Why is it always the 'ratboys' who kick off? Some other points however:
You talk about HR, back in the 90's when there was one of the many MPS reorganizations, not sure if it was from 5 to 8 areas but they all blur together now, one of my colleagues came back from a meeting with a recently imported head of HR from the private sector who basically said 'why do you look after injured officers? Get rid of them'. And that is why there was a policy in the 90's that stated if you weren't fit for work you had to be medically retired. This lead to some interesting decisions when officers with minor medical complaints such as dodgy knees which could be fixed with a minor op and physio etc were binned. How much did that cost the MPS?
Does anyone remember one of the wonderful ideas from Policy Exchange dating back to 2011 which said that officers using public transport would be 'forced' to wear uniform to travel to and from work?
Getting involved off duty is rarely worth it, particularly in the current climate. Those of us who joined in the late 70's were strongly warned against it
I don’t know how you channel this stuff from years ago but it always gets me remembering. In 1988 I got off the last train to Willesden Tube and showed my brief to the only staff member, safely tucked away in her box. I walked down to the closed gates by mistake and she shouted out “Officer, these two haven’t paid”. I had no choice but to turn round and was pushed into the wall with a knife to my throat. “What are you going to do about it?” I was asked by one of the two. “Whatever you want” was my unimaginative but honest reply. The custody officer wasn’t troubled that night.
A cracking read. Shall avoid an essay. Perfectly sums up those that joined for one thing only - power. Flashing the brief, then learning the hard way that it didn’t make you Batfink.
I was one of those disgusting oiks that used their warrant card as a wallet; but I never lost or misplaced it my entire service; probably due to the fact that my cash & bank card were more important to me. Good times . . .
I had cause once to research what the responsibilities of an officer actually were in relation to off-duty incidents. I had a female officer on team who fell pregnant.As she travelled in from Sarf Lunnon to the centre on her warrant card, I thought it might be a good idea for her to have some form of incognito ticket for her travel for the duration. I also had to risk-assess her safety. I found out that the MPS actually expects an officer to provide the service of a professional witness and dial ‘999’ when off duty. That’s it. No need to physically intervene and no need to arrest. Thus the Job thought she could travel perfectly safely whilst several months gone, using her brief. For me that philosophy is belied by personal experiences.
Like yourself (but for somewhat different reason!) almost all my last arrests were from public transport and almost all off duty. One was when I was still SB and coming into Charing Cross when I caught two youths vandalising the train. I pulled the emergency cord (this was an old slam door train) and the train stopped. Whilst struggling with the main suspect, (second turned up after a minute or so - I am not so daft I would have knowingly detained two youths!) the driver turned up, asked me if I was the c**t who pulled the cord (in as many words) and when I explained the situation, told me it was only minor wasn’t it? He then walked off and left me there. Platform staff were equally helpful. Finally BTP were called - and when they arrived were more concerned that I was going to get them to make the arrest than anything else (all I wanted was a ride to custody!) In fairness I made a complaint and the driver was properly disciplined for his inaction.
Another time was nicking a kid who turned out to be a ‘Devnom’ (up and coming gang member) from the borough on which I worked for riding without a ticket, trespassing on the railway and carrying a huge bag of hand-rolling cannabis. Early days of ‘county l lines’.
The most memorable was impossible to avoid. I was coming off the train at my local station, and just showed my warrant card to pass the ticket inspectors when a male already stopped by them (and high as a kite on something, which as he turned out to be a stockbroker was likely coke..) decided to have a kick-off with them. It was impossible to ignore it. I gave him more chances than I would have done if I had been either on duty or in uniform, to the annoyance of the overly stroppy RPOs at the scene, but ultimately ended up nicking him which resulted in a bit of a bundle , which the RPOs didn’t assist me with, and me restraining the man, and calling for urgent assistance on my mobile phone. As it was an outer borough in rush hour, I waited about ten minutes for this to arrive. I remember the gratitude I felt when I heard the sirens approaching! Luckily he continued to play the fool up to going into the cell. What an idiot!
There were two postscripts to this incident though:
During the struggling and his use choice language to outline my putative parentage, I saw a small boy and his mother pass hurriedly by on the other side, the kid pulling his Mum’s sleeve and pointing towards us. Naturally that all went in my arrest notes as evidence of a public order offence. The next day my youngest daughter announced that Henry in her class (not his real name) had seen me arresting someone the day before and promptly told the class at “show and tell”. I said ‘Was he very frightened?” “No,” came her reply, “ he wanted to stay and watch but his Mummy wouldn’t let him!” Well, at least she got bragging rights for a few days and apparently the kid bemoaned the fact that his Dad couldn’t arrest people like I did!
