I’d like some more insight into like the social politics in the station between shifts, like are there clicks and what about officers dating! Are there any rivalarys between different districts or organisations!? 😀 keep the content coming bud love it 👍
@@danielemmons8875 Status 0 - Emergency Assistance State 1 - On Duty State 2 - On Patrol State 3 - At Station (Available) State 4 - Refreshments State 5 - En route to Incident State 6 - At Scene State 7 - Committed - Deployable State 8 - Committed - not Deployable State 9 - Prisoner Escort State 10 - At Court State 11 - Off Duty State 12 - Confidential Message There are plenty more but you start looks at things like "At Scene Over Water" once you go past the first 12.
As someone who's been on both ends of that assistance shout I can't tell you how good it is to have someone like yourself raising this kind of awareness. I think one of the the biggest issues these days is the public don't understand how difficult the job can be. When you're a lone officer on the ground wrestling someone and there's 30-40 bystanders filming but not helping you realise just how valuable each and every colleague is. Thanks for your service Ben, I hope I can retire with half of the stories you have 👏🏻
The thing about making people aware means people like me who wouldn't be sure if police would want my help I will now offer. I have a lot of respect for the police, would have tried to be one if I thought I could handle it but I'm realistic, I don't have what it takes to do your job.
It's a brilliant system. My husband used to drive a taxi, they had a very similar system it must have saved many a life. These videos are over far too soon, I could listen to Ben and his experiences for hours.
As a paramedic in Melbourne, we had a 'duress' button which functioned in exactly the same way as Ben describes. Every time it was used, the management would routinely assume it had been pressed accidentally, and spend as long as 30 minutes trying to ring the officer concerned on their mobile, before deciding that it was a false alarm- especially if they didn't answer, believe it or not. To be fair, accidental duress alarms were not uncommon, but there was a huge difference between what happened to Ben when he emerged from the bushes to find half the Bradford cops there, and what happened to the unfortunate Victorian paramedics who were assumed to have pressed the button in error, who suffered career ending injuries in some cases, and subsequent suicides (mine very nearly included), all of which were then dismissed by management as the deranged actions of paramedics who were "probably" addicted to drugs or alcohol, or had mental issues they hadn't declared and as such were a liability and who deserved it anyway. Keep up the good fight Ben mate.
@Bear Drums We have "Panic Strips" on the walls of the custody suite and Interview Rooms which you press if it kicks off. When they are activated it automatically transmits a message over the station PA system; "URGENT ASSISTANCE REQUIRED, CUSTODY SUITE!" When you're new that's how you establish who is a decent Bobby and who the lazy sods are lol especially the CID lads and lasses who are normally like the "Station cat" very rarely leaving the office. One of the funniest things I experienced following an activation was a DC running behind me to get to the emergency entrance of the charge desk, his breakfast butty gripped between his teeth and mug of tea in hand 🤣 luckily it had all calmed down upon our arrival, but the poor 'tecy had a combination of tea, brown sauce and egg yoke splattered all over his shirt and tie. Fair play to the lad though as most of his colleagues remained firmly rooted to their desks!
Sadly, public mistrust in the police at the moment is at an all time high - for reasons that I'm sure everyone is aware. I love the heart-warming side to many of your videos, like this one. The idea that as soon as you push that button, even though every other officer can hear the screams for help and perhaps even worse, they still go. Reminds me of the stories of the 9/11 firefighters, knowing what they were likely getting into, but stepping forward regardless. That's the sort of loyalty and courage that can never be questioned. I like that.
I like Listening to his stories and it’s nice to hear of the good officers out there, but I have to say as someone who hasn’t ever really broke the law or been in trouble with the police, almost every interaction I’ve had with police has been unpleasant, especially when I was younger. It’s unfortunate but it does feel like those who crave powers and like to assert there power over others are attracted to the police.
@@telbarroso Agreed. I'm the same, never so much as been cautioned. My interactions have been from a victim's perspective - but I've had officer's even give me a lift home when I had a long walk because they weren't busy. There are many good ones, but I've also seen many iffy ones. I too love Ben's videos, even the sad ones.
