EXAM Q2

EXAM QUESTION 2; Analyse how far the extract depicts the polices point of view rather than the criminal's point of view. In your answer you must;

• analyse aspects of the extract using examples to support your analysis

• judge how far these aspects depict the polices' point of view.

In the beginning of the first episode of cuffs, there is a voice over, whilst PC Ryan Drapper is rushing about in a police car to a crime scene, a voice over of the Chief Constable states how their officers will be 'facing constant challenges' will have to 'remain calm and assertive' and will be 'always striving for conflict resolution'. The use of voice over enhances how hard working and dedicated the police officers are. As Drapper approaches the situation between the nudists and the stag do revellers, the video is put in slow motion, the effect this has on the audiences view of the officers is that it makes us respect them, and envision them as hard-core, tough individuals, but when we see the situation between the men on the naturist beach the scene is quickly make lighthearted to the viewers, this and the controversy between what is said on the voice-over makes the scene very entertaining, but also may confuse the viewer of what our viewpoint on the police force should be.

Another scene shows a frightened drug abuser a confident short tempered Jake and a calm and assertive Ryan, this scene clearly shows how the officers can adapt to whatever frame of mind they need to be in. When the drug addict is so edgy and scared, he threatens whoever is at the door -which appears to be the officers- with a blade, to this Jake - the inexperienced yet confident rookie, flares up and becomes aggressive, this is quickly stopped when Ryan - the well experienced policeman pulls him away from the door. He quickly forms a relationship with the criminal as is visible when he asks 'do you remember me'. Later on in the scene Ryan searches the house meanwhile Jake is left to bandage up the cuts on the drug addicts arms, infront of our very eyes he is turned from an aggressive hands-on man, into a sympathetic and understanding individual. This is intensified by the use of slow piano music transforming the scene from tense to tender in a matter of seconds, the pointer view shot, gives an insight to the life of the victim. The use of closeup of Jake helps the viewers side with him, in his moment of realization of what being in the Police Force really takes.

The final example of a criminal is very major compared to the other examples, the scene in which a racist thug enters a shop and brutally assaults a young man, with no reason. The scene starts with foreshadowing an incident ahead, this is when the victim is on the phone to his mother and states 'everything will be okay'. But of course, this is incorrect. Soon after the young man enters the shop the thug follows him, at this point the shop keeper disappears behind the counter. The thug starts by asking 'are you laughing at me', this intimidates the victim, as he shuffles to another aisle. The thug then 'squares up' to the victim and states two racial slurs to the boys face. The scene is then cut off, zooming into where the shopkeeper was last seen, then zoomed out, revealing a whats thought to be lifeless body left stranded on the floor with a pool of blood surrounding him. PC Jo Moffat is left  to deal with the incident, when she tries to question the shop keepers son, their lawyer states that they are not obliged to make any comment, this reveals that it is hard and stressful trying to sort a lot of incidents as the lawyers are constantly involved making situations harder while they are only trying to back their clients.