The second though once again proves the dangers of working on one’s home patch. The following Sunday, we all went for a Chinese. We were just coming to the end of the meal (luckily) when in strolled the detainee plus female and sat on the next table to us. I strategically went to get my coat and pay and met my wife and daughters outside. Looking back I think he was so high on the night that I could have bitten him on the backside and he still wouldn’t have known it was me!
Nothing like using your brief to catch the bus home from Brixton academy ( after a few beers) .. to make you realise it would have been much better to buy a ticket.
The Blob... you been reading Dom Cummings stuff on sub? listened to Nigel Farage being interviewed by Nick Robinson on a podcast this morning, sadly and quite without notice I agreed with some of what NF said. I stared into the car mirror and wondered wtf was going on. Anyway he mentions in around about way the blob, quite elegantly and with some intellectual sophistication too should you be interested.
Threw one arse off a train off nights at the NJU. He was spitting and swearing at older lone female tkt insp. Little turd didnt know what hit him. Slammed his arm up his back against train door, opened the same door and ejected the shit onto the platform. Best he could do was get up and run to punch me, sadly for him the door shut and he hit the window. Hopefully he broke his hand. I laughed as he squealed. The tkt insp was very grateful.
One off duty arrest in Oxford, detained shoplifter in Boots assaulting store tec. He was taken to the floor in a home office approved manner, and stayed face down in the gutter as he thearetened to rape my wife, kill my kids and complain about me until TVP Plod arrived. They didnt seem too interested in a statement either. Very odd. I did one and left it with the store tec. When i rang up to book on the DS said 'Ive already done the 232 and i aint changing it" and i replied " Do what you want Im booking on via the reserve then" which i did. DS didnt like that. Plonker.
This is so true, no one in their right mind shows out.
I had many incidents over the years but one memorable one was on the way home from officer safety training with my newly acquired ASP tucked safely away in my kit bag.
I was on the tube sat on the seats facing each other the other side of the doors and watched two burly Irish men get on and sit next to a young Chinese boy. He had a piece of paper which they took off him and tore into tiny pieces and blew all over him. He was frightened but they moved seats and then lit up a cigarette, you could hear the gasps from everyone and I stood up and got out my warrant card and told them to put it out as there was no smoking. The one with the cigarette took one last drag which lit the tip up to a glowing red and immediately extinguished it with tips of his fingers, not even licking them first. You could hear the collective gulp as folks reacted to it.
I went to go back to my seat only to find someone sitting in it. So I stood my ground and held on to the pole and my bag. A couple of seconds later the other one pulled out a Swiss Army knife and opened the short blade and turned it round and then made the move as if to cut a throat literally saying out loud” I’ll cut your feckin troat “. That’s when I racked the ASP and said “I don’t think so, put it down and kick it over here.” He did as he was told and making a tactical assessment I put my foot on it and told them to get up and stand by the door. As they moved away from me I picked up the knife and put it in my bag.
We were rapidly approaching Finsbury Park station and I stepped towards them, they stood by the doors and when the train stopped they ran out on the platform and I stepped out. Realising I was on a hiding to nothing I stepped back into the carriage as the doors closed and as we pulled away I watched them start punching one another. There was a vacant seat which I went to and sat down. The lady sat next to me said “I think you were very brave officer” and replied “ No I think I was very stupid” and laughed that nervous laugh when you’ve had a close one. There was a ripple of applause but I knew, as did they, no one would have helped out if needed.
I too had no option. Sitting in my car with my kids in the back. Watched a scrote walk past a nearby car, then walk back to it and have a gander through the window. Next thing he’s opened the door, reached in and pocketed something. FFS! I was tucked away so I stepped out and approached him fast. He was smaller than me and looked shocked. “Give it to me “ I said, and he produced a mobile phone. Showed him my brief and gave him the good news. Walked him back to the shop where the car owner was and handed her the phone. Luckily my on-duty colleagues turned up reasonably quickly and I claimed a few hours ‘less than 8’. And my kids? They f*cking loved watching their dad nabbing a baddie. They talked about it for hours!
