Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.......NO!!!! You what?

Whilst on a recent night shift, I had the unenviable task of taking a report for our most prolific MISPER [Missing Person]. I’ve spoken previously about these kids waltzing in and out of care homes without a care in the world at the cost of money to the tax payer. However, on this occasion it was just a catalyst for my thoughts. 

This MISPER lives in a flat in a luxury block of apartments under the proviso that they are “semi dependant”. This means that a carer lives with them 24/7 and does everything for them, and in return they are supposed to learn the skills required to live life on their own. However, this little cherub just sees it as another person to attend to their every whim. 

This luxury block of apartments has now seen anti-social behaviour rise. The communal area is in a poor state of repair and groups of kids wonder and linger about outside. Their once delightful residence is slowly decaying and being sold off to the quickest bidder as everyone scrambles to try and move out whilst they can. This is largely in part to the MISPER who has directly and indirectly made this place a living hell for other residents. The cost to house the child is the rent, of approximately £1000 per month, plus living costs, plus 24/7 hour a day staff. Not bad. 

On this particular night, our lovely MISPER decided she wanted to take in some night air, and as most people do, she decided to “go out for a walk” at half past one in the morning. The carer reports the matter to the Police, as is her job, and I attend to obtain the report, and then copy said report onto an electronic database. Forty minutes consumed already. 

After several address checks, taking up a further forty-five minutes of time, I receive a message that the MISPER has returned home and gone to bed, and we are required to go and see them “safe and well”. So, off I trundle to pass on my regards. On arrival I am let into their little bachelor pad and walk into their bedroom where the carer states they are in bed and refusing to wait up for the Police. On doing so, I see an empty bed and further inspection reveals an empty flat. They’re gone. Clearly having decided that further brisk walking is the order of the day. 

During the course of the report and further “sighting” report I had to take from the carer, I found out that our MISPER had received their weekly “independence money” of £50. This to allow them to buy their toiletries and any snacks or treats they may want. I must admit, it seems quietly miserly to give a 16 year old a mere £50 a week, when the rest of childhood Britain is revelling in bucket loads of ‘wonga’ [tongue firmly in cheek].

 They had only but received this delightful ‘booty’ the afternoon previous and therefore had decided that the night time economy would be the best way to relieve themselves of their hard earned cash. Asked does that mean our MISPER will go without treats for a FULL 7 DAYS as a result, the carer informs me that – thankfully – “they will probably get a bit more in a couple of days to see them through” Thank goodness for that. 

And therein began my over thoughtful theories......

Do we say “NO” enough in society these days? Admittedly, this is a scenario that would only apply to a small percentage of people, but it got me thinking about this whole “yob culture” and the birth of the term “anti-social behaviour”. Our kids of today not getting the discipline and guidance that they need? Instead thriving in a world where everyone says “yes” just to try and keep the peace and therefore reaffirming the process that if you want something, you ask and get it. If not just cry like a bastard until you do!!!

Society at present seems to run along the lines of.....If there’s a problem, we throw money at it. If there’s blame, there’s a claim. If there’s something wrong, it’s someone else’s fault. There appears to be very little responsibility taken, yet in return an expectancy that they will be listened to at all costs and if they are not, they demand to be until they are. To hear the words “NO” appears alien and people seem to think that going further up the chain of command will alter this fact. 

That makes our job as Police more difficult than ever. One of the first phrases I ever got told in the Police was “you are paid to deliver bad news”. We are paid to say “NO” even if that person does not agree. The thing is very few people these days seem to be prepared to ever hear that word because the rest of society gives them what they want. A great big “YES!”