A police officer wrote this on March 15, 2021 at 5:27 pm. I’ve reproduced it here because I found it humbling, worrying and really quite frightening.
‘I’m a cop of 20 years. I’m leaving. I’m done.
I’m done with the duplicitous liars and twisters of truth in Parliament, who have destroyed policing in order to further their own careers. I’m done with those charlatans and snake oil salesmen and women who spread their bile, whose acid eats away at society and it’s values and future. I’m done with the utter lack of consequences for their corruption.
I’m done with duplicitous liars and twisters of truth in the media and “journalism” with their spin, lies, misrepresentation and half truths. I’m done with their 24 hours news, their twitter echo chambers, their pile on tactics and agendas, in order to invent the next “big” story or extend the life of the old one. I’m done with their sickening pretence that they are on some crusade to make the world a better place.
I’m done …
I’m done with the socially corrosive special interest groups who want to be top of the victimhood ladder and are prepared to burn the world and anyone different to them, to ensure they are heard above anyone else. Their constant screaming for attention and ever more fantastical claims, that bear no scrutiny, but which they know they will never be challenged on, because, you know “cancel culture”.
I’m done with the public, their violence, their lying, their abuse, their spitting, their constant screaming for instant gratification and destruction of anything and everyone around them if they don’t get their own way, like a bunch of petulant adolescents. I’m done with their demand for every right real or imagined and their utter lack of personal or social responsibility to each other.
I’m done with the senior officers who will jump on any bandwagon, throw any officer under a bus for doing their job, do anything at all to get that next rank and more power. I’m done with them pretending to be cops, when they are just politicians in uniform. At least real politicians don’t seek to hide their stench and are there for all the world to see, in all their obnoxious, odious glory.
I’m done with the far left and far right, two sides of the same violent, socially corrosive and destructive coin, trampling over anyone and everyone, destroying anything in their paths, if it doesn’t conform to the “right” narrative or world view. I’m done with their red and black flags, their balaclavas, their violence, bullying and intimidation. I’m done with them calling themselves Nazis or Antifa and pretending they are any different to the opposition. I’m done with their anti locution and persecution of anyone that isn’t on their side. I’m done with their cheerleaders in the media, who adopt their cause but absolve themselves of any responsibility for the harm they cause.
I’m done with the Soviet era scale bureaucracy that stops me doing my job, the projects that strangely never fail, the nepotism in the promotion boards and the boys and girls clubs in policing that look after each other, no matter how incompetent and screw everyone else who isn’t in their gang. I’m done with their self promoting cliques and associations, they hide behind when they are professionally incompetent, but always useful for a photo opportunity to make the force look good with whatever group is having their week or is fashionable that day.
I’m done with the (few) corrupt cops who drag all our names through the mud and the false narrative that the vast majority of front line cops are tainted.
I’m done seeing my brothers and sisters on the front line battered, criticised, unsupported and demoralised. I’m done with their fortitude, inherent goodness and sense of service, that makes them run forward, knowing the armchair critics will crucify them after. I’m done with their false hope that things will improve, that society will value them. I’m done with them being lied to by our leaders and then lying to themselves, that, maybe, just maybe, this time those leaders can be trusted, I’m done with seeing those youngster suffer and age far too fast as a decent life passes them by as they waste their lives on this.
I’m done with grandstanding cops, dancing for YouTube, wearing rainbows as self promotion, kneeling for a twitter photo, lecturing the public about things that shouldn’t concern us, forgetting we are the law police, not the public morals police, Im done with them doing anything other rather than actual policing. I’m done with the false narrative that suggests this is the norm and that all cops are more interested in being woke social workers than doing their job. A false narrative we have facilitated by allowing this self indulgent, shameless self promotion of a few individuals, to proliferate.
I’m done with cops being told they are somehow lesser without a degree and that instincts are bias and bad. That experience and street knowledge is discriminatory. I’m done with the lies that the College of Policing is on our side. That the courts value and support us. That the IOPC isn’t an insidiously untrustworthy organisation out to get us. That the HMIC understands policing.
I’m done with the anxiety, the anger, the constant state of heightened arousal in case of danger, even when I should be feeling safe in my own home. I’m done with the corrosive damage to my physical and mental health, sacrificed for a country and public, serving both in green and blue, for a country that couldn’t give a toss.
