Brits abroad

[GordonA]

I'll admit to being somewhat mystified by the way the thread has gone. I wasn't questioning the integrity of the British police, police budgets; the involvement (such as it is) of British police in Magalluf; or activity of foreign nationals in UK. All I really wanted to point out was an incident that I found, as an Englishman, an exhibition of crass English behaviour in a restaurant in Turkey and bemoaned the fact that there are occasions when we can behave like complete idiots when trying to look exceptionally clever. I'm sure my man went away from the restaurant gloating about how he'd knocked his bill down with some tough negotiation skills and bragged all about it to his mates - when all he'd done was actually narrowly escaped from an embarrassing episode due to the diplomatic handling of the issue by the restaurant staff. Not sure how the economics of police protective gear expenditure got into this or anything else to be honest.

That's CBF for you my friend !!

[Colwyn]

And life! When you start a conversation you own the opening remark; you don't own the conversation. Try the latter up at the Masons Arms and you'll get the bum's rush.

[KKOB]

Try the latter up at the Masons Arms and you'll get the bum's rush.

I tried the bitter and got the trots too!

[kevin3]

Hi Stortman
Apologies for going off thread and confusing you, it's a feature of CBF, but trotting bums rushing about has got us back on thread.   
Now where were we.?

[Colwyn]

I tried the bitter and got the trots too!

Ah, weak in the stomach; weak in the head. Eh, KKOB?

[Jacqui Harvey]

I have noted of late that members new to this Forum seem to be upset when a thread goes off course.  This is quite normal for CBF as there is nothing in the rules to make us all adhere to keeping threads to the original subject. 
I find this makes CBF a lot more interesting than some other Forums.

[JohnF]

Actually there is a rule relating to keeping threads on topic, but like everything else about CBF it's all fairly relaxed and left pretty much to the members to steer the course of a topic.

Staying on Topic

Please try to keep to the topic of the original post in a thread.

At least till the original question has been answered

CBF FAQ


JF

[Steve A]

Kevin as you will be aware each force manages their own budget and are in effect individual businesses,this is the way the Home Office and previous Governments wanted it to be.You will also know that there are economies of scale so larger forces get better deals,of course if you look at one issue such as this it is easy to isolate it and suggest savings,however the cost of the changes involved to make procurement central  would outweigh the benefits not to mention the Govt rules of CCT.So your point raises a difficult question I.E. A National Police Service,no individual forces,no local accountability etc.
There are very few savings left to make,believe me and people are working in poor working conditions now,but still turn out every day and night 365 days a year,long hours,unpaid overtime,no refreshment periods etc and consistently abused by the right wing press.
Don't believe what you read,Policing is a difficult and sensitive business,not one Bobby on the ground wants to give poor service but unfortunately are being pushed down that route.
It's either pay for the service you want or don't pay and get the service you deserve.
Rant over Kevin

[Highlander]

I enjoyed reading your post Steve A but a couple of points

....."the cost of the changes involved to make procurement central  would outweigh the benefits"

Q: Over what period -1 year, 5 years, 10 years. 20 years.

"...not to mention the Govt rules of CCT.

Q: Assuming these are not European Rules then why can't they be changed.

Sorry off topic also.

[Steve A]

Highlander Iam pretty certain that in the long run,centralisation of budgets would work.However with there being 43provincial forces all tied into their own contracts and a lack of cohesion or direction from the Home Officeand Govt coupled with the exorbitant costs that any exercise of this type entails in the UK it is my considered opinion that it would be too expensive and / or difficult to do .The Govt has told adepts and services to cut costs but they have not given any direction,that's because they don't know the answers,guess what neither do the Police,Ambulance,Fire Serive,Health Service et al.So I suppose there will be some consultants out there ready to cash in.
CCT has been in for donkeys years in the interests of fairness,transparency etc but never value for money,products and services can be obtained for much less but because it's public money every penny must be accounted for and the cannot be a whiff of discount,favouritism etc ,after all it's the UK