Cops sign up to Facebook to fight ID tags

Exclusive By John Scheerhout

February 09, 2010

| Submit Comments | Comments (60) | Previous | Next

More than 350 people, many believed to be Greater Manchester Police officers, have joined a Facebook group opposing a plan by Chief Constable Peter Fay to introduce name badges, which they say will put them at risk.

Cops have launched an internet campaign against plans to force officers to wear name badges - so revealing their identities to those they lock up – but have signed up to the public protest using their names and pictures.

Officers believe the name badges could allow criminals to track them down – but some seem to have forgotten this risk in their campaign and appear to use real names and pictures on the social networking website.

The M.E.N. revealed on Friday how cash-strapped GMP was spending £21,000 on the badges for virtually all its 8,100 cops and 4,000 civilian staff.

Within hours the Facebook group had been set up and by Monday it had 350 members.

Some even threatened to refuse to wear the badges.

Rebekah Whittaker was one of many who posted comments under what appeared to be a genuine name and picture.

Violent

She wrote: “Is it safe to lock up a violent person who may threaten to track you down... whilst wearing a name badge that gives them free-reign to do just that? Has this really been thought through?

“Although I usually tell victims my name, why should drunks, robbers and paedophiles have a right to know it?”

Aaron Parmar wrote: “They (criminals) get your name, look you up on voters' (register) and do your house or your car over. Yeah, great idea!”

Louise Allen wrote: “The last time I checked we were trying to stop crime not sell someone a car. Ridiculous idea. How about they spend the money on getting us some equipment so we can do our jobs?”

Darren Davies said: “According to those with more than two pips on their shoulder, the people we deal with are our customers! I despair. Don't forget, these days we are supposedly a police service, not a force. It's a wonder they've not proposed 'happy to help' to be printed over our name as well.”

Mick Chisnall wrote: “It's just like the McDonald's badges. You earn stars for politeness, detections, and not leaving sweet wrappers and Coke bottles in Pandas.

“I'm currently on minus two stars.”

Lost the plot

Scott Trimble wrote: “Absolute joke! We have signs up in our toilets at the minute which read 'due to financial restrictions the paper towel dispenser will only be filled once a week'. They can't afford paper towels but they can afford to waste a load of money on something completely pointless like name badges. Someone has really lost the plot this time.”

Sarah Torrance said: “The phrase 'would you like fries with that?' springs to mind!.. I despair!”

GMP is the first force in the country to require all officers to display their names, although others have trialled similar schemes for selected staff.

Plain clothes detectives will not be exempt from wearing the badges, which are similar to those worn by shop assistants and bank clerks.

But police those working undercover or officers wearing riot gear will be allowed to take off the badges.

At the moment, officers are only publicly identified by a collar number woven into their jackets.

| Submit Comments | Comments (60) | Previous | Next

Showing comments 1 to 25 and replies | View All

Panzer 391, Salford (09/02/2010 at 11:24)

Imagine going into work in the mornings has a copper knowing your number crunching managers and the local courts are against you ? Guess they get well paid and try not to go upsetting any of them criminal types that are flourishing in the UK.

d1v1s1onby0, Wigan (09/02/2010 at 11:32)

Strange - I cant find this group on Facebook - why does the article not contain the name of the group?

Vote for David, tory land (09/02/2010 at 11:45)

1. We, joe public are clients or offenders, not customers and those badges are bad news, it may be a breach of the data protection laws.
2 if one becomes detached there is no photo to ID it as in a driving licence.
All the client needs is the police number. This just another nail in gordons "coffin" at the next election

power to the people uk (09/02/2010 at 11:50)

People should know the name of officers,when a complaint is made it will be easier to see which officers are not doing their jobs properly.As for police keeping innocent peoples dna that is totally wrong and just gives more distrust in the police.Furthermore when it comes to social workers and childrens cases going to court in custody cases and care proceedings these interviews should be recorded as their is plenty of abuse in this system also as it is just wrote down and not fairly disputed as it just usualy one sided on behalf of the crown or social services and we know how wrong they get it most of the time ,major overhaul needed in a lot of public services as they are destroying lives.

colbee, Manchester (09/02/2010 at 11:55)

If officers in plain clothes will be obliged to wear name-badges, it surely begs the question 'what is the point of plain clothes?'. As plain-clothes (CID etc) is a form of 'under-cover', name-badges equals no cover -so put them all in uniform and stick Police signs on CID vehicles.
This, and the 'story-telling' fiasco, is just the top-floor flying circus performers fiddling round the edges because they know no better; it is such an attitude that got them where they are so, of course, they are encouraged.
colbee

Ace Riley, outsidethebox (09/02/2010 at 11:57)

