Birdie -
'Some' police officers are also shyte, which puts people off from reporting crime. Just 4 of my experiences...
1) Domestic violence. 999 call made by 8 year old child because daddy is kicking mummy. Police arrive and take daddy away. Not arrested, taken away from the situation and dropped at a friends house. Police woman takes a statement from me and the whole time made me feel like I was a complete tool that brought on myself. No action taken, no advise given, he was allowed to return the next day to carry on making our life hell.
2) I got attacked in my own home by a stranger (it's a long story) called 999. Police came out. Police woman tried to convince me that he was there with the intention of robbing me. BULL!! This man tried to get me on the floor. His intentions were not robbery!!
3) My son was robbed aged about 10. The older kids that done it made them jump up and down to see if they had money in their pockets. They did and they made them hand over their £2.30. This was taken seriously and the police, on two occasions, travelled from Kettering to Northampton to take statements.
How inconsistent is that?