I’m done with the deaths, the suffering, the violence, the dishonesty, the predatory behaviour and all the other public faeces that you ask us to clean up.
I’m done with the the indescribable levels of frustration, rage, hate and despair that all the above has filled my life with, when all I wanted to do was look after the good people and lock up the bad. I’m done with the cynicism and distrust that it’s left me and the times I’ve put my family last, to ensure I was there for someone else’s. I’m done with the pain it causes them to see what this job does to us.
I’m a cop of 20 years service and I’m done with it. Sort your own mess up. Or don’t, and let it all collapse around you.
I’m done, and really don’t care anymore.’
This frightens me, and it should frighten you.
I hope it’s not to late to remind the few, when ill of them they speak,
That they are all that stands between the monsters and the weak.
And, while you’re here, let me share some news. No Ordinary Day, the truth behind the murder of WPC Yvonne Fletcher, was published by Ad Lib on June 8th 2023. If you serve or served, know someone who served, or you have an interest in how our police service ended up in the state it is today, its a book you should read. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ordinary-Day-Espionage-terrorism-corruption/dp/1802471448/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1691325061&sr=8-1
Matt Johnson 
Well said.
There is more than enough blame to go around.
Don’t blame him a bit for stepping away.
For all you assholes out there maybe you and your family will be next victims and no one shows up.
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Excellent write up and I couldn’t agree more.
Our Police Force needs support, not constant lies and slagging off by the know it all media.
Their job is hard enough with the changing attitude of the youth of today and the soft sentences handed out by courts.
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I still believe the vast majority of the public are behind the Police. The issue is that we are not heard, because we are law abiding decent people, not screaming keyboard warriors who bring nothing whatsoever to humanity.
We the majority need a voice , whether that be an individual or group so we can heard not silenced.
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Couldnt have put it better myself. I was lucky to retire last year after 30 years service, these words echo everything i feel about the Police and this country.
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This so upsetting, what has our our country become, we have let our police down badly. I am a ex 30 serving officer and was proud of the uniform I wore and felt I had the support of my fellow officers, clearly not the same now, no respect. Xd
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I fully understand your ststement and reasons. Thank uou for your service. There is nothing better than a good copper. Nothing better than a fair copper and the respect I had for you when I grew up and I still have. Thank you.
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I don’t disagree with a single word. The Job is a constant ordeal with very little reward. Pay and overtime frozen, pension contracts torn up with the leadership telling their staff there was nothing they could do.
The leadership and management became progressively worse over the past decade and would walk over anyone to reach their career path.
Clearly not all, however, their was a new breed of graduate officers with zero life experience who had very little interest in doing The Job. For many it was the kudos of telling their Uni mates they were Police Officers. The ones that did show an interest was purely interested in heir promotion. I found them lazy and arrogant, which is how they approach the public.
I resigned after 17 years and my only regret is that I stayed far too long. Since leaving I’ve been asked on numerous occasions about joining The Job and if I could give any advice. Every time I give an honest answer… Don’t do it!
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Sorry to see you go Matt. Eloquently put, tho. I left last year and agree with everything you’ve said. Work with rocks and nature now, gone off people in a massive way after 27 years service. Stuff the last three, woke up stressed each day and not looking forward to work. Told me it was time to go. Best of luck to you.
Mims
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WOW, Powerful words, Well Said. Enjoy your life enjoy your family, Life is Too Short.👍🏻
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How sad and frightening. In a very complete and damning narrative on society today the author has summed up all that is bad in society – in what has been a gradual but increasingly rapid deterioration.
Unfortunately the onset and acceleration of the Internet,I feel, has spawned ‘keyboard experts’ in every field and provided a lighting fast conduit for bullshit, hate and instant reaction and a platform for all – good and bad. I hope the author can put this behind them and live a satisfying life. I thank the author for his care, principles and service to the community.
I can’t but help sum it up by saying that the lack of respect people seem to have for each other and the ‘me first’ attitude is at the root most of today’s problems. Life seemed so simple back in the day!!!
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In order for evil to triumph, all that’s required is for good men to do nothing. Be one of the good men.
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You are not alone in that train of thought.
Thank God I convinced my lad not to follow in my footsteps and join.
