Police are not your friend
’m an Amazon delivery driver, and I’d already spent the entire day working through a heatwave, walking, running and delivering door to door around busy roads and dual carriageways. It’s an exhausting job at the best of times.
I was making a delivery only four houses down on the same busy road. I moved the van a very short distance without putting my seat belt back on. Officers were turning at a T-junction, saw me, stopped me and issued a fine immediately.
I have no criminal record, I was completely respectful and cooperative with them, and I explained the situation. There was no warning, no discretion and no attempt to take the circumstances into account, just an immediate fine.
I understand that seat-belt laws exist for a reason, but there is a difference between enforcing the law and showing some basic judgement and humanity. After a brutal day working outside in extreme heat, moving a delivery van only a few houses down, I would have expected at least some consideration of the circumstances.
The whole interaction left me feeling that there was absolutely no empathy for an ordinary working person just trying to get through a difficult shift.
Based on my experience, my confidence in Norfolk Constabulary is extremely low. I came away feeling that the interaction achieved nothing except making an already miserable working day considerably worse.
Basically took my earnings for the day just so they can hit their monthly quota. I feel safer not seeing them around.