Just been berated by police officer for friend shaking head!

[ElleSkywalkingintheair]

Afternoon,

Just been out hacking with a buddy and could hear sirens heading towards us at speed on a narrow country lane with blind bends, I positioned horse so the car would see us as was nowhere to hide then quickly moved to single file to allow to pass us, on seeing us the police car turned off it's sirens and slowed down, not to 10mph but an acceptable speed and passed without a problem. My hacking buddy, ex police, advanced driver shook her head as the car came past as in her opinion it should not have been driving at that speed or with sirens on that road. The car then came to a stop a bit further down road and officer got out and chased us down, asking why we had been shaking our heads (I hadn't, just buddy) she said you were going to fast and he then berated us saying 'I'm on my way to an urgent job' to which buddy replied quite calmly (officer was very aggressive from outset) 'well go then, come and find us later' he then kept ranting about us not knowing what job he's going to and how urgent it is to which buddy replied 'I was in the force, I know all about urgent jobs' he went a little slack jawed and white at this but then carried on about how he was on his way to an urgent job. I'd imagine this all took about 2-3 mins or so so certainly delayed him in his way to his super important urgent job.

Not sure what to do next, buddy is thinking about reporting it (has a friend in this forces complaints department) but isn't overly keen. The altercation was between her and cop not me and cop so think that limits what I can say but am disgusted and disappointed, not so much with the driving, yes he was going too fast and with sirens on unnecessarily but he did turn them off and did pass us correctly even if over the 10mph, but the sheer unprofessionalism of shouting and ranting at two women on horseback who did nothing wrong or illegal on the way to an 'urgent' job is staggering. I don't understand what he was trying to achieve either other than to upset and intimidate us?

Anyone have any thoughts?

ETA, a lady who had previously passed us actually turned round and came back to check we were alright as she'd seen the car speeding along and tried to warn the driver that there were horses ahead and they'd ignored her. Bless her heart for coming back to see we were ok.

 

[dreamcometrue]

I think he wouldn’t have done that if you were men.

 

[ElleSkywalkingintheair]

I think he wouldn’t have done that if you were men.

Yep, this is ex cop hacking buddy's thoughts too. We were both on little 14.2hh as well and I look a lot younger than I am on horse back

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

Clearly the job was that urgent he could stop to rant ?

 

[cauda equina]

At the very least report it to the BHS
https://www.bhs.org.uk/go-riding/report-an-incident/incident-report-form/

 

[ElleSkywalkingintheair]

Clearly the job was that urgent he could stop to rant ?

Yep, I feel bad for whoever he was on the way to as it will have delayed him at least 2-3 mins if not more

 

[ElleSkywalkingintheair]

At the very least report it to the BHS
https://www.bhs.org.uk/go-riding/report-an-incident/incident-report-form/

I've reported on BHS Horse i app, not much space for putting info in but have added what detail I can and given my contact details

 

[smolmaus]

Imagine having the kind of ego that would crumple at a person shaking their head. Or the kind that makes you NEED to justify yourself to two completely random people. How does he get through the day?

 

[cobgoblin]

Sounds as though he was embarrassed at being caught playing on a country road. He wouldn't have stopped if there really was a urgent call.

 

[Tiddlypom]

Glad that you are both OK.

I would make an official complaint. You can do so even if friend doesn't. The first rule of responding to an urgent call is to not endanger the public as you do so. For him to then actually stop and berate you was completely unprofessional, and will have made him late for his urgent call. As said, I doubt that he would have done that if you were male.

OH has his advanced driving - that driver was not driving to those standards, you must always drive according to the conditions. Sirens should only be sounded where it is safe to do so, so never on narrow roads with blind bends.

That police officer needs to be stopped from pulling a similar stunt again. If he is not reported, he'll think that he's got away with it. Knowing that he's tried it on with an ex police officer will already have him quaking in his boots - please follow it up.

 

[ElleSkywalkingintheair]

Imagine having the kind of ego that would crumple at a person shaking their head. Or the kind that makes you NEED to justify yourself to two completely random people. How does he get through the day?

? He really doesn't appear to have the temperament to be a cop, it has shaken me a bit as I've only ever seen the police as helpful and here to protect us but this has obviously changed my mind. I felt like he was baiting us to kick off so he could rant some more or arrest us or something (can horses fit it the back of a police car?!)

 

[ElleSkywalkingintheair]

Sounds as though he was embarrassed at being caught playing on a country road. He wouldn't have stopped if there really was a urgent call.

While discussing with friend I did say that being in a police car doesn't give you the green light to drive like a idiot just because you have siren on, she agreed, but I suspect you are correct and he was showing off to his colleague

 

[TPO]

Another vote for reporting it.

It might stop him having a go at vulnerable people in future and might stop him "playing" on country roads with blind bends.

That you have an ex-police as a witness to your report definitely adds more weight to it as well.

 

[ElleSkywalkingintheair]

Glad that you are both OK.

I would make an official complaint. You can do so even if friend doesn't. The first rule of responding to an urgent call is to not endanger the public as you do so. For him to then actually stop and berate you was completely unprofessional, and will have made him late for his urgent call. As said, I doubt that he would have done that if you were male.

OH has his advanced driving - that driver was not driving to those standards, you must always drive according to the conditions. Sirens should only be sounded where it is safe to do so, so never on narrow roads with blind bends.

That police officer needs to be stopped from pulling a similar stunt again. If he is not reported, he'll think that he's got away with it. Knowing that he's tried it on with an ex police officer will already have him quaking in his boots - please follow it up.

