'Hey, I'm talking to you!'

China’s police have always been courteous to me. But many Chinese apparently are unhappy with how police treat them.

A new manual has come out for police, demanding that they use more civilized behavior in dealing with the public. According to this morning’s Beijing News, officers abusing people after July 31, 2007, will receive punishment.

According to the newspaper, here are examples from the training manual about what police should not say when meeting visitors to the precinct:

• Hey, I am talking to you. Who the hell are you?
• Can you hear me? Are you deaf?
• It's you again. Aren't you tired of coming in here?
• We cannot help you with this matter. Go ask whomever you like about it.

When handling routine business with citizens, police should not say:

• This is your own business. So what if you have to come here a few more times?
• You still have to wait even if it is urgent. We have rules here. Do you understand?
• Hurry up. Do you want to do this or not?
• It's your problem that you did not have all the papers. No one can help you here.
• No means no. It does not need an explanation.

When citizens report crimes, police should not say:

• You want to file a case for such a tiny matter? Do you understand what the law is?
• You don't look like such a good person yourself.
• Do you think you know better than me?
• If you cannot speak clearly, how can you file a report?
• Do you have evidence? If you don't have evidence, what the hell are you reporting?
• I am investigating YOU. Do you have a problem with it?

When mediating a conflict, police should not say:

• You both are making trouble? Let's see who can make more trouble.
• If you keep on making trouble I will put all of you in jail.

Comments

[Lillian]

The manual is just a cosmetic approach to changing the police’s image. Everyone knows that even if they don’t say things banned in the manual, there are tons and tons synonyms to the same effect. So, the rule hasn’t got to the heart of the problem at all.

[Lillian]

Sorry, I missed the word "of" after "tons and tons".

[Arthur Borges]

Well, it ain't all that different from Palmetto SC, where "We cannot help you with this matter. Go ask whomever you like about it" becomes "Go sling your bµllsh*t somewhere else."

Source: http://www.palmettocops.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=12275

[Arthur Borges]

The layout here would be visually friendlier if you put the dividing line AFTER the contributors' names.