I gave up a job as an HR Manager at a recruitment company, took a pay cut & lost a company car. Why? Because i wanted to serve the community as a police officer and make a real difference. I have worked in the wholesale industry, recruitment, electronics, public & private sector. I have been an HR Manager & a Training Manager. I am Chartered but all i wanted to do since i was 16yrs old was to join the Police.

I joined one of the U.K.’s largest police forces in the North of England and was thoroughly shocked from Day One. I must say, i have only ever twice witnessed racism by colleagues & that was towards the end of my service (both occasions i reported & nothing was done). I certainly saw no evidence of ‘Institutional Racism.’ What i did see was ‘Institutional Bullying’ on a scale wider than i have ever witnessed in any other industry and what appalled me was that it appeared to be an accepted part of daily life in the police. I encountered dozens of probationer officers and senior officers, many of whom performed their job with the highest professional and ethical standards. I make no attempt to tar all officers with the same brush.

What I found was a police service trying very hard - and failing - to put its house in order.

During my time in the police, I moved station several times, transferred into CID as a Detective and even specialised in a department at Headquarters. Wherever i was based, whatever i did, it was the same old Poo!

I’ve left the police now but i write this blog for my many former colleagues who remain off work on sick leave with stress. It was always embarrassing telling people i was a police officer when i knew what went on and what the tax payer pays for. In fact, when told, most people never believed i was a police officer.

This is a VERY unauthorised blog of a northern police officer and the daily trials and tribulations taken from memories, pocket note books and CID day books.

www.peoplespolicing.blogspot.com