Praise for our Police …

VOCABULARY

Men and women who work for the police force are doing the most amazing job and it is about time they got some praise .We would be lost without them when times get tough; if our house is burgled; if we are attacked and robbed in the street; if we are involved in an accident that maybe wasn’t our fault we just need to call 133 and help is on its way. I must admit, I could have done without the police ringing my doorbell at 2.30am because our neighbours’ alarm had gone off and they weren’t at home, but I suppose that is also part of their job.

Yes, the police are always there for us in our time of need and that is why I find it so disgusting that they have to put up with such abuse. You only have to go to the city on a Saturday night to see drunken youths shouting abuse or offending police officers, while they try to break up a fight or keep the peace. Only last week, a Czech woman, who had allegedly committed 19 acts of theft, had to go to court after threatening to bite a policewoman, saying she had AIDS and hitting the officer with her handbag.

However, sometimes the police have to put up with much worse. During demonstrations for example, when they have to protect thousands of protesters. Watching the awful scenes of violence coming from Hamburg two weeks ago, I had the feeling of déjà vu. Protesters were once again destroying a beautiful city, terrifying locals and injuring numerous members of the police force. Scenes that we have witnessed from many other cities where the G20 meeting has been held; thousands of anti-G20 activists setting fire to cars, building and burning barricades and, worst of all, attacking police officers with fireworks, catapults and iron bars.

There were an estimated 100,000 demonstrators in the city, many of whom wanted to peacefully express their views on climate change and capitalism, however, I am sure that at least half of the protesters had no idea what they were protesting about and had just come to Hamburg to cause havoc. Haven’t we got enough violence in the world, without encouraging more?

There was total chaos in the prosperous city when protesters came from all over Germany and Europe, many of whom had their faces covered with balaclavas and were waving “Smash G20” banners and chanting "the whole of Hamburg hates the police". Do you really? I find that disgusting. Police from all over the world are doing an amazing job to keep us safe. It is the very same people who were chanting that they hate the police that will be the first to call them for help when they have been attacked. The same people who pray to God that the police will turn up when a crazy terrorist starts beheading diners in a restaurant or stabbing passersby randomly as they go about their daily lives. When a member of the police force goes out to work in the morning, their families are never 100 percent sure that they will return in the evening.

Members of the police force are heroes and should not be treated this way by some ignorant people. Of course, the police have to fight back with water cannons when they are being struck by iron bars, having stones thrown at them or sworn and spat at – wouldn’t you do the same?

Look at the amazing job the police did in London and Manchester when Islamic extremists started to massacre tourists and locals on London Bridge. Without giving a moment’s thought for their own lives they ran towards the three terrorists, armed only with batons, and tried to force the terrorists back. Some were killed and many were injured. I really admire the police and say thank you, it is time you were shown more respect! it is about time – es ist Zeit praise – Lob to burgle – einbrechen to rob – berauben I must admit – ich muss zugeben to do without sth. – auf etw. verzichten I suppose – ich nehme an disgusting – widerlich to put up with sth. – etw. aushalten abuse – Beschimpfung to offend – beleidigen allegedly – vermutlich to commit – begehen theft – Diebstahl to go to court – vor Gericht kommen to threaten – drohen awful – furchtbar to destroy – zerstören to terrify sbd. – jmd. in Angst und Schrecken versetzen locals – Einheimische to injure – verletzen police force – die Polizei to witness sth. – Zeuge sein bei etw. to set fire – anzünden catapult – Steinschleuder iron bars – Eisenstangen prosperous – wohlhabend balaclavas – Sturmhaube to chant – skandieren to behead – enthaupten to stab sbd. – jmd. niederstechen passersby – Passanten randomly – wahllos heroes – Helden to be treated – behandelt werden to swear – beschimpfen to be spat at – bespuckt werden armed – bewaffnet baton – Schlagstock