I remember when I was 12 and I had to cut through the park to get home and a police man asked what I was doing and I said I’m going home and he replied with ‘if I catch you here again I’m gunna smash your face in’ ever since then I’ve not wanted anything to do with them but Ben seems such a top bloke I wish all were like him
@@telbarroso Likewise. The thing is, as a general law abiding citizen, the "good" cops will never approach me. Won't bat an eyelid. Because decent police aren't there to arrest people who slightly stray on the wrong side of the law accidentally. The bad cops - the racist ones, the misogynistic ones etc... you only have to look at them wrong and you can be assured of a hard time and then they will try to arrest you for ANYTHING. Of course that's going to leave a bad impression when it's only the bad cops you interact with. I've had traffic police officers tailgating me at less than half a car length in an attempt to harass and intimidate. I've had the "you look suspicious" etc. Invariably those cops then go on to say, "oh we think you have drugs! Let's search your car!". Won't find anything of course, I don't even drink yet here they are violating my privacy, wasting my time and the worst part? They have the power over me, I can't complain, just got to grit your teeth and get on with it. Sadly nothing has changed and quite frankly, I still hate the police and judiciary system. Not officers individually but the system that is quite obviously corrupt.
Currently listening to 'Handcuffed Emotions' on audible. I'm about 1/3 of the way through. Fantastic stories that really hit home and have actually had my eyes glazing up with emotion as I listen in the car. Fair play Ben, you are shedding a bright light on how much a police officer sacrificies in order to keep that thin blue line from getting any thinner. Massive respect. Andy
I’ve watched Police Code Zero on TV and it’s truly shocking. I would absolutely do my best to help any officer under attack and would hope most able bodied members of the public would do the same.
@Tim B It's very reassuring from our perspective that there are still people out there like yourself, Tim. I certainly hope you never find yourself in that situation, but if you do, please think of your own safety. Being an independent eyewitness can also be crucial. If the situation is very high risk you can still be incredibly valuable by providing a statement of what you saw. All the best matey 👍
😂 in the Marines one would get “crated” meaning, if you F up, you get Crated - Buy a crate of beer for the team. I’m guessing Cake Fines is of the same principle ☺️
Thank you for your service. I cannot comprehend the situations you and you fellow officers have to deal with on a day to day basis. true hero's who never get the recognition they truly deserve. Stay safe.
As a control room comms operator, getting a bad emergency activation is like time standing still but also going at 300%, it’s horrible to listen to your friends screaming for help and you’re sat in your chair and can’t do anything to help other than get them the people they need
You are our lifeline, Laura. You guys and gals don't get nearly enough credit, especially from some Bobbies (you know the type lol they're in every force!) There is nothing more reassuring when you do call in a priority message or "Code Zero" than having an experienced Comms Operator talk back to you in a calm, clear manner. Just hearing that voice reminds you that you aren't on your own and that there is a team of people now working their socks off to bring you assistance. Thank you for your service 🚓💙
As you'll know too, a code 6 with clear disturbance in the background, followed by a welfare check that goes unacknowledged, can send similar chills down your spine :(
We had a similar system, the ‘red’ phone rang and all the department rallied for a serious arrival. I had the misfortune two weeks ago to witness a young police officer being thrown to the ground by a drunk drug user, luckily she wasn’t hurt, and the guy was detained, but she was only doing her job, the level of violence levied to emergency workers is frightening.
Everyone, everywhere, at every time has the inherent right to self defence. If you have a belief that your life is in danger or is about to be placed in danger, you can take steps that are both proportionate and reasonable to stop or prevent an attack. If someone was for example threatening to punch you, you may be found in court to have acted reasonably if you punched them first, once, and knocked them out. You would probably not be found to have acted reasonably if you punched them many times after the first punch, even though the threat of the attack disappeared with your first punch. You would certainly be very unlikely to be found to have acted proportionately if you stabbed or shot them. The boundaries of reasonableness and proportionality are mutable but if you can give a court the impression that you were definitely in fear of your life or felt that someone else’s life was being threatened similarly, then they are the arbiters on whether or not someone undergoing that experience would have been reasonably justified in doing what you did. The only reason I know any of this is from military service and lectures on op-law, the law of armed conflict and seminars on rules of engagement.
