In the course of their daily lives, constables came into contact with many levels of society, and, as shown in the previous chapter, these meetings could be antagonistic and violent. More often, outside of traffic infractions, encounters were prosaic and civil. Members of the middle and upper classes usually only approached policemen to ask for directions or for minor assistance. Small businessmen were an important exception, tending to exchange greetings with the constables patrolling their streets. Most police contact was with the more numerous working class. Living in crowded cities, they were more likely to be victims of theft and violence, and they often used public spaces for work and leisure. Becoming friendly with local constables made practical sense, both to engage their help and to persuade them to look the other way. These interactions tended to be familiar simply because constables were working-class themselves, sharing their interests and habits. Civilians and constables shared drinks on and off the job, they practiced perks customary to their occupations, and they played against each other on company sports teams. Constables used their status to help civilians, both through a myriad of small courtesies and more formally through charities. The working class was not blind to the benefits of having working-class constables and they used this connection to their advantage whenever they could.