British Police

So as you all know, my purse was stolen and I reported it to the police. So far, I've found the British police to be SOO much nicer than American police. I guess that's my personal experience. They haven't found my purse or anything, but they're so much better with accommodating victims and following up.

First of all, when my purse was stolen, my friend called 999 (UK equivalent of 911), and I thought we'd get yelled at for calling emergency for a purse-snatching. I mean, 911 in America is for bigger emergencies and if you call them for something stupid, they get mad and I don't know...isn't there a fine or something? I've called 911 once in LA because I saw a car on fire on the freeway, but the line was busy. 911 sucks.

Second, they called my friend back with a police reference number, but I also filed a report via the Internet (you can file on the Internet! How convenient!) and I didn't just get some generic letter saying "We have received your report and we don't give a damn." I got an actual email back from someone at the police station asking me for additional information about my cellphone and stuff. I was really shocked they cared.

Then, a couple nights ago, I get a call at 11pm from Kensington police asking if my Fendi bag was brown because they just found one. I thought, WOW, you really are looking for my shit. Not only that, my crime was reported in Shoreditch and I live in Camden, but Kensington police are aware? They communicate amongst the bouroughs! WOW! That's unheard of in America!

Since it was so easy to get a police report, I was able to replace my keys and student ID free of charge as well as change my number to another SIM card. Anyone who has ever lost a cellphone in America and dealt with the process of claiming it for insurance knows that the police don't turn around with the info very quickly. Last time I lost my cellphone, I got the run around of what presinct to report it in (Fullerton, LA, NYPD...blehbleh) and once I finally found the right prescint, they transferred me around a bit within their office and then put me on hold, forgot about me, hung up on me. I called back and they told me that I had the wrong person, and transferred me around some more! AHHH!

Also, today I get a letter in the mail from some crime victims organization, which is completely unnecessary, but it's really sweet of them to care.

I've had some pretty bad experiences with American police growing up. I've seen them witness my friend get stabbed and not do anything. They just really suck at the big things and the small. I've never liked policemen in the States. They never do anything for you other than give you speeding tickets. But so far, the London police are great in my book. The fact that they take my stupid petty crime so sincerely and have the infostructure to facilitate the process for victims...that's just fantastic. America should really take a page from their book.