Thought the program was very interesting last night. Showed how Hampshire police dealt with a fatal on the M3, (was this a repeat?)
One of the key aspects was the Family Liaison Officer (one of the traffic police on scene) having to deliver the terrible news to the next of kin. Very hard viewing.
The interesting thing was the way in which the officer conducted himself after this very difficult and painful task. He noted how its all (regrettably) part of the job, but was clearly repressing some strong emotions. Having to return to the scene, (a now gridlocked M3), seemingly straight away, he gave a very angry dressing down to a woman using her mobile phone in the traffic (-moving but probably 1st gear stuff) through his car window. Then he booked a driver travelling sheepishly down the hard shoulder. Clearly simmering, the officer described what he had just been doing and how the drivers actions were obstructive to the emergency services. 3 points followed.
I have certainly never sought to utilise the hard shoulder inappropriately. I have probably used my handheld mobile occasionally in stationary m/way traffic if my impending lateness is important (childcare/
really important NHS work)
. I tend to think you deserve what you get on the whole though.
However I got the feeling that if the officer's boss had been watching he might have something to say about the way he conducted himself. He was very obviously upset and angry and allowed this to alter the way he intervened in two separate offences. Very confrontational, he was punishing these people for what he had seen and experienced that day.
Its very understandable, its arguably fair enough, and they were committing offences, but should an officer be allowed to get straight back on duty after such an ordeal? We have rules (NHS) about dealing with physical violence and needing time to settle a bit before returning to decision making. Is this the case and the program makers missed something?