Break in at Oakridge Shooting Ground

[Walker570]

Fanciful idea. I would prefer the money to be spent on uniforms with some good lads in them.  It is just going to instigate an 'elite'.  I had to work with some of the 'instant' inspectors and sergeants from 1974 to 1990 who had difficulty in making a decision. 

I also spent a large part of my service attending and investigating road traffic accidents and too many deaths. Not many can say they have had a beautiful young 18yr old die on their shoulder and then have to go and knock on their parents door.  Been there done it too many times when we were allowed to be proper policemen and women AND didn't have to watch our every move and word in fear of one of our colleagues running to 'Sir' to report what we had said or done and hopefully get some brownie points.

The incident described by howling hound is a case in point. My team would have arrived in minutes, including a dog with the sole intent of locking somebody up, not just ticking boxes and filling in forms.  My Divisional Controller was an old hand who knew every inch of our patch including all the likely lads. Local controllers where replaced by a centralised system just after I retired and the person you are likely to speak with hasn't a clue about your area and probably a civilian. I had a theft in motion here at my home. the van was seen and number taken. I was on the phone within 5 mins and gave the full details and asked if a car was on the way. 

"Well, I will have to pass it to the control room and they will make the decision".    After I kicked **** and lobbied Police Commisoner and my MP and a not very polite letter to the Chief Constable, I had a visit from the Control Room Inspector and he admitted they had failed big time. The thieves were eventually arrested five weeks later.  Do you really believe another 3 or 4 'detectives' in Leicestershire is going to change that ?

 

Oooooooops, just saw a big pink pig fly past my study window.