Coronavirus: Evening all, let’s be a little less lippy with cops in time of crisis – Jim Duffy

Today’s police can’t clip you round the ear like Dixon of Dock Green, but give them respect anyway, writes Jim Duffy
Dixon of Dock Green (as played by Jack Warner) policed in simpler times – when a kick up the backside was enough to keep the peace (Picture: PA)Dixon of Dock Green (as played by Jack Warner) policed in simpler times – when a kick up the backside was enough to keep the peace (Picture: PA)
Dixon of Dock Green (as played by Jack Warner) policed in simpler times – when a kick up the backside was enough to keep the peace (Picture: PA)

This current generation at school – or not at school under current circumstances –will have no idea what “two of the belt” means. I bet I could ask 100 second year schoolies what the phrase refers to and even with a multi-choice option, 100 would still get it wrong. But many of us schooled in the Sixties and Seventiess know exactly what it means.

No-one liked the belt, never mind getting it from the headteacher. There were a couple of occasions when tearaways in my class got six of the belt. But that was for rather serious misdemeanours, like breaking into in the school over the weekend to set it on fire. No, two swings of the strap was more than enough to inflict pain, but more importantly, I would suggest, to maintain order.

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I believed it worked. So when it was abolished, we saw unruly behaviour rise and discipline fall. And I believe it was that exact moment – rightly or wrongly – when Scotland’s attitude to rules, discipline, order, teachers and the police changed.

Shock and awe

Kids who grew up to be young adults were no longer afraid to mouth off, answer back or take liberties. Which is ironic as many would argue that the belt was a primary blocker to kids liberty.

It was probably at this time that the police in Scotland were also using their version of “two of the belt”. In short, as a kick up the backside to the local tearaways who were shoplifting or daubing poorly crafted graffiti on walls. It worked at the time, many older officers would argue.

Of course, in such a libertarian country now that would be frowned upon. But, as we lockdown all over Europe, the Scottish police may have lost the capacity to shock and awe – with a kick up the backside Many of you reading this will immediately be disagreeing with such crass action. But, while you may vent and recoil at what is essentially unlawful violence by our cops, it did happen – frequently. Not out of malice or a wanton propensity for hurting others, but just to let a few wrong-uns know who was in charge of the streets.

This was important when cops did not have fancy digital radios and back-up only minutes away. Many beat officers, years ago, were on their own on a night shift. For them, their “neighbour” or officer patrolling an adjacent beat could be a mile away when they needed help. Ergo, letting the few who would disturb the peace know that they were not afraid to clout them every now and then kept the peace. But, times have changed.

Do I think that individual officers meeting out summary justice occasionally was a good thing? I wasn’t in their shoes and didn’t understand the context of what they’re had to endure to keep safe and maintain respect on the streets then, so I have to hold judgement. But, if asked whether today this kind of behaviour is appropriate I would answer – no. It is not “needed” any more. Our police officers are well equipped, well trained and well cared for now. But one question still remains, despite all the modernisation and professionalism of the police coupled with 30 years without the belt: just how much respect do we have for those in authority, especially at a time of crisis like this?

Our police officers may be asked to perform some tough gigs over the next few weeks as they clamp down on infringements relating to coronavirus. They will be put in situations where they will have to exert presence, tact, negotiation and perhaps force. If it gets to the force stage, then they have lost and they know that – individually and as a collective organisation.

Key concern

The British police, unlike their continental or American colleagues, have always liked to win by losing. The “iron fist in a velvet glove”

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as been a mixture of Dixon of Dock Green with a bit of Luther throw in.

However, as senior officers are no doubt working up plans to curtail movement and enforce lockdowns, is it really all about them? Perhaps, we should be looking closer to home on how we are going to conduct ourselves – and act accordingly.

I, for one, hate being told what to do. Just ask my old line managers in the police. But, now more than ever as we appear to be waking up to our own humanity, frailties and – in many cases – survival, how we conduct ourselves and how we respond to the state is a key concern.

This is not a traffic cop giving you a ticket for speeding or patrol officers asking you to move on after hours. No, these officers now are pure “instruments” of the state, who need our cooperation and common sense. But, will you play ball?

The answer is simple. We have to put aside the 40 years of building up freedoms, answering back, free opinions and no belt in our schools and do as we are told. Whether that be on a street corner, in a park, at the supermarket or when visiting a hospital, maintaining “order” is one of the key issues at present.

There is a time to be a rebel, a maverick and argue the toss with the cops or others in authority, I get that. But that time is not now. Not when people are dying and the very fabric of society is feeling delicate and vulnerable.

Our cops are human beings with worried partners and families. They’re not superhuman or TV characters. This is just as real for them as it is us. So let’s, where we can, make their lives a bit easier.

We are all in this together.