Police in the u.k and u.s.

[identity]

hello folks,
it is seen that the 'bobby' in the u.k. is much more respected than the average 'beat cop' in the u.s. - what do you attribute this to? it is curious that the bobby weilds only a baton as compared to the serious department issue handguns of american cops. yet school kids give the middle finger to a patrol car in the u.s. just for the heck of it.
the 'authority' of the bobby was recently displayed during the london riots when the u.k. police did a terrific job of controlling the mobs armed with truncheons and flexiglas shields. can't imagine that happening in the u.s.
comments?
are american cops let down by governmental attitudes/policies? where does the general irreverence of the u.s. populace come from?

[Libertas]

hello folks,
it is seen that the 'bobby' in the u.k. is much more respected than the average 'beat cop' in the u.s. - what do you attribute this to? it is curious that the bobby weilds only a baton as compared to the serious department issue handguns of american cops. yet school kids give the middle finger to a patrol car in the u.s. just for the heck of it.
the 'authority' of the bobby was recently displayed during the london riots when the u.k. police did a terrific job of controlling the mobs armed with truncheons and flexiglas shields. can't imagine that happening in the u.s.
comments?
are american cops let down by governmental attitudes/policies? where does the general irreverence of the u.s. populace come from?

The 2011 London riots were a disaster for the police whose weakness allowed arson,looting and damage to property on a massive scale.

US police would have cracked down far more effectively.

[Graham]

English police, just weren't prepared for it. Britain doesn't historically get riots. America has had big ones in the past.

[Libertas]

Practice makes perfect, I suppose.

[identity]

still you will agree that police are much more respected in the u.k. than in the u.s.