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Post by Arthur Pringle on Mar 26, 2022 23:12:26 GMT
I think how the police were portrayed in tv dramas of the past reflects an era of riots & strikes where it was both easy to bash the police & for the police to complain about not being appreciated. Much of it is probably just tv police show cliches which aren't seen any more like the 'hard bitten cop', hard drinking, womanising, bigoted, etc. In fact Paul Moriarty claims in the youtube interview earlier in the thread that 'The Gentle Touch' was made in response to government complaints about the way 'The Sweeney' portrayed the police, he says he was told that his character had to be well dressed for instance because Regan & Carter were scruffy.
Not sure how much public attitudes have changed towards the police. 'A.C.A.B' ( All Coppers Are B***ards ) was an acronym popular in the 70's that you wouldn't expect to see or hear today, but it doesn't necessarily mean that people don't still feel that way. We live in an age where certain attitudes once prevalent in the past are no longer acceptable but does that mean they have disappeared? I don't think people have changed that much, sizeable numbers of people still distrust & dislike the police.
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Post by Dirty Epic on Mar 27, 2022 11:20:13 GMT
I think how the police were portrayed in tv dramas of the past reflects an era of riots & strikes where it was both easy to bash the police & for the police to complain about not being appreciated. Much of it is probably just tv police show cliches which aren't seen any more like the 'hard bitten cop', hard drinking, womanising, bigoted, etc. In fact Paul Moriarty claims in the youtube interview earlier in the thread that 'The Gentle Touch' was made in response to government complaints about the way 'The Sweeney' portrayed the police, he says he was told that his character had to be well dressed for instance because Regan & Carter were scruffy. Not sure how much public attitudes have changed towards the police. 'A.C.A.B' ( All Coppers Are B***ards ) was an acronym popular in the 70's that you wouldn't expect to see or hear today, but it doesn't necessarily mean that people don't still feel that way. We live in an age where certain attitudes once prevalent in the past are no longer acceptable but does that mean they have disappeared? I don't think people have changed that much, sizeable numbers of people still distrust & dislike the police. A few good points there Arthur. I think there is still a fairly big Us v Them attitude towards the police in certain areas especially those which have big issues with crime, drugs, gangs and/or crime families ruling things. In that sense these groups seem to have a upper hand over the police and their community as most in the community either go along with their mentality and/or can't or won't fight back without fear of retribution (grasses etc.). Even when they do stand up to them - sometimes at great personal risk, the attitude from the police is seen rightly or wrongly as not interested/not caring and this leaves the police in a situation where both the agressors who are very much anti police but also likewise are the people who they need to be onside with them have that anti police stance too. This is a very different pro or anti police stance from up to the 1980's which was more along the lines of political and social lines and has a lot more in common with say ghetto America and this has more or less been a factor for certain British communities over the last 30 or more years. getting back on topic I think modern TV police drama doesn't really reflect this as much as it should and when it does it either scoots around it for fear of offending or goes the opposite with over the top glamourising of the criminal, gang or urban aspects of it. Such drama tends to be thin on the ground and has seemingly been buried by cosier period pieces which hark back to simpler, happier times - which may or may not have existed. I feel there is a need to sometimes show things which might not be things you like but can make you think about what is really going on around us right now. For it's time The Gentle Touch may have been very accurate and also highlighted some of the challenges for a woman with a senior role in the police and the demands both inside and outside the job it placed on Maggie Forbes. Again seen much worse and was quite visionary at the time too whether it's stood the test of time depends on your own view, I think it's okay but nothing essential for me to watch/have.
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