It's as if you are documenting my life! And I collect watches, too!. A valuable lesson learned from a Deptford PC known as Large (on a relief where if you were only 6' your known as a short-arse!), who could live a Mini engine out with his enormous bare hands. If thre were multiple locks on a door, and you didn't have a big red key, kick the hinge side, where there was rarely any reinforcement. One more thing about getting a 'brief' (search warrant, no idea why) from a JP out of hours. Ma Fisher, magistrate at Uxbridge MC,(pity the poor defendant accused of assaulting one of 'her' constables!). who was famously short sighted. She would stand In her dressing gown with the Information sheet pressed to her face, then sign. Another JP, lovely, avuncular old chap, didn't have a bible hand, so we swore the warrant on a plie of Reader's Digests!. Happy days!
Cracking read as always. It brought back memories.
I remember being taken to get my first out of hours warrant as a young PC in the Crime squad in the late 2000s.
The Magistrate was an elderly gentleman who heard the information in his front room with his wife and cat present for company.
I still remember his wife laying on a nice tray of refreshments for us. That wouldn't happen now.
In hindsight I can see why they have the current rota system with a gatekeeper. Some of those Magistrates were vulnerable and would have signed off anything. Plus cops being cops, some had their favourite Magistrates for a range of reasons. I remember hearing about one magistrate getting annoyed by all the applications from the crime squad. (she had attractive adult daughters living at home).
Post covid it's all electronic now so no more cats witnessing your information and Magistrates with attractive daughters have an equal workload.
A possibly apocryphal story a couple of years before I joined is a nighttime raid led by a Supt for IRA or armed robbery suspects. Supt (unarmed) insisted on going first, creeping up the path in front of armed officer, who tripped on a stone and loosed off a round which whizzed past the Supt and hit the gas meter above the door. All elements of surprise gone, panic triggered to decide whether to complete the raid or deal with the gas leaking out of the meter. Valuable lessons for all concerned!
Another cracking read. I used to like kicking doors in at the start of my career but learnt my lesson after kicking in a door in a squat in StokeNewington in the late 70’s.
We were having an increasing number of foreign punks coming and squatting in the flats ready to be turned in the Nelson Mandela block at the end of Cazenove Rd. Invariably they had drugs and weapons on them and we had a particularly bolshy lot from Strasbourg who were becoming a nuisance with the locals.
Orders were our night duty shift would pay a visit after they got home and settled down. After our spy let us know they were home we gave them some time to settle down so as to have an impact when we went through the door. I was picked for opening the door as I was training regularly most days and had bulked up a bit. We met up and tried a silent approach up the stairs and along the balcony. I had a look and thought kicking it beside the lock would save my shoulder so took a step back against he wall and give it a mighty kick. The wood made a splitting noise and the whole door and frame came away and cracked me on the head knocking me out. It had sort of pivoted around a makeshift lock they’d put in and I was trampled by the rest of the relief getting in.
I came round fairly quickly and shook myself off a bit as the bodies started coming out thick and fast. It looked like everybody had one but me so I strolled down to the cars and waited to get a lift back to the Nick. My tunic had footprints over it and the Guvnor asked what happened. I told him and he got the Police Surgeon down. He duly arrived and asked for the book to sign before he took a look at me and sent me home early. Guvner said come back for late turn Monday. No quick changeover = happy days.
Dom. Chap i know via whatsapp misconduct survivors group is asking about literary agents for book on Corruption within Psd ( i mean who would believe it!) As literary giant know any or top tips please?
It's as if you are documenting my life! And I collect watches, too!. A valuable lesson learned from a Deptford PC known as Large (on a relief where if you were only 6' your known as a short-arse!), who could live a Mini engine out with his enormous bare hands. If thre were multiple locks on a door, and you didn't have a big red key, kick the hinge side, where there was rarely any reinforcement. One more thing about getting a 'brief' (search warrant, no idea why) from a JP out of hours. Ma Fisher, magistrate at Uxbridge MC,(pity the poor defendant accused of assaulting one of 'her' constables!). who was famously short sighted. She would stand In her dressing gown with the Information sheet pressed to her face, then sign. Another JP, lovely, avuncular old chap, didn't have a bible hand, so we swore the warrant on a plie of Reader's Digests!. Happy days!
paulteare@hotmail.com
:)
X
Another great read Dom. Much like my early days in London(1989-1999). Like you - the early days capers were one of the bonuses of policing London.
Cracking read as always. It brought back memories.
I remember being taken to get my first out of hours warrant as a young PC in the Crime squad in the late 2000s.
The Magistrate was an elderly gentleman who heard the information in his front room with his wife and cat present for company.
I still remember his wife laying on a nice tray of refreshments for us. That wouldn't happen now.
In hindsight I can see why they have the current rota system with a gatekeeper. Some of those Magistrates were vulnerable and would have signed off anything. Plus cops being cops, some had their favourite Magistrates for a range of reasons. I remember hearing about one magistrate getting annoyed by all the applications from the crime squad. (she had attractive adult daughters living at home).
Post covid it's all electronic now so no more cats witnessing your information and Magistrates with attractive daughters have an equal workload.
A possibly apocryphal story a couple of years before I joined is a nighttime raid led by a Supt for IRA or armed robbery suspects. Supt (unarmed) insisted on going first, creeping up the path in front of armed officer, who tripped on a stone and loosed off a round which whizzed past the Supt and hit the gas meter above the door. All elements of surprise gone, panic triggered to decide whether to complete the raid or deal with the gas leaking out of the meter. Valuable lessons for all concerned!
Another cracking read. I used to like kicking doors in at the start of my career but learnt my lesson after kicking in a door in a squat in StokeNewington in the late 70’s.
We were having an increasing number of foreign punks coming and squatting in the flats ready to be turned in the Nelson Mandela block at the end of Cazenove Rd. Invariably they had drugs and weapons on them and we had a particularly bolshy lot from Strasbourg who were becoming a nuisance with the locals.
Orders were our night duty shift would pay a visit after they got home and settled down. After our spy let us know they were home we gave them some time to settle down so as to have an impact when we went through the door. I was picked for opening the door as I was training regularly most days and had bulked up a bit. We met up and tried a silent approach up the stairs and along the balcony. I had a look and thought kicking it beside the lock would save my shoulder so took a step back against he wall and give it a mighty kick. The wood made a splitting noise and the whole door and frame came away and cracked me on the head knocking me out. It had sort of pivoted around a makeshift lock they’d put in and I was trampled by the rest of the relief getting in.
I came round fairly quickly and shook myself off a bit as the bodies started coming out thick and fast. It looked like everybody had one but me so I strolled down to the cars and waited to get a lift back to the Nick. My tunic had footprints over it and the Guvnor asked what happened. I told him and he got the Police Surgeon down. He duly arrived and asked for the book to sign before he took a look at me and sent me home early. Guvner said come back for late turn Monday. No quick changeover = happy days.
Talking of hardened hearts etc look up Dr Dan Pronk article on the shadow and how it affects police and other first ees
responders. Im sure, like me, youll recognise an old friend.
Dom. Chap i know via whatsapp misconduct survivors group is asking about literary agents for book on Corruption within Psd ( i mean who would believe it!) As literary giant know any or top tips please?
I remain obliged. ( luv saying that)
P
probably one for a pm