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You can’t blame him for this view. The police are in an impossible position. Damned if they do and Damned if they don’t. As he says. They’re there to uphold the Law not public morals. Why have we reached a point where it’s ok to verbally abuse a Police Office i.e chanting F**k the Police or to assault. Our Police already have 1 hand tied behind their back and close to being totally castrated as a Police Force. Government SORT IT OUT!!!!
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Very well written piece and my heart goes out to you and all the Police. I have Police in my close family so I know first hand what a difficult time you are having. There are plenty of people who do appreciate you but their voices are not heard often enough. I know first hand about the amount of time your paperwork takes – why they cannot let you get on with policing and spend less time filling in forms. Things were so different when I was young – the Police were respected and admired but those days appear to have gone – the young especially respect no-one. You do an amazing job – every single day but even more during this pandemic with no thanks from the government or those in charge who are supposedly looking out for you. I hope if you do leave you will find happiness in what you do in the future but please know that I (and others) greatly appreciate what you do for us every day.
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Hi Matt, I feel so sorry that you feel you have to leave after giving 20 years to such a fine service. But, as you outlined, it’s not the service it used to be and it’s the tail now that’s wagging the dog.
The powers that be are to be a force for good to those that uphold the law. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil … a revenge to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. Romans 13.
Sadly today good is called evil and evil good.
If your mind is made up to leave the service I hope you find alternative employment soon, but, it’s people like you Matt that we need in the service to uphold the law …. but sadly, many times support from the higher authorities is found wanting.
Keep safe my friend and move forward.
Regards.
Henry Hugh McAuley – Belfast.
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I suspect that 90% of the adult population would feel horror at this, and would concur with the feelings expressed.
Where oh where is the vehicle for this statement to be shown to the general public . So much commonsense spoken here, why do the vociferous minorities and woke warriors get to call the shots.
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There are no more words my police brother. I was proud to serve for 38 years, but little did I think that the best day of my service would be my last, and I have never set foot in a station since !!
Good luck … and Godspeed 🙏
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Welcome to the retired cops world, it takes time but we all get to the stage you’re at sooner or later.
Everything you’d said is true and I fully agree with it. Problem is your cynicism is already imbedded in you and it’ll take a while for it to diminish- if it EVER does.
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This saddens and troubles me greatly. This country has been poisoned by woke culture and political interference. In our police force. Gone are the days of good old fashioned policing when we had boots on the street, but with budgets being starved of resources and man power depleting. It’s a more violent and greedy world we now live in. Drugs knives and guns added to the mix of dangerous crime corruption and political whims no wonder he feels the battle to serve get harder. This officers testament says it all, I can only wish him and his family good luck for the future.
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It is without doubt a great shame that this has occurred But no great surprise. That a 20 year veteran should be brought to this point is an absolute disgrace, and can only be the fault of those who they work for. Perhaps this one act may make them and the public see just what this men’s to us all.
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True and honest words , just telling those of us who believe in common decency and law abiding rules of the nation those of us who are or should be glad to live in this country of ours with the greatest health service the greatest monarchy the greatest privileges around the world we should be rejoicing , when instead people are trying to ruin all we’ve always stood for the me brigade and BLM and all the rest need to get a grip and thank god for the democratic country we live in where we can live in peace and harmony when we are allowed to without all this drama of trying to take our peaceful liberty away why , what do you all want ???? Most other countries would die for what we have
Live love and respect one another it’s not too much to ask for the freedom and democracy we all should be soo thankful for
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Sadly I Agree with most of your article friend. Very well written. I’m an officer with 18 years service . 16 front line, 2 in CID.
I agree with much of what’s written, particularly about politicians in Ivory towers. The only thing I would add it’s worth remembering that you’ll get about two jobs per year that make the job worthwhile.
This year Mine was getting someone put away for 8 years for stabbing his partner.
we deal with a small percentage of the population. Who can’t behave or can’t manage their own lives.
I still firmly believe the vast majority of the decent members of society whom unfortunately, we rarely come into contact with, as their not vulnerable, not stupid who and manage their own affairs really respect and appreciate the work the police do.
When I’m not at work I associate with people not connected with the police, I believe this helps me maintain a balanced view of things.
