13 Comments
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paul teare's avatar

Amazed SEG wasn't abolished for being elitist and exclusionary and top specialist.

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Johnny's avatar

Another cracker Dom .

I miss Prot ( the circus but not the clowns)

Did you go for the SO12 Bremont watch btw ?

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Dom's avatar

Might have done...

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Rod Brafield's avatar

Bang on Dominic. You put in to writing everything that has been racing through my mind re protection and these two. When you have spent most of your service delivering a fantastic product, it is irritating to read about anything less. I spent half of my service with The SEG, where only the best would do, mirrored by SO14(2) and SO12 colleagues. Thank you so much for writing this.

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Dom's avatar

Cheers Rod, I started this Substack primarily to offer a perspective on policing based on reality, not sensationalism. So when ex-cops make comments like yours, it means a lot.

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Richard (Dick) D'Alton's avatar

Nice one Dom. I wonder who the other S squad colleague on your Natiional Protection Drivers Course was. I have the photo !!! happy days. Not an easy course - I broke my finger on day two doing J’s and Y’s but still managed to pass! Keep up the stories - a compulsive read👍😊

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Dom's avatar

You and me = Driving Miss Daisy. Good to hear from you, Dick.

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Kevin Smith's avatar

I like the cut of your job Dominic.

What an accurate read from start to finish, I could see a lot of the same people we worked with along the way from ‘S’ & ‘A’ Squads, Royalty and SEG. Best years of my life.

I particularly liked the term ‘Automotive Hooligans’ so accurate about the operators delivering those Courses, knowing them as I do.

Spot-on about H, he’s burnt his bridges, never to be rebuilt, sad really.

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Dom's avatar

Thanks for your kind words, Kevin. Appreciated.

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Guy Wade's avatar

Entertaining, amusing and authoratively written account. Thanks Dom, good work.

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Tim Swarbrick's avatar

I have had some similar experience with royal and political visitors to my mostly rural force (D&C). Your article is spot on in relation to firearms and the high standards of drivers and riders. All were within my remit and they delivered their skills with total professionalism.

As for Harry, sadly he will not get this ‘magic carpet’ treatment unless he returns from the US and resumes Royal duties, unlikely I feel.

Finally, I’m pretty certain the legislation allowing police services was primarily brought in allow football clubs to pay for policing. No surprises that they now use stewards!

Keep up the good work...

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Chris Philips's avatar

Another excellent, well written, amusing and accurate analysis.

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Dom's avatar

Cheers Chris!

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