Thank you PSNI Newry & Mourne for the morning chuckle courtesy of your Facebook Page.
I personally love it when a stodgy old and proper industry like policing let’s down their hair a little and actually talks like the people talk (within reason). Some people call it being more human (ugh), more relatable or just simple being genuine.
Case in point…humor, sarcasm and flippant attitudes can all play great in the right circumstance and situations.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland got just that chance after they caught wind of a bush party (rave) that was going to happen near a quarry so they did exactly what a police agency should do…they decided to prevent crime. They took to Facebook and let everyone know the event had been cancelled and that people should stay away.
But that aside, what came next was awesome. Big surprise…some people whined and cried about the mean police cancelling a party and ruining their summer. (Insert the most sincere “Boo-hoos” and “Whaaaaas” I can muster.) The response??
Dripping with just enough sarcasm to let you know the police really don’t care about the bellyaching and whining. But they did it in a way that also led to an education factor.
So many people only see the immediate impact of what police do and assume the decisions made are short-sighted and reactionary. In this case,
Party>Illegal>Cancel>Done, case closed.
But here is what the police actually see, the big picture.
Party>Drinking>Drugs>Poor decisions>falls>fights>injuries>death>investigations>loss of life>mourning families>Cancel>Ensure it doesn’t go ahead>Educate>Prevent>React
I love the tone that the Newry & Mourne account took with the criticism because most of us (that can see the big picture) would react in that same manner. The question is, would we say it? Do we have the courage to be genuine?
Well done and thanks!
