Safe Speed Forums

Once again you have failed to answer the question.

You gave me the impression that you were very familiar with the subject of training for recovery drivers. You made statements about recovery training and Traffic Officer training, comparing the two.

I would not have thought you would need too much research to come up with a few factual points.

I know what proposals are being made and what training is currently available to meet the new identity card requirements.

I'm not going to get into a 'we are better than them' discussion, but I refute your statements about Traffic Officer training and well meaning amateurs.

I'll continue to work safely and professionally with your recovery colleagues on the hard shoulder.

Are you saying that the HATO should be and are acting as police officers?

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Pecunia Prius Equitas et Salus

This does seem to be the case, doesn't it?

I am dubious as to the value of PCOs AND HATOs. Let's have all the PCOs and all HATOs who want to be, trained as real police officers and taken on as such.

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www.thatsnews.org.uk / www.thatsnews.blogspot.com / http://thatsmotoring.blogspot.com/

As the criminal justice system in the UK has evolved the realisation has hit that less Police Officers are required I seem to remember a review a couple of years ago I think in Janes's that a PC on duty only uses his attested powres for about 16% of the time on duty the rest of the day he does not require them. So the Gov't decided in order to fund various quango's to reduce the amount of PC's and replace them with "other" options including PCSO's and HATO's.

The majority of PCSO's are now funded partially or wholly by local councils etc and HATO' from the DTF.

The idea is that these posts will free up PC's to do more Police work and not pulling debris from the carriageway, having a brew with the women's institute etc etc

Which removes being proactively involved with the community. Another "good idea" with negative effects that the 'owners' of the ideas ignored.

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www.thatsnews.org.uk / www.thatsnews.blogspot.com / http://thatsmotoring.blogspot.com/

Sorry, which particular part of the quote were you replying to?

I'm sorry to respond to your question before Thatsnews, but I would have thought that the point addressed is the further distancing of Police Officers from the community they serve by no longer visiting the local WI, schools etc. in order to only perform what is now thought to be "proper" police work.

In reality, this interaction with the community is the most proper work a police officer can do. Most people now only talk to a police officer when they get stopped while driving and this does not promote the cohesion between police and policed which is essential to our society.

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Malcolm W.
The views expressed in this post are personal opinions and do not represent the views of Safespeed.

Exactly so!

The HATOs being called "Officers" is, in my opinion, part of the problem. What are they an officer of? Not of the law, so why the need to call them officers?

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www.thatsnews.org.uk / www.thatsnews.blogspot.com / http://thatsmotoring.blogspot.com/

Did we figure out why HATOs are parking in motorway bays clearly marked 'Police Vehicles Only'?

Ah. That's a very good point. They are allowed to use them. But as they are not police officers, why is this the case?

What would happen if a "real" police officer drove up and needed to use the PVO and saw it occupied by a HATO car? Who would have precedence? The Police Officer or the Traffic Officer? Who is not really an officer in accord to any use of the word I can think of, just now.

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www.thatsnews.org.uk / www.thatsnews.blogspot.com / http://thatsmotoring.blogspot.com/

Perhaps they've been told to 'act' like TrafPol and get drivers to slam their brakes on when they see a vehicle parked in these spots. The fact they're a completely different colour and drivers can't tell the difference bless...

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Pecunia Prius Equitas et Salus

But at a distance, police style vehicle, driver and possibly a passenger in yellow police style jackets, who would take the risk?

Policing on the cheap, anyone?

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www.thatsnews.org.uk / www.thatsnews.blogspot.com / http://thatsmotoring.blogspot.com/

I must confess that when I was negotiating the traffic on the M4 in the evening of 01 Jan, and noticed retro-reflective chequerboard livery on a vehicle parked in a 'Police Vehicles Only' bay, I was unable to initially distinguish it from a police vehicle, due to the distance, livery, location, and the fact I was busy bloody driving!

Thankfully I noticed it somewhat before many of the other drivers around me, and so was not taken by surprise when they started jamming their anchors on!

I was rather peeved that by their presence in a location that only police are supposed to be (and their livery) people had mistaken them for the police and made my drive that little bit more dangerous by their subsequent actions. Before anyone trots out that people 'shouldn't be' panic braking in such situations, we should remind ourselves that policy must respond to what people do do, not what they should do.

Or perhaps some of them recognised them as HATOs and presumed by their presence that their might be some kind of emergency ahead and took the decision to brake accordingly?

Either way, their presence at that location could have caused an accident. Then Mr Plod, sorry, Mr Hato would have said: "Wow! What good luck that we just happened to be on the site of this major pileup!" Yeah. Really lucky...

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www.thatsnews.org.uk / www.thatsnews.blogspot.com / http://thatsmotoring.blogspot.com/

Thatsnews, I have been reading your comments intently and you really seem to have a chip on your shoulder about HATO's. Why do you look to the negative in a situation rather than concentrate on making good use of resources that are available?............

Because he perceives them as another aspect of "big government" ?
Apart from their good uses, look at the down-side of the provision of their "services".
Another organisation that needs funding and resources.

Because they are:

1) An unnecessary extra layer of bureaucracy
2) Are ill-trained, yet willing to tell everyone else how to do their jobs
3) Not particularly good at their job
4) A danger to the public

Apart from that, what's not to like about them?

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www.thatsnews.org.uk / www.thatsnews.blogspot.com / http://thatsmotoring.blogspot.com/

Yes, that's about it, jomukuk.

Policing on the cheap that will, ultimately, cost more.

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www.thatsnews.org.uk / www.thatsnews.blogspot.com / http://thatsmotoring.blogspot.com/

What would your opinion be if it was a Police Patrol parked up and not HATO's?

..........and what do you base your expert opinion on?