Trollheart

The fuzz, the cops, the pigs, the filth, Police, Guardians of the law, call them what you will: what is your general impression of law enforcement in your town/city/state/country? Do you feel they are fair and unbiased (towards you or others) or do you feel hassled every time you hear a siren or see a patrolman? Have you ever been in trouble with the police, and if so, how did it go? Did it/does it affect your relationship with them/their relationship with you now?

Here in backwards old Ireland I've had little need of the cops, Garda as they're called here. I can only recall twice I found myself inside a cop station, the first being when I received a very scary threatening note through my door, warning I could be killed. It was addressed to the wrong house, but I was hardly going to go and re-deliver it! So I had to bring it down to the Guards and explain what happened. They took care of it and I heard no more back.

The other time was - is, kind of ongoing though I don't expect to hear anything back - when I was scammed out of ten grand two years ago. I had to make a report but they wanted me to go down later for a full interview, which they said could take up to three hours! I couldn't leave Karen alone for that amount of time so I never got around to it. On the occasion I was there though they seemed quite helpful and friendly.

I know even our little toy police have corruption in their ranks; some are affiliated with/on the payroll of the local criminal gangs, and most of them are certainly not above using their position to gain favourable treatment, sort out problems outside the normal channels, or line their pockets. I'm sure every police force is the same. But overall I'd say, while we have little of the day-to-day incidents that go on in, say, America or even England, the Guards don't have a reputation of being biased or racist, though of course they very well may be.

And you?

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Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018