nah; its likely to be real – there are loads of blogs about from blue light staff and civil servants; the govt haven’t been as harsh as they once were about talking about public sector jobs (provided the staff do not discuss operational matters or anything classified “Restricted” or above).

Its notable that Airwave (digital radio system) failed and all the lower ranks were made to switch off their personal radios – not suprising from a technical POV as unlike analogue radios (where you can have as many operating at once provided people don’t try to all talk at the same time!) each set that is switched on has to be signed on to the repeater and the system can only handle so many radios on at once.

(This is also why mobile phones malfunction at festivals!)

This created a situation where both the public and cops were put at increased risk (and would explain why some units didn’t know what the others were doing) – and all done to save money I guess..

what I find worse than the cops is how many people who commented “used to rave” but support the clampdowns 🙁

that is actually the mindset of many blue light / public sector workers ; they distance themselves from the people they are dealing with to make it easier to carry out unpopular or difficult actions/decisions, and concentrate on mundane things like food.

Happens in the NHS and healthcare loads as well, relatives of mine will eat a hearty dinner whilst discussing all sorts of emergency incidents (people getting run over by trains and cut to pieces etc, RTCs, major operations etc….