There’s two ways of reading this story

Half of the public do not know what to expect from their police force, a Government survey said.

Research found many people are in the dark about how their neighbourhood is made secure and what service they should receive if they become a victim of crime. Just 47% of people know about the services provided by their police force, officials discovered.

There’s the way that the government report is looking at it. The populace are simply too dim and ill informed to know what lovely things the police can do for you. Enforcing diversity, reaching out into the community, bweing sensitive in these difficult times, you know the sorts of things.

Then we can read it according to reality. The public know very well what they want from a police force. Catching thieves, banging up robbers, generally clearing the streets of the unlawful and thus protecting those going about their lawful business. That’s what is wanted: the confusion comes from the knowledge that that’s not what they’re going to get.

“Half of the public do not know what to expect from their police force”….for  given that they’re not off chasing criminals, what are they damn well doing?