@@markelliott6987 Not necessarily. Hitting someone fifteen times could be deemed proportionate or hitting someone once could be deemed excessive, depending entirely upon the circumstances in which those actions took place.
Brilliant Ben I use to live near the Toller Lane Station on Jesmond Ave. seeing the cars you guys used I've always watched and it was brilliant. Keep it going fella.
Another good video Ben. Yes, you never forget that tone that use to come through the radio when everyone stops and you get instant goosebumps and your hair stands on end. Then you all scramble asap... Do you remember the early days when airwaves first came out,? Lots of accidental activations and all you could hear was the other end talking or saying "Oh ballocks, iv pressed the orange emergency button"!.. Thanks again and keep safe. Dan
Lol the transition from VHF to TETRA/Airwave was mind bending, wasn't it. No more "Point To Point" now it was "Private Call", no more rushing to grab one of the 10kg Motorola batteries you knew was fully charged at the start of shift etc 🤣 Plus all the new fangled wizardry such as being able to use the handsets as a mobile telephone and even text other radios and mobiles?! How annoying was it when you had a Bobby in a car with both a handset and a vehicle set and they transmitted on one and didn't turn the volume down on the other! If you had an earpiece in you'd be deafened by the feedback! The system isn't perfect, and you still get the odd "dead-spot" out rural, or in some buildings, but when introduced in the early 2000s the clarity of the transmissions was so impressive compared to what we'd been used too.
@@residentelect Ha, yes the good old feedback. And the Bobby's kept talking even when it was howlng and screeching they carried on trying to talk... That never happened on the old analog system, even on the rare occasions you asked for talk thru. But yes the sepura's were much lighter and more use than the old Motorola MTH2000s MASC Encrypted radios that were big and heavy. Or back in my Dad's day, the Motorola HT600, bigger and heavier. I think he once used the radio to put a window through as it was bigger and heavier than his truncheon😂 How it's good to remendis👍
Appreciate what you guys go through much more so since watching your content. I hope you and fellow officers know the vast majority of us civilians respect and are grateful for what you do for us. It must give one a warped perspective of the public having to deal with the worst people all the time.
I couldn't imagine working as a pc for a day, let alone full time. The stress would kill me, especially with a lot of the anti police sentiments nowadays, I don't think I would feel safe. Thank you and your fellow officers, former and current, for keeping us safe.
I can't use my hands very much due to disability so I'm glad it's now on audiobook and I can listen to it (you don't do a bad job of narrating it either!)
Having responded to assistance shouts as a PC and also hearing them in the control room in my previous life it's the worst sound and the worst feeling. I'll never forget one of the first I went to, my oppo got the car to 124mph on a straight road, single carriage way. Everyone went, must have been half the LPA turned out, thankfully they were okay at the end but it's an arse puckering moment. Thanks for the videos Ben
Hey Ben if you do a speaking tour. I will deffo come., As part of a SAR Team I’ve worked with many coppers and have Massive respect to you all, although there was a surprising amount that were scared of the dark. X
Thank you Ben, for giving us civilians a chance to see into the other side and a glimpse into your world. I could never be a police officer, I don't have the smarts or the stones - and I don't say that to put myself down because I'm good at other stuff, but I say it to highlight the work you all do and the bravery you have. I truly enjoy your channel and the chance to see what it's like from the other side.
Just need to be street smart. Being smart education wise lot of the public will not connect with you and I don’t agree police should recruit graduates.
So to speak... I love your videos Ben!! You've really opened my eyes to what police officers have to face and witness on a daily basis. I find your content so interesting, I've recommended friends and family to watch your videos too. Really respect you for being so honest about your PTSD, and for raising awareness for it and mental health in general.
Panic button is the same in the ambo service - Can't describe the chill you get when you hear that tone on your radio and you are listening in to the crew. I think it goes open channel for 30 seconds and then COMs decide whether to close it off for crews not on scene.
