Cop a load of this - Goodbye Polite tabard :D

I was rather tounge in cheek with the special pens but as some have decided to pick me up on it they are Ultra violet marker pens to mark property which is actually quite handy I think :D

As said the full article and details are hopefully going to be in the Guardian tomorrow and I know our pc is also planning on doing press releases in the likes of Horse and hound so watch this space :D
 
I have reservations regarding this. The government has greatly reduced the resourses of the police throughout the country & then try & recruit volunteers to try & fill the gaps. These volunteers, no matter how committed they may be, do not have the powers nor training of police officers. Even the street wardens you see around the country don't have the powers the police have. Having eyes around the place is fine but at some point you need the police officers to act upon the information received. This is a cost cuting exercise by local authorities & central government.

Similarly, if you have been watching the tv adverts, the government wants to recruit loads of people for the 'Territorial Army' or 'Army Reserve' or whatever they are called now. Whilst doing this they have made thousands of fully trained soldiers, naval personal & airforce staff redundant. Again that is a synical cost cutting exercise. It is appreciated that cuts have to be made, but many of the decisions have been ill advised.
 
Toby_Zaphod said:
I have reservations regarding this. The government has greatly reduced the resourses of the police throughout the country & then try & recruit volunteers to try & fill the gaps. These volunteers, no matter how committed they may be, do not have the powers nor training of police officers. Even the street wardens you see around the country don't have the powers the police have. Having eyes around the place is fine but at some point you need the police officers to act upon the information received. This is a cost cuting exercise by local authorities & central government.

Similarly, if you have been watching the tv adverts, the government wants to recruit loads of people for the 'Territorial Army' or 'Army Reserve' or whatever they are called now. Whilst doing this they have made thousands of fully trained soldiers, naval personal & airforce staff redundant. Again that is a synical cost cutting exercise. It is appreciated that cuts have to be made, but many of the decisions have been ill advised.
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Yes very much agree ,we do need to cut public spending but as always its the sharp end the people who actuly do usefull things who are got rid of, GET rid of the penpushers instead ,the red tape and the petty bureaucrats... and put a bobby to live in every other village like it used to be....
 
Toby_Zaphod said:
I have reservations regarding this. The government has greatly reduced the resourses of the police throughout the country & then try & recruit volunteers to try & fill the gaps. These volunteers, no matter how committed they may be, do not have the powers nor training of police officers. Even the street wardens you see around the country don't have the powers the police have. Having eyes around the place is fine but at some point you need the police officers to act upon the information received. This is a cost cuting exercise by local authorities & central government.

Similarly, if you have been watching the tv adverts, the government wants to recruit loads of people for the 'Territorial Army' or 'Army Reserve' or whatever they are called now. Whilst doing this they have made thousands of fully trained soldiers, naval personal & airforce staff redundant. Again that is a synical cost cutting exercise. It is appreciated that cuts have to be made, but many of the decisions have been ill advised.
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Whilst I agree with the points you raise I do think there is something good about a society where people volunteer to give their time and effort for free to help the community. I know when I used to help with the RDA it gave me a feel good factor. Having suffered directly from Government cuts, with my husband being made redundant from his Local Gov job last October I can see both sides of the coin. Whichever Gov was in power cuts of some sort needed to be made.
 
I think its a long long time since the police had the time resources or inclination to wobble down bridleways on bicycles. All this is doing is giving those of us who already act as eyes and ears when out on our horses a bit of official recognition and visibility which will make us act as a visible crime deterrent as well as a crime reporter.

To take the view that the police are responsible for fighting crime and the public should leave it to them and not get involved is completely wrong in my view. Every citizen should help to ensure that communities are safe and free from crime, and police are simply citizens with additional powers.
 
I read about this probably 3 years ago. Encouraging horse riders to volunteer a few hours a week.

I hate the fill the gaps in yes I do, but we need to build a community and horses are community building. When you see police horses in a town stood watching there are people there stood stroking them.
 
I think it's a fab idea, it's neighbourhood watch reinvented.

BUT, those seen as in authority can often come under attack from those up to no good, Are the young ladies, riding around alone on horseback APPEARING to be voluntary police... equipped and trained to deal with such an attack? That worries me,
 
OP, have you changed the way you hack out? As in riding more on the roads, riding more often and for longer? (in case you miss any action?) I think it would go to my head :D I'd be galloping through the village and making citizens arrests left right and centre.

Good job I don't have a horse at the mo!....mind you I could use a hobby horse!
 
