiltshire - (2009-07-11)
  [2270] Wiltshire - a chance to improve life for everybody - (2009-07-05)
  [2257] Ramblings on church and state linkage in Melksham - (2009-06-25)
  [2206] Spot the odd one out - (2009-05-29)
  [2178] Melksham Candidates for Wiltshire Unitary Election - (2009-05-12)
  [2075] Supporting Parkinsons and Trains - (2009-03-11)
  [2028] Things people say on the phone - (2009-02-06)
  [2012] The Wiltshire Police - (2009-01-29)
  [1987] One Cheer for Local Democracy - Asda in Melksham - (2009-01-11)
  [1882] Wiltshire Council says - part 2 - (2008-11-14)
  [1881] Wiltshire Council says - part 1 - (2008-11-13)
  [1872] Barack Obama wins US Predidency - (2008-11-05)
  [1769] July child ponders on August children - (2008-08-23)
  [1729] Back from the future - (2008-07-30)
  [1579] Rome, and the faith of Rome - (2008-03-17)
  [1573] Budget tax increases hit vehicle market - (2008-03-14)
  [1526] Carers at work - court case changes - (2008-02-01)
  [1428] Travel Across Wiltshire - the game - (2007-11-11)
  [1386] New software product for warmblooded programmers - (2007-10-10)
  [1350] FSB (Federation of Small Businesses) Western Region - (2007-09-13)
  [1260] An inspirational business talk from one of our prospective MPs - (2007-07-06)
  [1247] An afternoon at a public enquiry - (2007-06-27)
  [1175] Local elections - choosing who to vote for - (2007-05-03)
  [1135] Government pressure on me to shut up after I make the papers - (2007-04-05)
  [1109] False imprisonment - a contrast from the news - (2007-03-15)
  [1060] What a relief from the tax office. - (2007-02-01)
  [1003] Room at the Inn, Guy at the station - (2006-12-21)
  [967] Realistic on line shoot'em up - (2006-12-05)
  [875] Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones - (2006-09-22)
  [780] Separation and Integration - (2006-06-27)
  [750] Almost everyone loses - (2006-06-07)
  [696] Is than an uphill or downhill task? - (2006-04-23)
  [682] Iran has enriched uranium ... - (2006-04-12)
  [674] Wiltshire to get an extra MP - (2006-04-07)
  [671] Both ends of the animal - (2006-04-05)
  [607] On being British - (2006-02-14)
  [602] MP face to face - (2006-02-12)
  [539] rich and famous - (2005-12-23)
  [505] Would you steal ... petrol? ... a training course? - (2005-11-26)
  [469] Yesterday was Kiss and Ride - (2005-10-19)
  [415] Campaign Drift and efficiency. - (2005-08-15)
  [384] Managing conflict and disappointment - (2005-07-20)
  [377] A Strengthened City - (2005-07-14)
  [335] Sad priorities - (2005-06-03)
  [326] UK Tax payment totals and where the money is spent - (2005-05-27)
  [313] Making bona fide international marriages more difficult - (2005-05-16)
  [301] General Election day, UK - (2005-05-05)
  [289] MP for Devizes, Wiltshire - (2005-04-23)
  [280] Spotted - the local MP - (2005-04-15)
  [257] Politics gets nasty. Must be an election coming up. - (2005-03-25)
  [216] Cheap purchase - votes paid for with selfish promises - (2005-02-15)

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