Why is it always the 'ratboys' who kick off? Some other points however:
You talk about HR, back in the 90's when there was one of the many MPS reorganizations, not sure if it was from 5 to 8 areas but they all blur together now, one of my colleagues came back from a meeting with a recently imported head of HR from the private sector who basically said 'why do you look after injured officers? Get rid of them'. And that is why there was a policy in the 90's that stated if you weren't fit for work you had to be medically retired. This lead to some interesting decisions when officers with minor medical complaints such as dodgy knees which could be fixed with a minor op and physio etc were binned. How much did that cost the MPS?
Does anyone remember one of the wonderful ideas from Policy Exchange dating back to 2011 which said that officers using public transport would be 'forced' to wear uniform to travel to and from work?
Getting involved off duty is rarely worth it, particularly in the current climate. Those of us who joined in the late 70's were strongly warned against it
I don’t know how you channel this stuff from years ago but it always gets me remembering. In 1988 I got off the last train to Willesden Tube and showed my brief to the only staff member, safely tucked away in her box. I walked down to the closed gates by mistake and she shouted out “Officer, these two haven’t paid”. I had no choice but to turn round and was pushed into the wall with a knife to my throat. “What are you going to do about it?” I was asked by one of the two. “Whatever you want” was my unimaginative but honest reply. The custody officer wasn’t troubled that night.
A cracking read. Shall avoid an essay. Perfectly sums up those that joined for one thing only - power. Flashing the brief, then learning the hard way that it didn’t make you Batfink.
I was one of those disgusting oiks that used their warrant card as a wallet; but I never lost or misplaced it my entire service; probably due to the fact that my cash & bank card were more important to me. Good times . . .
Great article Dom!
I had cause once to research what the responsibilities of an officer actually were in relation to off-duty incidents. I had a female officer on team who fell pregnant.As she travelled in from Sarf Lunnon to the centre on her warrant card, I thought it might be a good idea for her to have some form of incognito ticket for her travel for the duration. I also had to risk-assess her safety. I found out that the MPS actually expects an officer to provide the service of a professional witness and dial ‘999’ when off duty. That’s it. No need to physically intervene and no need to arrest. Thus the Job thought she could travel perfectly safely whilst several months gone, using her brief. For me that philosophy is belied by personal experiences.
Like yourself (but for somewhat different reason!) almost all my last arrests were from public transport and almost all off duty. One was when I was still SB and coming into Charing Cross when I caught two youths vandalising the train. I pulled the emergency cord (this was an old slam door train) and the train stopped. Whilst struggling with the main suspect, (second turned up after a minute or so - I am not so daft I would have knowingly detained two youths!) the driver turned up, asked me if I was the c**t who pulled the cord (in as many words) and when I explained the situation, told me it was only minor wasn’t it? He then walked off and left me there. Platform staff were equally helpful. Finally BTP were called - and when they arrived were more concerned that I was going to get them to make the arrest than anything else (all I wanted was a ride to custody!) In fairness I made a complaint and the driver was properly disciplined for his inaction.
Another time was nicking a kid who turned out to be a ‘Devnom’ (up and coming gang member) from the borough on which I worked for riding without a ticket, trespassing on the railway and carrying a huge bag of hand-rolling cannabis. Early days of ‘county l lines’.
The most memorable was impossible to avoid. I was coming off the train at my local station, and just showed my warrant card to pass the ticket inspectors when a male already stopped by them (and high as a kite on something, which as he turned out to be a stockbroker was likely coke..) decided to have a kick-off with them. It was impossible to ignore it. I gave him more chances than I would have done if I had been either on duty or in uniform, to the annoyance of the overly stroppy RPOs at the scene, but ultimately ended up nicking him which resulted in a bit of a bundle , which the RPOs didn’t assist me with, and me restraining the man, and calling for urgent assistance on my mobile phone. As it was an outer borough in rush hour, I waited about ten minutes for this to arrive. I remember the gratitude I felt when I heard the sirens approaching! Luckily he continued to play the fool up to going into the cell. What an idiot!
There were two postscripts to this incident though:
During the struggling and his use choice language to outline my putative parentage, I saw a small boy and his mother pass hurriedly by on the other side, the kid pulling his Mum’s sleeve and pointing towards us. Naturally that all went in my arrest notes as evidence of a public order offence. The next day my youngest daughter announced that Henry in her class (not his real name) had seen me arresting someone the day before and promptly told the class at “show and tell”. I said ‘Was he very frightened?” “No,” came her reply, “ he wanted to stay and watch but his Mummy wouldn’t let him!” Well, at least she got bragging rights for a few days and apparently the kid bemoaned the fact that his Dad couldn’t arrest people like I did!