I grew up near Manor Lane nick in Shipley many moons ago and that was good and bad! Every bobby knew me grew up, not because I was a bad un but because of where we lived, we went to school with their kids, they all knew my Dad and we grew up respecting the police. We wouldn't dream of fighting with the police even if we had something to be arrested for. Ben you have my utmost respect, love the videos and love the book. Hope you are coping with the mental health your videos and book are helping me, cheers Bro. Si
Thanks Ben, i've seen some of this moments that someone must push that button, on police interceptors , and i feel the worry too when i was watching, and i believe that was not even 1% of the feeling ,the officer must feel. So, that's why i have so much respect of all the men and women of the police.
Talked to a police officer over a few beers about attacks against officers. He relayed a case he was involved in as a responding officer. Some neo nazis had found out the private address of a police officer who had worked on arresting one of their comrades. A group of maybe 20 or 25 had gathered in front of his house demanding he come out. Some rocks were thrown at windows. The officer was not home though…but his wife and two kids were. Wife was in sheer terror and called the precinct. Within minutes, about every officer within a 20 km radius dropped everything they did and responded to the call. There may have been some bloody noses and heavy bruises while „pacifying“ the area around the house. In the end, he remarked that a SWAT team that happened to be on a training exercise nearby that day was already en route as well, fully kitted up. „Those idiots still to this day have no idea how lucky they were, because the team arrived a little late. Had they arrived earlier, there would have been a lot of blood. And very few questions.“ This event also made the rounds in the local neo nazi scene. They seemed to have realised that what they did was really the bad idea of bad ideas.
I remember being on a ride along. Was sat down enjoying a cuppa and all I hear is a beep and see every radio in the room light up. Hats off to them they don’t hang around
In the olden days before Tetra provided a button to press it was a case of pressing the transmit button and shouting the word “ASSISTANCE” thankfully technology has advanced. The 20 second broadcast is heard by the troops but the FIM will hear what’s going on for much longer than that. 😅
I know that there are a lot of dickheads out there. And I have seen on tv what you guys have to put up with. But can I say that I for one, respect and appreciate all the the police do. And even more respect for you Big Ben, for doing these videos. I look forward to seeing you, and listening to your stories (which you tell so well, by the way!). Keep doing what your doing cos not not only are they helping you, they are helping lots of people that are watching your videos. Sending lots of love and big respect to you Big Ben. Xxxxxxx
Code zero the sound that literally sends chills through and officers body, I would have a guess and say that an officers body and mind well and truly goes into priority overdrive with nothing else more than the thought of backing up one of their own. I can only hope that if ever I hear an alert tone of an officer code zero that I'm able to assist in some way shape or form as no officer should have to suffer whilst protecting the community.
I know you’re no longer an officer but from what I know, I think you have worked in my area Bradford/Wakefield. I know Police interceptors filmed a lot around there and operated miles from my house as it’s close to a big police station. I just want to thank you for keeping us safe from the wrong ‘uns. When I hear the police sirens or see the helicopters taking off I hold my breath for you guys.
I have the ultimate respect for police , the judicial system in the U.K. is a joke , something horrific happened the other day at the end of my road but the offender was set free later that night . This is not the police fault , but their hands are tied . This is why people take the law into their own hands and it seems the police have less and less power every year it gets worse . I’d much rather call a friend than the police .
If it’s the same as ambulance it’s 12 seconds I’ve heard it 3 times in my short career so far twice in one night and the other was during a major incident
My nearest backup officer is 7 min away in the next town. After that it's 15 min. I waited 15 min with man who was holding a gun to his head and holding his wife hostage before the first uniform got on scene. He had set fire to two houses and. Garage. I stood in the yard negotiating with him for 40 min while everything he owned burned to the ground around us. He finally gave up and we took him into custody.
