No crime today? 21 on-duty police officers play on dodgems
A crowd of on-duty police officers were spotted on the dodgems at a fair, sparking outrage from revelers who say they should have been fighting crime.
At least 21 police men and women were seen on the fairground ride in full uniform at Hull Fair, dailymail.co.uk wrote.
Their antics have been met with fury as Humberside Police have repeatedly been reported saying they are stretched and understaffed.
The force made a total of four arrests over the course of the eight-day event with 40 officer’s on-duty each day.
All the arrests were for minor offenses, including being drunk and disorderly, and involving a mother in charge of a child.
Among the thrill-seeking officers spotted on the bumper cars was Chief Superintendent Darren Downs, whose annual salary is £80,000.
He later posted online: “Fantastic afternoon at the fair.”
Inspector Scott Snowden tweeted pictures of his colleagues, saying: “Cops having a bit of well-earned fun with people at the fair!”
He told the Hull Daily Mail, the reaction the force received at this year’s event was ‘fantastic’, telling the newspaper: “The kids have really enjoyed seeing us.
“We have had a lot of people asking where the armed officers were which is good to see people interested.
“Everyone has had a really good time and that’s why I was looking forward to the event so much.
“It’s the best part of policing. You get to meet the public who appreciate that officers are there to look after them.
“People were coming up to us thanking us which was really touching and very humbling.”
But one officers’ dodgem ride has not gone down well with locals, who slammed Humberside’s decision to deploy so many officers when so few arrests were made.
People on Twitter reacted furiously, with one saying: “Please don’t ever complain again of shortage of police.”
Over 30 people were left dangling for seven and a half hours the day before the officers were filmed frolicking when the Power Tower ride broke down.
Laura Blackett, 20, was one of them. She told The Sun: “It took hours before any police turned up.
“I thought if they were there they were off doing other important things — not riding dodgems.”
Mugging victim Mike Cowell, 36, added: “They should be out catching crooks. That’s what they’re paid for.”
Hull resident Amy Williams, 22, branded the footage of the officers enjoying the ride a ‘joke’, while Peter Sykes, 64, said: “They obviously had time on their hands.”
Deputy Chief Constable Andy Mcdyer claimed the officers were ‘taking a fiveminute break’ when they were all seen riding the bumper cars at the same time.
He told the newspaper: “Officers policing the event took a five-minute break to have some fun.”
Police have revealed the number of people arrested during this year’s Hull Fair as tens of thousands of people descended on Walton Street for the popular annual event.
Inspector Scott Snowden said just four people were arrested over the eight-day event with officers enjoying an untroubled week.