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I’m very sad reading this! No I’m not I’m devastated. I have always held police in the highest respect. Always have always will. I am gutted for the normal Joe Public. But most of all I am devastated for you. A person just doing his job to the very best of his ability. Take care I wish you well ❤️
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I can’t fault any of this article.
Try reading, The Establishment by Owen Jones. It’s not an easy book and while it sheds light on the situation, it makes you madder the more you read!
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As a retired cop now working for the Mickey Mouse NCA (sorry, I need the money) I realise what a fantastic organisation I once belonged to and I echo every word the author of this article has written. Nobody should criticise a cop unless you’ve been there. Being abused, being assaulted, being threatened only for a bent lawyer to lie at Court to get the guilty off. Like you my friend, I’m done!!!
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The people of this country no matter where they are on the ladder of life from top to bottom or in between. Owe you all a massive amount of respect. I’ve not been angel as I’ve moved through life. Only a couple of times have I hated police. Not the full police force just a small number when they lied. If we had been found guilty myself and two mates would of had damaged my life goals. However most police have been decent. They were caring when I lost my daughter in a TA. Remember of those scum in London this week do not represent most of the public. Remember BLM ANTIFA. EXTINCTION REBELLION and other so called peaceful protesters damaging property, threatening those who don’t conform to there will attacking rendering those with injuries or losing there life. Stay strong ladies and gentlemen of Britain’s police force.
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Cannot think of much to add really….been out of the mess since late 70’s….rest assured it has always been the same.You did well to last 20….alas your view will have become distorted from year one….just the way it is.
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A fantastic response to the woke , leftie ,freedom loving,? protest anything, be responsible for nothing , society that’s cities … that’s London ! Waste of space deserve what you get London , I feel so sorry for the police trying to deal with such a bunch of sanctimonious, arrogant arseholes , you make the rest of the country want to vomit 🤮
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So very sad but absolutely true I fear for the lives of police, at every opportunity I state that the strength of our police should be forceful and powerful showing strength and not being ‘ordered by their superiors… 🤷♀️ to become a joke dance kneel etc 🤮 they are the law and we should be proud but fearful, not let some yob give lip, they should always be detained thrown in a cell to show what the law can do, I wouldn’t want to be a copper – I’d get the sack God Bless them all and I pray they get some REAL BACKING and pier back in 🇬🇧
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Wow I love this cop … they should ALL be like this cop ……they need to sort the wheat from the chaff pronto ,.. and sentences should be meaningful…. I want this cop for PM
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Your only telling the truth
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This has hit every raw spot, and said all the things I think but dare not say. This has reduced me to tears and, yes, it does make me genuinely fearful for and of the country in which I live.
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i get you Matt , totally and sad as it is , all you say is true , i am 58 , my father who like you fought as a soldier at 17 for 5 yrs in a foreign country to protect his beautiful Britain , and to his dying days was applaud at the demise of law and order , rules and boundaries and consequence for breaking them, the fabric and morals we all try and need to live happy safe lives. in his dying weeks he said how he wished and hoped that after Brexit we could apply our laws and penalties to install fear for wrong doing , without the mask of the European human rights folk getting all soft on crime and criminal activity . but alas i don’t think we will gain back control from f these anarchistic people, he said bless him “what we need is another bloody good war ” but people would say he was a fascist .. i , in my short life i cant fathom it how 40 yrs ago a 16 year old stealing a car would more than lightly get 10 weeks in a detention centre, and today in the small town i left to live in Scotland there are 15yr olds selling huge quantities of drugs and just taunt any police efforts to deal with them . why is this allowed in a modern world, or should i say more like we are returning to a medieval world with the Politicians been the ones in castles far away and fat on the taxes of us all while all around is lawless being a politician should just pay a basic wage and be really more of a vocation .. thank you for your sad but honest words , please try and find some solace and know that you tried …
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mattjohnsonauthor: “A police officer wrote this on March 15, 2021 at 5:27 pm. I’ve reproduced it here because I found it humbling, worrying and really quite frightening.”
Is there a public source link for where you saw this to be able to reproduce it, so it can be read directly; please post in this comments section if you have it. Thank you.
nb: temp email address used for posting
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There isn’t, sorry.
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Eloquently put.
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They call it the thin blue line and that really is all that separates us law abiding citizens from the monsters around every corner and in every dark alley.
