Much of the animosity between policemen and the public displayed itself in ‘incivility’, hurling insults back and forth, but also regularly crossed the line into physical conflicts. Disputes often began in different perceptions of appropriate behaviour. Constables exercised discretion in deciding which laws to enforce, whether to make arrests or issue summonses, and what force was merited. Civilians tended to think that constables were overreacting to minor offences when stopping them, charging them, or arresting them. Conflicts rarely had obvious guilty or innocent parties. Both sides typically made some provocative gesture, and both sides believed that their own actions had been entirely justified in the circumstances. In the final analysis, however, constables were expected to prevent conflicts, not take part in them. The character of these run-ins tended to reflect the class of the people involved. Clashes between policemen and the working-class public resembled the insubordination and fighting among policemen; they yelled at each other and threw punches, usually in sudden outbursts that just as quickly died down, with the worst brawls involving groups of men.