Thank you for that, nice to know it's not just me and my ex cop friend who thinks it's out of order. I've opened the complaints page of local forces FB but don't really know what to say etc as although by the end there there 3 cars being held up and witness to it, we didn't get their details and it's only our word against his and his buddy (who looked suspiciously like a different friends soon to be ex husband but as he didn't get out of car I can't be sure)

 

[nagblagger]

I think you should report it, he is a bully in a uniform and thinks he can get away with it.
Dangerous driving and he compromised the 'urgent' situation by delaying getting to the emergency.
Those are the facts!

Edited - it will be on their police camera the other drivers details etc if needed

 

[ElleSkywalkingintheair]

Another vote for reporting it.

It might stop him having a go at vulnerable people in future and might stop him "playing" on country roads with blind bends.

That you have an ex-police as a witness to your report definitely adds more weight to it as well.

Thanks, I do see a lot of police cars on this particular road that's really just a back road that doesn't go anywhere big so I suspect it's a common road to play or waste a bit of time on

 

[ElleSkywalkingintheair]

I think you should report it, he is a bully in a uniform and thinks he can get away with it.
Dangerous driving and he compromised the 'urgent' situation by delaying getting to the emergency.
Those are the facts!

Edited - it will be on their police camera the other drivers details etc if needed

Thanks, the driver they delayed who was driving towards then then stopped to check we were ok too once police car had driven off. Thinking about it they didn't put sirens back on again after the incident ?

 

[Tiddlypom]

Thank you for that, nice to know it's not just my ex cop friend who thinks it's out of order. I've opened the complaints page of local forces FB but don't really know what to say etc as although by the end there there 3 cars being held up and witness to it, we didn't get their details and it's only our word against his and his buddy (who looked suspiciously like a different friends soon to be ex husband but as he didn't get out of car I can't be sure)

Take your time to remember the event as it happened, including the approximate timings. Get your facts together, then log the complaint, today if possible.

 

[Rowreach]

That definitely needs reporting. I never ever hack out without my camera these days.

 

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

Put in a complaint, it will be investigated. Unfortunately, being a police officer doesn’t mean he has integrity. My OH is sick of the (lack of) calibre of some of the newer people. Did you get his number or the car index?

 

[cobgoblin]

Thanks, I do see a lot of police cars on this particular road that's really just a back road that doesn't go anywhere big so I suspect it's a common road to play or waste a bit of time on

Are they doing speed training along there?
The police used to do this along the lane outside my house, which is an unclassified road . I complained and it stopped. They tried to say it was ' urgent calls' , but I pointed out that there was a much faster road running parallel and it was odd that these calls occurred every week at the same time and day.

 

[ElleSkywalkingintheair]

That definitely needs reporting. I never ever hack out without my camera these days.

Sadly didn't have mine on

Put in a complaint, it will be investigated. Unfortunately, being a police officer doesn’t mean he has integrity. My OH is sick of the (lack of) calibre of some of the newer people. Did you get his number or the car index?

I got partial plate and the fact that there were two officers in the car which is unusual for our police force and the road is a very random one so imagine they should be able to find the driver from that? Both officers had beards as well which might help narrow it down

 

[ElleSkywalkingintheair]

Are they doing speed training along there?
The police used to do this along the lane outside my house, which is an unclassified road . I complained and it stopped. They tried to say it was ' urgent calls' , but I pointed out that there was a much faster road running parallel and it was odd that these calls occurred every week at the same time and day.

TBF the other cars I've seen haven't had lights on have just been driving along, possibly a little fast but nothing dangerous. I think maybe they like it as a scenic route

 

[HappyHollyDays]

Get in touch with Alan Hiscox, he’s ex Met mounted branch and is the BHS’s Director of Safety.

 

[ElleSkywalkingintheair]

Get in touch with Alan Hiscox, he’s ex Met mounted branch and is the BHS’s Director of Safety.

I've met him, neighbour got him to come to our village to talk about the problems we have with speeding drivers. She's now the safety officer for the area and is going to get in touch for advice ?

 

[Rowreach]

Also worth stressing when you report it that two other motorists were sufficiently concerned for your well being that they took the trouble to check you were ok, which speaks volumes.

 

[Peglo]

Would his dash cam camera been close enough to hear his ranting? If you reported it they may be able to check that.

can’t believe his reaction to a head shake. I’ve shouted pretty strong swear words at terrible drivers that ‘might’ warrant them stopping (if they hadn’t been going too fast to realise) but I would argue it was justified when they are risking my horse and my lives. But a head shake….. ??‍

 

[Lexi 123]

I won’t If I was you you never now when you need the police they could be unwilling to help you if something happened to your horses and you needed them. It would be the one day that you would meet the same police officers. I not defeating the police actions.

 

[paddy555]

I would report him. You have no idea if there are a string of complaints about him a mile long. What if the next time he does this is a child or a nervous old lady? Explain you realise he had to go fast to get to the urgent call out. It was the aggressive bit you were unhappy about.
If people let minor incidents go then what about the few police officers where they escalate to more bullying or worse

 

[Red-1]

FWIW, I would complain as you feel something was done wrong.

As far as the blue lights and sirens, they are warning devices to warn other road users that they are approaching at speed. They worked to that end as you heard them and took action, by positioning yourself to the centre of the road to attract their attention. They were obviously driving within their safety zone as they responded by switching the equipment off and passing at a slower speed, in what you thought was a safe manner, despite the fact that you still had to make your way to the road side.

I would complain at the attitude of the officer, if you think he was rude and unprofessional, fair enough!

There are a lot of assumptions. It is possible that they were cancelled to the call as they passed, so had time to stop. It is possible that it was a training exercise, these are necessary and I would not call them playing. It is possible that they were rogue, in which case the complaint will find that out and they will be dealt with. It is possible that they are having a crappy day, which is no excuse for rudeness.