So nobody without military experience can pass judgement on military matters and nobody without police experience can pass judgement on police matters. I totally disagree not from a PC bullshit angle OR from not having been there bullshit angle BUT simply through engaging my brain.
When one becomes a police officer, when one becomes a member of the armed forces what does that actually mean, who are you actually serving / representing. Far too often it appears not and that what you sought to represent no longer matters or was discarded the moment you passed out.
The police of England & Wales
I... of... do solemnly and sincerely declare and affirm that I will well and truly serve the Queen in the office of constable, with fairness, integrity, diligence and impartiality, upholding fundamental human rights and according equal respect to all people; and that I will, to the best of my power, cause the peace to be kept and preserved and prevent all offences against people and property; and that while I continue to hold the said office I will, to the best of my skill and knowledge, discharge all the duties thereof faithfully according to law.
99% of you posting here want / endorse our police officers betraying that oath and acting totally contrary to the office they represent.
Armed Forces are a slightly different matter and partly irrelevant to this debate
I... swear by Almighty God that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, Her Heirs and Successors, and that I will, as in duty bound, honestly and faithfully defend Her Majesty, Her Heirs and Successors, in Person, Crown and Dignity against all enemies, and will observe and obey all orders of Her Majesty, Her Heirs and Successors, and of the generals and officers set over me. So help me God.
However, there expectations go far beyond that oath. In many respects what is asked of them is greater and the onus on them to carry out their orders and conduct themselves to the highest standards possible even more important otherwise they may as well not exist.
The excuses made and that is what they are were exactly the same ones Germans made about the Holocaust / persecution of Jewish People or more recently in places like Kosovo. For that is the route you follow when you want to show a disregard for what actually being a police officer or a member of the armed forces truly means.
The way to progress is through developing 'relationships'. Hence, why our armed forces try to forge relationships and goodwill with the citizens of Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan despite losing friends long into the 'peace keeping' phase.
It is why our police try to forge 'relationships' with the communities they serve.
The alternative is futile and far more damaging.
N.B I have lost family to war and I grew up next to a police street for 20 years, a street with a vastly experienced police marksman amongst the many police families in that street. He never made a mistake to my knowledge but he was never trigger happy or corrupt. As an adult, as a citizen I think we can all form opinions on whether something is right or wrong without being in every other persons shoes.
An unarmed man being shot dead by a police officer is nothing to celebrate and I am glad to hear today that IPC are slowly waking up to their incredulous interview practices regarding police officers that were anything but independent or fair.