So someone I know recently sent me this …
Putting aside that it’s sad this sort of thing even needs to be said, it’s a smart move.
Of course, doing more in the community would probably help them change perceptions more effectively … not to mention get them some more positive PR … but with funding cuts and more expectations placed on them by local governments, it can be argued they’re doing as much as they can, hence the need to do ads like this.
When I saw it, it reminded me of something I heard in a Michael Moore documentary.
There were some people in France who said something like …
“Our government are frightened of us but in America, it seems the people are scared of their government”.
The reason I say it is because when I was growing up, I respected the Police.
They were the people I’d go to if I was in trouble. The people I was nervous of upsetting. The folks who made sure everything and everyone was safe. It’s part of the reason I was desperate to be one until 14 … where I discovered the seductive powers of the electric guitar.
OK, so that could also be because I grew up in a good area, before Nottingham evolved to being Europe’s most dangerous city per capita.
But nowadays, the Police are seen as the enemy.
Not just in the bad areas, but every area.
The people to fear.
The folks who are out to get you.
The ones who only look to protect the rich.
Which is why they have to put out posters like the ones above. To remind people that’s not who they are or what they do.
It’s sad.
On the bright side, they’re not in America … because with the shit that is reported their on a seemingly daily basis, the Police would have to go and hand out cheques before anyone would ever trust them again.
Which proves that you can spend years building up positive credit, but a few bad moves and it can all fall apart … which is why brands love using research like link testing, because they think it protects them from making mistakes when all it actually does is stop them saying or doing anything of cultural significance or impact.
And when we live in a World where we look to spend money on things that WON’T change anything, you have to say we’ve reached peak madness.