We see what you do for us and abide by the rules that are set out for us, we do appreciate the sacrifices that you make for us, but we have limited power some of us will jump in to help if we can but most will run and hide.
You can see how many of us do respect the dedication and the work that you do.
It’s in the percentages, a small percent murder, rape, Rob and deceive, the much larger percent follow the law with the occasional lapse such as speeding or parking in the wrong place.
But we are a large percentage that does respect you, that does follow your instructions when instructed.
Thank you for your service, I hope you find fulfilment in a new career but remember that the time you spent protecting us was well spent.💕
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This is just how it is. Get out whilst you can folks, the punch bags of modern society.
Get out with your physical and mental health intact for your families.
The Government & much of society doesn’t deserve the sacrifices you make for them.
You gave it your everything Matt, it wasn’t enough.
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they are right on the truth pity we don’t see it thanks for your service
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Thank you.
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A good, honest account. I know because I left the police 16 years ago after 15 years and 6 years in the forces. I left for much of the same reasons I saw back then. It’s the same desert, just a different tent in 2021. I write too. I rarely respond to another’s writing but felt compelled to after reading this. Whoever you are. Keep the faith. The ‘true’ faith. And, of course, keep writing.
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Retired 9 years ago – couldn’t wait for it to be over and I never suffered as much in 30 as you poor sods have done in the last 10 years ‘lions led by donkeys’ has never been more apt
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Wow , we can all sit in an armchair or on a keyboard and throw comments about what we see on television, the news or read on social media. It’s not been a good decade for the police, the cuts made by government have added to an already pressurised force. I am saddened and agree with most of what has been written. Of course mistakes are made and is held up to public scrutiny and rightly so however, we should also recognise and give support when and where needed. Our ELECTED government is guilty of eroding the blue light (emergency) services but when in time of need we all call upon them without hesitation. They continuously make promises every four years about what they will do to improve things but nothing gets done until of course another election is pending and a token gesture is thrown to obtain our votes. The cuts over the years have put additional pressure on the existing force and has done nothing to attract new recruits something which is much needed. So much needs to be done to ensure that the British public gets the policing they deserve, is tiring just thinking about it. There is no one solution and I can debate this forever, I will close with my heart goes out to that individual and those individuals that do there best daily and are beaten down but all they have to face.
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Very sad but very true.
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I understand all your feelings, officer of 20 years
This is a very eloquently expressed article which should alarm all of us, especially members of the government HMIC and IOPC.
Clear, concise instruction, loyalty and consistency seem to be lacking in policing and in government, more so the higher up you go
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I feel every word of that and knowing how true it is my heart is breaking for you and each and every one of us … x
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Sad that you should have arrived at this stage in your life, but please don’t blame all the public, there is a rotten apple in every barrel as we have seen recently with the arrest of one of your colleagues for abduction and murder, the public lost faith in the police a long time ago. Unfortunately a lot of people could draw the same analogy about their working life, yours is no by a long way unique.
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Well said. I really feel for you. Having served 27 years in the RUC until I physically and mentally
Couldn’t do it anymore. Wading through exactly what you have described picking up friends bodies and body parts along the way. You couldn’t have described frontline policing any better.
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Feel for you – the police force is not a easy place to work for people with integrity. I hope you find peace and splice in your retirement years. Find rest and peace in the good people you do know and enjoy time out soldier. Take an extended NAFFI break.
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well,if your blindfolded,with your hands tied behind your back,with the pc brigade watching your every move, where you would dive into a river to rescue a child,only to be reprimanded for doing so. when your officers take a knee for an organisation ,which promotes anti semitic tripe,because they ,the officers are pathetic mindless wimps,and joe public have lost all respect for you,then all i can say is well done sir. God bless Yvonne fletcher,and those wonderful days WHEN COPS WERE COPS.
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Well, that struck a cord in every paragraph.
I’ve been out 10 years and I still care about policing. It grieves me to see what has become of policing today.
When we have experienced cops leaving the service we are in trouble.
Who is tutoring the new cops on the streets. I’ll tell you, other cops who are not even out of their probation.
I admire the officers bravey in making such a life changing decision. I fear for those still in the job.
Someone said the public get the police service they deserve. Wise words.
Good luck in your new life.
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