The second though once again proves the dangers of working on one’s home patch. The following Sunday, we all went for a Chinese. We were just coming to the end of the meal (luckily) when in strolled the detainee plus female and sat on the next table to us. I strategically went to get my coat and pay and met my wife and daughters outside. Looking back I think he was so high on the night that I could have bitten him on the backside and he still wouldn’t have known it was me!
Nothing like using your brief to catch the bus home from Brixton academy ( after a few beers) .. to make you realise it would have been much better to buy a ticket.
The Blob... you been reading Dom Cummings stuff on sub? listened to Nigel Farage being interviewed by Nick Robinson on a podcast this morning, sadly and quite without notice I agreed with some of what NF said. I stared into the car mirror and wondered wtf was going on. Anyway he mentions in around about way the blob, quite elegantly and with some intellectual sophistication too should you be interested.
Threw one arse off a train off nights at the NJU. He was spitting and swearing at older lone female tkt insp. Little turd didnt know what hit him. Slammed his arm up his back against train door, opened the same door and ejected the shit onto the platform. Best he could do was get up and run to punch me, sadly for him the door shut and he hit the window. Hopefully he broke his hand. I laughed as he squealed. The tkt insp was very grateful.
One off duty arrest in Oxford, detained shoplifter in Boots assaulting store tec. He was taken to the floor in a home office approved manner, and stayed face down in the gutter as he thearetened to rape my wife, kill my kids and complain about me until TVP Plod arrived. They didnt seem too interested in a statement either. Very odd. I did one and left it with the store tec. When i rang up to book on the DS said 'Ive already done the 232 and i aint changing it" and i replied " Do what you want Im booking on via the reserve then" which i did. DS didnt like that. Plonker.
This is so true, no one in their right mind shows out.
I had many incidents over the years but one memorable one was on the way home from officer safety training with my newly acquired ASP tucked safely away in my kit bag.
I was on the tube sat on the seats facing each other the other side of the doors and watched two burly Irish men get on and sit next to a young Chinese boy. He had a piece of paper which they took off him and tore into tiny pieces and blew all over him. He was frightened but they moved seats and then lit up a cigarette, you could hear the gasps from everyone and I stood up and got out my warrant card and told them to put it out as there was no smoking. The one with the cigarette took one last drag which lit the tip up to a glowing red and immediately extinguished it with tips of his fingers, not even licking them first. You could hear the collective gulp as folks reacted to it.
I went to go back to my seat only to find someone sitting in it. So I stood my ground and held on to the pole and my bag. A couple of seconds later the other one pulled out a Swiss Army knife and opened the short blade and turned it round and then made the move as if to cut a throat literally saying out loud” I’ll cut your feckin troat “. That’s when I racked the ASP and said “I don’t think so, put it down and kick it over here.” He did as he was told and making a tactical assessment I put my foot on it and told them to get up and stand by the door. As they moved away from me I picked up the knife and put it in my bag.
We were rapidly approaching Finsbury Park station and I stepped towards them, they stood by the doors and when the train stopped they ran out on the platform and I stepped out. Realising I was on a hiding to nothing I stepped back into the carriage as the doors closed and as we pulled away I watched them start punching one another. There was a vacant seat which I went to and sat down. The lady sat next to me said “I think you were very brave officer” and replied “ No I think I was very stupid” and laughed that nervous laugh when you’ve had a close one. There was a ripple of applause but I knew, as did they, no one would have helped out if needed.
I too had no option. Sitting in my car with my kids in the back. Watched a scrote walk past a nearby car, then walk back to it and have a gander through the window. Next thing he’s opened the door, reached in and pocketed something. FFS! I was tucked away so I stepped out and approached him fast. He was smaller than me and looked shocked. “Give it to me “ I said, and he produced a mobile phone. Showed him my brief and gave him the good news. Walked him back to the shop where the car owner was and handed her the phone. Luckily my on-duty colleagues turned up reasonably quickly and I claimed a few hours ‘less than 8’. And my kids? They f*cking loved watching their dad nabbing a baddie. They talked about it for hours!
Wombats can be pretty crazy mate! Great read.
Superb as usual. Spot on! 👍