What beautiful timing. As Comrade Straw’s core vote chasing, headline grabbing, bandwagon jumping police bashing comments began to circulate I was nearing the end of reading Michael Pinkstone’s second book Arriving in the van.
What the media and consensus opinion seem to ignore is that there are plenty of highly intelligent articulate people in the police service. Whilst the image of the unimaginative woodentop plod unable to use joined-up handwriting let alone construct a decent argument is an attractive one, the exceptions blow the rule out of the water. Pinkstone can write and he can conjure up a crystal clear image of why this country is – in his words – “fucked”.
Unfortunately the generally anecdotal style of the book doesn’t lend itself to a meaty summarising quote. To quote a sentence or two out of context would surely offend the very basis of Pinkstone’s main thrust. I suggest you read the whole book. However the pithy penultimate chapter is worth quoting at some length and is apt given Mr Straw’s recent right load of old cancel cancel. PC Pinkstone is in the office updating the computer database towards the end of a typically busy and unpleasant shift:
Suddenly, without warning, I hear a sound on my radio. Another assistance shout. You have to be joking. Does that mean I have to go outside again? Fuck me, I was getting used to being behind my desk.
PC Desert is calling up. He’s being assaulted on the High Street. I guess that means he needs some help. And if you knew PC Desert, you would also know that he’s not one to waste words or call up without good reason.
I run to the van. PC Droll behind me. PC Bump too. We climb inside and roar out of the car park. Anyone would think this shit is exciting…
So I continue to drive and catch up with my three colleagues who in turn have caught up with the male and female. She looks about fourteen. He looks about eleven… PC Desert had their mother in his van. The other chap who had run away turned out to be the father… What a lovely, special family. What wonderful citizens of this country…It was because all of them attacked PC Desert on the street. They attacked him. Including the children.
For Jack Straw’s sake, I do hope that he isn’t tempted to do anything like drinking and driving or even dropping litter in the next few months.
I understand that the Met are already after him.
I am sure Lakelander correctly points to police plots for engaging Mr Straw in the manner described.
The Inspector Gadget blog appears to teem with policemen disposed to malfeasance. It would then remain to be seen if such actions incurred a just price tag.
It would help greatly if all coppers were tall and overbearing… as they used to be. No nonsense.
My sentiments. I used to work on the following basis; Come at me with your fists and I’ll stick you. Use a knife and I’ll come back with potentially lethal force. Be reasonable and we’ll most likely get along.
… and very very few of them had degrees then.
True again. I got mine 20 years after I joined.
I’ve only ever heard my dad swear once – he’s a very well-mannered man. As such, when he takes a rare swipe at someone, you can be assured that his opinions are most likely quite accurate. About 10 years ago we were watching some politics show on the TV, and Jack Straw started wittering on about something. Dad stared for a moment, stood up, and left for the kitchen, saying, “That man is a complete and utter twit”.
May not sound like much of an insult, but it is certainly the equivalent of “bald, ginger c**t”.
Pinkstone! Hope you didn’t mind me quoting you and putting a spin on it. Looking forward to your next posts and to diving into the third book.
Show me a politician that isn’t a the moment Pinkstone?
They couldn’t muster a spine between the lot of them them.
Clot?
As much as I loathe Straw I think that many people find todays police distant and in many cases intimidating. Though with many touchy feelie labour placemen at the top I’m not sure just what Straw hopes to achieve.
In which case why didn’t he raise those points rather than a proxy bullshit one? Who does he think has been taking the decisions at the top for the last twelve years?
The police blogs are full of moans about the time they spend form filling. So was he far wrong?
And are not the PCs so very PC?
Have you misunderstood what Straw said – he said officers *preferred* to be in the warm rather than catching criminals. Surely if that was the case the blogs would be praising the amount of paperwork which enables them to slope off??
Is Jack’s statement empirically sound? I mean, has anyone asked him? I’m sure Gordon would have the factistics at his finger tips?
I’ve been meaning to blog about this, but haven’t worked out a way to do it without sounding like a babbling bug eyed maniac.
Well written BE.
ATNS, me too. I tried, by going `off topic` but which ever way I turned the irritating little tick-turd twat kept coming back to irritate me.
“but haven’t worked out a way to do it without sounding like a babbling bug eyed maniac”
You’ve never let that hold you back before!