Whatta good idea!! Its a well known fact that horsey people are the nosiest in the world ;)

I wonder if my local police are gonna take it up too? Devon & Cornwall is a rural area and so it would make a lotta sense.

PS: if they do take it up and we're issued with Tazers, then I'll have that gobby little blighter on the moped that comes up behind us and thinks its funny............. plus cyclists - by gawd they'd better look out!!!! :) :) :) Yeeee haaaaa!
 
Lanky Loll said:
I think it's a great idea - nice piccy in the Western Daily at the weekend as well ;)

Bit of a segway but I just googled the POLITE hi-vis as I want to get some and found this thread on a police specials forum started by someone that shares the H&H office: http://www.policespecials.com/forum/index.php?/topic/119770-horse-riders-hi-viz/

Have to say I'm rather disappointed in whoever "Otto" is.
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agree should be encouraging hi viz and if it makes people looks twice then that's even better!
 
I think its a great idea in theory. I really dont like the fact that you have not been trained though.

Just wearing this could put you in situations you dont know how to handle. People might actually approach you for help.

In these days of Health & Safety gone mad, we have seen the stories where emergency services can help without a risk assessment, are you really equiped for anything which might come your way.

While you might have enough common sense to know when to get involved and when not to, does that apply to everyone they might recruit.

I also hope when you have gone to the trouble of reporting things someone bothers to follow them up.

Nice outfit though :D :D :D
 
I'd be an absolute nightmare, would have to get a pretend walky talky and write down all reg numbers of speedy cars with my special pen and fake speed gun. Think I would get the sack as a result of a little bit of power going to my head.
Seriously though great idea, not sure if Beds Police onboard but worth looking into.
 
cambrica said:
I'd be an absolute nightmare, would have to get a pretend walky talky and write down all reg numbers of speedy cars with my special pen and fake speed gun. Think I would get the sack as a result of a little bit of power going to my head.
Seriously though great idea, not sure if Beds Police onboard but worth looking into.
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:D:D:D
 
I thought long and hard before agreeing to do this and yes my main motivation is making traffic more aware of other more vunerable road users such as horses. I do not agree with the post stating I need training all I am doing is hacking out as per usual and have been amazed at the reduced speed since my new jacket.

We still have a very active local policing team so we are not taking peoples job and it is lovely to give something back to the community whilst enjoying my usual hacks.

We are encouraged to write down reg numbers of those driving dangerously so the police can have a chat with the driver and also keep an eye out for them on their usual rounds. Again through my work with the Parish Council I know the policeman well and know he will follow up any information I give.

We will not be involved with emergency situations unless we come accross them as any normal member of the public would and in such an instance you help as any passer by would and not in your capacity as a Rural community volunteer.

"I wonder if my local police are gonna take it up too? Devon & Cornwall is a rural area and so it would make a lotta sense."

I have checked with our policeman co-ordinating this and he is happy for me to pass on his details to those interested including those out of county who wish to start or get involved with a scheme in their area.
 
Good idea, yes.

Massive safety implications for the riders who are not trained.

Someone will end up sueing someone for the lack of training and can it be held up in court, because 'they looked like they was speeding....'...?

Not something I'd personally do, but good luck to those who are doing it.
 
...and I just remembered something I witnessed a year ago...

A man in a van got out his van with a hammer to go threaten another chap who wasn't pulling out the junction quick enough. Remember the dreadful story on here about the horse that was deliberately run over as the driver thought the rider was someone else and had issues with them?

What if you 'have a nice word with someone you think needs having a word with and they decide to punch your horse/you or worse?

Maybe i'm being over reactive but these are genuine worries, take care of yourselves, I was a special constable years ago and even then felt the training wasn't enough...
 
Beatrice5 said:
I do not agree with the post stating I need training all I am doing is hacking out as per usual and have been amazed at the reduced speed since my new jacket.

.
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And that comment alone reinforces that you really have no idea what you could face. You might live in a lovely friendly rural area, but people from less civilized places will visit or pass through. Just be careful.
 
It is Rural watch not London watch. So are you saying Neighbourhood watch co-ordinators need training in case they get clobbered.....?

I won't be having a word with anyone I am not here to have words. I just jot down details and the police will have the words .

As I said I didn't take to it lightly but I think living where we do and being involved with the community as I already am I feel this is something I can do safely.

I am not confrontational or antagonistic and am always polite and considerate to drivers and so far have been very well recieved.
 
Well, I hope all goes well, my concern is still the fact some sort of training should be involved, simple situations can turn ugly very quickly.

Good luck all those who do it, stay safe!
 
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