Love the content! You do such an honest & exact account of what happens on jobs, thrown in with great humour. Trying to explain to friends or family can be difficult but you do it with such ease 👍.I Work with the Irish Police service (Garda Siochana) what's your take on other police services? Is there anything that they do you admire or the opposite, to heavy handed for example. For example, the Spanish police from what I've experienced don't take any crap & are somewhat feared. Is that a good thing or bad thing? Appreciate your take on it, keep up the good work & look after yourself. Awesome videos pal 👍💪
Don't think the old brass in AGS would approve of ex-members 'spilling the beans', only the 'official/approved' line allowed out - the 'Blue glue' keeps everything bottled up and rules forever......for the moment....!😎😎
Great video as usual Ben! Hope you are doing well. Maybe you could do a video about special forces or hostage situations (i.e. protocols or similar)? 👍🙂
Being in the police is a big family. Whether or not you get along with your colleague or not, you know they will drop everything to help and you will do the same. And you will also do the same with the other emergency services as well
Hearing "gun gun gun, bang" would mess me up. For that split second, you wouldn't know if that's a colleague or a MOP. We have them on the paramedic radios but luckily, I've never had to use it :)
Really interesting. Good to know that UK officers have a quick, one-button, hands-free method to call for help. Often in the US we see an over-reliance on the radio during really dangerous confrontations where the officer is busy shouting for help on the radio instead of concentrating on winning the fight and staying alive! There's a mantra that "you have everything you need to win the fight with you. Police tools, skills, attitude. So win the fight first" that should be followed but often isn't. That said, a wrestling match in the UK is a different situation of course to a gunfight. If you're wrestling, you can probably hold on til backup arrives. In a gunfight, seconds count where you have to drop that perp NOW before they drop you. One shot, one hit, can be enough. There isn't time to call backup until afterwards.
Ben thanks for your videos mate got too admit you got a great sense humour. you made me laugh when you was interceptors very quick witted and very clever. where can I get the PTSD t shirt? Glad your ok.
If I was a Cop responding to an Officer in distress, I'd much rather have a radio then a whistle like they used to because a whistle can't tell you EXACTLY what's going off and EXACTLY where it is, you just know someone needs help in the general direction of High Street or Station Road.
I love your stories and see how difficult they can be sometimes to recount. You're very brave in what you're doing and I'm thinking of doing the same with dv to help others.
You're videos have made my opinion on the police change, used to have blind hate for em, now I'm seeing a human that just wants to go home at the end of the night
Without trying to come across as a troll, there's one thing I don't understand. At 0.22 you said that "you've pressed it [Code Zero] loads of times and it's not even activated" Then at 0.27 "When you do press it, you're supposed to press it down for "I think" two seconds and then let it go and it makes this "strange alarm". The thing that confuses me is that you also say at 6.31 "Ironically one of the bushes must have pressed it" Obviously I'm being slightly pedantic but if it doesn't always work for you pressing it, how is a bush going to apply enough pressure to press it for long enough? I appreciate everything you did for the force, although that was a bit of a contradiction
Another great video. Thanks Ben. If for instance you are on the border of say Bradford and another area, does the call come out eventually to the officers in the other area that you're close to? Wow another book, adding it to my next paycheck list.
There is nothing that gets my adrenaline going harder than when that warbler goes on the radio. I don't think a civvy would understand the connection we have to our brothers and sisters in uniform.
Would love to hear about any cake and bun fine stories. What was the most frustrating time when you took someone to court got all the evidence together and the judge lets them off.. .
Whats the procedure if a Police officer is facing a gun ? Does everybody have to wait for the armed Police to arrive or do the unarmed officers responding to the emergency call just ignore the risk and wade in ?
Hi Ben... Hope you see this. I'm a SC in WY and I would just like to say how much I love your videos and how I can relate to a lot of your content. It's great to watch. Keep up the good work and would be great to have a chat one day.
Lookin good Ben 👍 What’s the code for “Urgent assistance. Flat tire, need a brew and a cup cake; the bloody car Jack’s missing again, I was supposed to be off ten minutes ago” Red button - you never want to touch it, but you pray it works if you ever do. Similar to the 80’s QRF!! Army Radio call for those on stag, except then you need a 6 digit grid reference from a field map you don’t possess. It’s more like a “Press this to hear guardroom laughter” while they laugh at the soothing sounds of DMS boots pounding flesh and the distinctive clunk donk mosh of pick elves on forehead. Happy days…….. pick axe handles, a foot patrol’s weapon of choice - like an ancient asp except it’s sh1t for everything except light chaffing. Keep healthy pal 👍😉
