Earlier today, officers were seen on camera dancing the Macarena at a Pride festival. The head of the police and crime committee blasted the officers, saying: “They are supposed to uphold the law, not dance.”
After numerous posts from the festival, including the video of cops dancing, were uploaded on Lincolnshire Police’s social media accounts showing on-duty officers having fun, the locals responded angrily.
Residents criticized the police coverage, questioning why cops weren’t deterring violence on the streets instead of spending time at the festival.
Susan Hall, the head of the Greater London Authority’s Police and Crime Committee, echoed their worries.
She told MailOnline that the cops weren’t present to take part in the festivities, but rather to defend the law and keep everyone safe.
We shouldn’t have uniformed cops doing the Macarena while they should be doing their jobs, considering how many crime victims are disregarded and their cases go unresolved.
“The Chief Constable of Lincolnshire Police has to think twice about allowing and supporting this behaviour,”
Chris Haward, the chief police officer for the department, has responded to concerns by stating that police were present to guarantee that everyone had a “safe” Pride.
As long as it did not cause them to be distracted from their responsibilities, he continued, he “anticipated” his police to interact with the neighbourhood and “join in, even dance.”
Just a few hours later, the city had to issue a dispersion order due to a number of significant clashes.
The video depicts dozens of people dancing and having fun at the festival while wearing bright attire and waving LGBTQ+ flags.
Four of the 11 persons dancing along to the Macarena in the video are police officers in full costume.
Many more people gather around to observe the officers.
The police department may have uploaded images and videos to show off their involvement in the neighbourhood, but their move backfired as criticism swiftly spread on social media.
Following several significant confrontations in the preceding 24 hours, police announced in a subsequent tweet that a dispersion order had been implemented throughout the city centre within two to three hours after the video had gone viral on social media.
Many people on social media referred to the dancing police officers and questioned why they weren’t at the festival dancing instead of fighting crime.
I want a police force that takes MVAWG (male violence against women and girls) seriously, a social media user remarked after claiming that the video made her feel “less safe” on the streets.
Another said, “What a joke,” Please perform the duties you were hired to accomplish, and treat your uniform with respect.
One more responded, “Fellow Lincoln citizens. Tell the operator there is a pride celebration at your house the next time you are being burgled and you want the police to actually arrive.
However, several people did commend the cops for being so involved in the neighbourhood. A resident called the community liaison a “shining example of policing.”
According to a statement made today by Chief Constable Chris Haward, “Lincolnshire Police officers are at Pride to ensure that everyone attending has a safe and enjoyable occasion.
According to Lincolnshire Police, “Lincoln Pride is a celebration of inclusivity and representation within the LGBTQ+ community and we are there to support them and create confidence in our service.”
“I expect my officers and employees to interact with Pride attendees; to talk, joke, join in, and even dance, when appropriate and as long as it doesn’t interfere with their job duties.
“Policing is about engagement, understanding, and being a member of the community. It is not only about enforcement and patrol.
“We want everyone who comes to Lincoln Pride to feel that we are here for them and that our service to the communities in Lincolnshire is really inclusive. We strive to treat every member of the public we serve with fairness and impartiality.”
“We are there to police Pride, one of the many fantastic community events in the county, but also to let people peek behind the uniform and see who we are,” the officer said.
It happens at a time when police are under pressure to reduce the high number of unsolved crimes.
According to data released in June of this year, police in over half of the nation’s neighbourhoods failed to solve even one burglary in 2019.
In 16,000 of the more than 32,000 localities analyzed—or 46%—all burglary cases over a three-year period were resolved without any suspects being charged.
Nearly 2,000 of the communities, with a median population of 3,000, recorded at least 25 burglaries, but none were tracked down.
Following a slew of scandals over the past 18 months, particularly in London, forces are also the subject of greater scrutiny.
After shocking the nation with the kidnapping, rape, and murder of Sarah Everard by a serving Metropolitan Police officer, along with the improper policing of a vigil in her honour, dozens of incidents of crimes against women and girls were committed by serving officers have come to light throughout the UK.
Children being subjected to strip searches has also sparked fierce public outrage, especially from communities of colour who are disproportionately targeted for stop and searches.
There are worries that when the expense of living problem gets worse into next year, crime rates could rise.