Lot of great memories Dom, of the same grounding I experienced back in the day before taking my journey into investigating serious organised crime as a career choice. Great post, thanks for sharing,
Another great read that brought up lots of happy memories walking the beat on “S” and “Q” Divisions as well as the occasional jaunt up to the bright lights…👏🏻👏🏻👌🏻👌🏻
Earlier I saw a post on Linked In extolling the virtues of a couple of security patrols who had saved someone’s life in the King’s Road. They were referred to by their employer as “Bobbies”. In some retail neighbourhoods they have taken over as crime prevention patrols from the real police. I made a snippy comment about their nickname, saying that it was traditionally used for patrolling police officers. It seems that rare breed is almost extinct, and has evolved into a private function of a for profit company. This is very sad for the reasons you eloquently described, Dom.
Ray, whilst I agree it’s sad that it’s fallen to a for profit company to patrol the streets of certain areas it goes to show that there is still a need for the service and as I follow their employer I see all the different types of function they perform.
Basically they are doing much of what Dom has written about and as I did in my early service. The fact that these needs are not met by the Met says a lot about modern policing. We all love a squad and feeling of importance in fighting crime when a large part of what the public want is reassurance that there is someone out there looking after them.
It’s a sad fact that certain areas are happy to pay for these “bobbies” and have that service whilst other areas have chosen to spend money using “community wardens” etc who wear a uniform concentrate on money making for their employers with ticketing etc. I know which I’d rather have and if it were at all possible I’d like to have the Met doing it in London but it’s not to be. At least the “Bobbies” company are following it all up with taking people to court and getting convictions which is something else we used to do.
Great stuff ! I spent five years on what was then called Relief, at West End Central covering Mayfair and Soho. Looking back, I had a great time, worked with great people, and made some wonderful memories.
My best day came during a foot patrol, reuniting a lost child with a distraught parent.
I could write an interesting ‘compare and contrast’ paper on the diverse *ahem* services provided by the (mostly) ladies of Soho and Mayfair.
Lot of great memories Dom, of the same grounding I experienced back in the day before taking my journey into investigating serious organised crime as a career choice. Great post, thanks for sharing,
Matt Horne
Another great read that brought up lots of happy memories walking the beat on “S” and “Q” Divisions as well as the occasional jaunt up to the bright lights…👏🏻👏🏻👌🏻👌🏻
That definitely brought back similar memories from my time at BH!
Earlier I saw a post on Linked In extolling the virtues of a couple of security patrols who had saved someone’s life in the King’s Road. They were referred to by their employer as “Bobbies”. In some retail neighbourhoods they have taken over as crime prevention patrols from the real police. I made a snippy comment about their nickname, saying that it was traditionally used for patrolling police officers. It seems that rare breed is almost extinct, and has evolved into a private function of a for profit company. This is very sad for the reasons you eloquently described, Dom.
Ray, whilst I agree it’s sad that it’s fallen to a for profit company to patrol the streets of certain areas it goes to show that there is still a need for the service and as I follow their employer I see all the different types of function they perform.
Basically they are doing much of what Dom has written about and as I did in my early service. The fact that these needs are not met by the Met says a lot about modern policing. We all love a squad and feeling of importance in fighting crime when a large part of what the public want is reassurance that there is someone out there looking after them.
It’s a sad fact that certain areas are happy to pay for these “bobbies” and have that service whilst other areas have chosen to spend money using “community wardens” etc who wear a uniform concentrate on money making for their employers with ticketing etc. I know which I’d rather have and if it were at all possible I’d like to have the Met doing it in London but it’s not to be. At least the “Bobbies” company are following it all up with taking people to court and getting convictions which is something else we used to do.
Great stuff ! I spent five years on what was then called Relief, at West End Central covering Mayfair and Soho. Looking back, I had a great time, worked with great people, and made some wonderful memories.
My best day came during a foot patrol, reuniting a lost child with a distraught parent.
I could write an interesting ‘compare and contrast’ paper on the diverse *ahem* services provided by the (mostly) ladies of Soho and Mayfair.
Happy days 🤣