Across the Pond: How American Cops Really View the British Police

 

Across the Pond: How American Cops Really View the British Police: A Complete Guide

It's not always the stats that are most interesting when pitting a seasoned NYPD detective against a Metropolitan Police officer; sometimes it's just the culture. Americans police a society that is hyper-violent, with guns at the ready in civilians' hands. On the other hand, our English cousins police a society that is among the most watched, and most deferential, in all of history. However, despite their differences in pistols, terminology, and laws, there exists a mutual admiration that exists below the surface for both sides. Understanding the unique relationship between these two organizations takes looking beyond the stereotypes of the movies and into the reality of police work.

Just for a second, reflect on the logistics of dealing with an event that takes place close to a busy point in London. The American police officer traveling to the UK will find himself calling on the services of a taxi from Luton Airport Taxi when he receives a coordination meeting invitation after a tiring journey. In the taxi, he will be browsing through his mobile device, reading various news items in the UK, including discussions on body cameras, knife crime figures, and the highly debated “stop and search” policy. To the American officer, the first thing that comes into his mind is not tactical but rather the lack of firearms on the officers patrolling the airport.

The Gun Factor: The Single Biggest Difference

If an American police officer is asked about his views on the British police, the first word which will likely emerge from his mouth would be "unarmed." An American policeman, particularly one from the likes of Chicago and Los Angeles, would deem the notion of handling a case involving domestic violence and a stabber with no weapon whatsoever as completely crazy from the clinical point of view. It is not uncommon in America for traffic stops to turn into shootings resulting in deaths. Thus, it can be inferred that the American policeman admires yet finds it difficult to comprehend how a British police officer performs his duties without the benefit of a firearm.

But veteran Americans are quick to highlight the secret advantage of the British system. Since British law enforcement does not depend on the deterrent effect of lethal force, they have become experts at verbal judo. Americans who participate in exchange programs are usually impressed with the British way of dealing with situations and how they take their time to diffuse potentially violent scenarios. British police officers are taught to use space and time as weapons in diffusing potentially violent situations. On the other hand, the American way of thinking is legally conditioned to neutralize a threat instantly. Although the Yank would jeer at the absence of his Glock, he has an inherent respect for someone who can verbally convince a knife-wielding criminal to surrender.

Culture, Courtesy, and the "Bobby on the Beat"

Another issue that can be compared between both countries is interaction with the public. In America, the police vehicle is a tank. Police ride around in cars with tinted windows, only stopping for extremely important arrests. The idea of a “bobby on the beat” that talks to people from shop fronts while walking around in Britain sounds old-fashioned to American policemen. However, the latter would envy the lack of hostility from citizens in Britain. They have noticed that the majority of British citizens do not see the police as occupying force but rather helpful servants. Unfortunately, that privilege is unaffordable for most American cities, such as Baltimore or St. Louis, where any attempt to patrol the streets is a risk.

On the contrary, American police officers do not understand the British legal system because there is no constitutional right to possess any form of self-defense weapons outside working hours. An American police officer is always equipped throughout the day, whereas a British policeman must store his equipment in an armory. Moreover, in case of travel logistics due to any reason, such as transporting a suspect or serving as an intermediary between courts, an American police officer could be forced to book a taxi to fly back to America through Taxi to Heathrow airport. On this journey, he will realize the amount of bureaucratic work involved in British proactive policing.

The Verdict: Respect, Not Replication

Well, after a week of ride-alongs and meetings, what is the ultimate conclusion? American police officers do not want to emulate their British counterparts, but they value their approach to policing. They honor the boldness of unarmed intervention. They value the respect that the British population gives its police force. But they also understand that such an approach can never be duplicated. You cannot patrol the streets of Philadelphia, where owning a firearm is your God-given right, armed only with a nightstick and a whistle.

In the end, the American officer sees the British policeman as "a gentleman's police"—extremely well educated, emotionally controlled, and law-abiding. He sees them as highly skilled at managing a crisis but highly susceptible to attacks by a fanatic terrorist or even a madman wielding a machete. For the American officer, the British policeman is nothing more than a social worker armed with the ability to make arrests.

Also read: From London to Cardiff: Understanding the True Distance Between England and Wales

The Shared Struggle: Mental Health and Volume

Where the two sides coincide most perfectly, however, is in their fight against mental health issues and increasing demand for calls. Both countries are experiencing an increase in non-crimes such as welfare calls, suicide intervention cases, and public order disturbances. Both the American SWAT commander and the British Inspector can relate to each other’s exhaustion of being societal janitors. They have the same traumas to overcome, the same interrupted sleeping routines, and the same public disrespect.

To sum up, the impression that the American policeman gets from the British policeman is that he is courageous, too well-armed and over-regulated. His hat is a joke, but his ability to de-escalate is impeccable. There is a commonality of spirit between the two, but also an unbridgeable gap because of the Second Amendment. While the British policeman will never fully grasp the seriousness of the duty of the American officer's duty belt, the American one will forever be impressed by the unarmed bravery of the British one. However, if he has to travel by Luton airport taxi service or Heathrow airport taxi service after a day at work, the logistics of this trip may be one thing that they will share in common.