We went down this road with techers years ago and look how kids disrespect them.I was never allowed to call any teacher by his first name "familiarity breeds contempt" and it does.

lewnicrebell, manchester (09/02/2010 at 12:05)

******Police Officers should NOT have to wear name badges...It's not safe*******

Black Flag (09/02/2010 at 12:12)

lewnicrebell: "Police Officers should NOT have to wear name badges...It's not safe"

Don't forget - nothing to hide, nothing to fear.

lewnicrebell, manchester (09/02/2010 at 12:26)

Thats the name of the facebook page sumone asked for

david bakey (09/02/2010 at 12:45)

great idea as it will help catch the bullies as you have in the police force like yesterdays jailing of a top officer to 4 years

Father Time, Elsewhere (09/02/2010 at 12:54)

They whinge about the ID card and then people like Aaron Palmer join a public Facebook group about it and get their names published in the press! They should be forced to wear a name badge as a sign of their own stupidity!

d1v1s1onby0, Wigan (09/02/2010 at 12:55)

lewnicrebell

Cheers mate - i have signed up to show my support

Peter M, Mcr (09/02/2010 at 13:05)

What happened to "Nothing to hide, nothing to fear"? Or does it only apply when it suits the police?

d1v1s1onby0, Wigan (09/02/2010 at 13:10)

Father Time, Elsewhere

There is a huge differance between having your name on the internet as a cop - and having it displayed 6 inches away from the nose of the violent scrote you have just nicked.

Also not everyone on that facebook group will be a cop (As an example - I am not)

Father Time, Elsewhere (09/02/2010 at 13:26)

d1v1s1onby0, Wigan,

The difference now is that instead of having their names on badges that they can take off their names are now published in a major regional newspaper and on the Internet for the whole world to see. Well done cops again!

Pandora (09/02/2010 at 14:03)

Excellent idea - if you are a nice clean cop. I can understand why some police officers wouldn´t want their identities revealed however.

colbee, Manchester (09/02/2010 at 15:23)

There's an awful lot of people called Smith, Jones, Davis, Wood etc. who have the same first name and who even work in the same office or department at the same time.
There is also a number of people, having regard to our multi-ethnicity, whose names are much longer than most of us are used to or are difficult to pronounce.
Bearing this in mind, perhaps the genius behind this idea could enlighten those of us who don't see the point of it as to how it will work. By the way, how did the cost get reduced from £42k to £21k - both figures were reported in the MEN which explicitly supported the initiative in its Leader column.

Marquis de Sade et la petit monge tout (09/02/2010 at 15:23)

You can request the name of any police officer by giving his number to a senior officer. Name badges will cause some issue as some crooks, morons etc... will start to call cops by their first names as a wind up when in custody etc..It does take away some of the respect that they used to have and should debatably still have. There isn't really a need for it unless crooks really need to say things like " excuse me Norman old chap.Would you awfully mind taking the cuffs off ?" Whats the point ?Just let them catch criminals and be called what they want.

Almighty God, Salford - vote Green (09/02/2010 at 16:27)

the police are trying to fight something which would make them more accountable to the public whom they *WORK* for? i'd have never guessed that

I Am Cornholio (09/02/2010 at 16:52)

The irony astounds me,
How stupid are SOME of these cops,
Fair enough to not wanting your name on a badge,
BUT
to sign up to an open public group and making comments that clearly show you are a cop,
with name, picture (some including family members), links to profiles etc is asking for trouble,
Well done numptys !!!

me from manchester, manchester (09/02/2010 at 17:13)

cant they just do what other companys do ......let them choose a reasonable name to have on their badge as long as it is registered with the company against their true name .... it works for the large company that i work for

Sensible Stockport (09/02/2010 at 17:42)

iT JUST GOES TO SHOW HOW STUPID SOME POLICE OFFICERS REALLY ARE!

Ace Riley, outsidethebox (09/02/2010 at 18:07)

Abhigya,Abhicandra,Abhinandana,Huang fu, these are just a few asian and chinese first names what chance have you got if you want to address these officers?

Ledbury Lad (09/02/2010 at 19:07)

These officers think nothing about posting their private and confidential information on " facebook" - but worry about name badges. Do these officers not realise that their names are discloseable to the defence - thus suspect in any future trial and/or court proceedings; obviously not. I agree with Mr Fahy entirely , these officers should wear name badges - Mr Fahy should make it a lawful order , and end the matter.

Jo Jones (09/02/2010 at 22:40)

I would like to ask all the people on here who are mocking the intelligence of Police Officers, who they will call on for help when they have been robbed, burgled or assaulted? If you want to mock the Police, dont call them for help!

()

Report

News