The Policeman's Blog

It's quite obvious to me that Mick believes the TGB's when they say they cant read or write. Have you ever noticed how much their understanding increases and decreases depending on the level of sh*t that they are in!! The old trick round by us use to be that they were all named the same and had a "community shared" licence and insurance. Sod um - if they can't read or write then they should'nt be on the roads.
 

ah DC! you rum turkey. I suspect this post is going to run & run. I am to exited to type.
 

Is someone trying to tick the 'Diversity' box in order to build up a bit of portfolio evidence for the next rank?
Suspicious Super
 

I obviously have too much time on my hands - anyway, call me old fashioned, but I do have this lovely vision of everyone being equal under the law, whether they are politicians, ordinary members of the public, police officers- everyone.
So, if the gypsies or travellers break the law, lock them up.
Lock them up often enough, and they, like other people who break the law, will either get used to the inside of a prison or will mend their ways and conform to the law.
 

Dear Mick,
It appears the fundamental problem hee is that of literacy.
Therefore I suggest that many of the local schools would be only too willing to chuck in a few used "Janet and John" books in the name of recycling.
"Look at the dag. Run boy, run"
 

Surely the pikey's are able to speak, perhaps the camp genius (the one who can actualy read and write) might be able to tell the younger tarmacers all about the requirement for driving licences, tax, insurance and MOT's?

Yet more promotion evidence for the power hungry methinks. There was i thinking that ignorance is not a defence against the law.

I suppose we'll be looking to take over education for all next to add to our social work, what about the terminaly thick that Frank Chalk talks about? will they be getting police reading lessons too?
 

Please tell me that this isn't real ?
A police officer surely isn't looking to teach the G+T community to read and write and help them pass their driving tests ?

If it is someone looking to get promoted - get out of the office and stop them stealing property that doesn't belong to them.
Lots of bodies in = good thief taker.

I am horrified.
 

There is a reason that on my shift we call the G&T Community "Do-as-you-likey's".

Its because they live on the fringe of society and "do as they like". They pay no tax in any way whatsoever. But they get allocated sites to live upon, then they build brick built house things on them.

They then park their Mercedes Benz outside. Go figure.
 

And I'm a little confused by the acronym. Surely someone should have told him that G&T has already been adopted for the "Gay and Transvestite Community".
 

Doesn't this approach discriminate against people who aren't TGBs, but just stupid and can't read and write because they didn't listen at school or are too dim to shoulder the responsibility of using a car on a road, which is not a God-given right such as living and breathing? Maybe we should see that everyone is able to read and write, but we will need the help of a few teachers to go and deal with the shoplifters which we are teaching - hang on - why not let the teahcers teach the illiterati, and we will lock up the law breakers? Or is that too divisive. Confused.
 

From:Sy T Spokesman
To:All
Subject:The Shades

I was talking to this Mick the other day.He seemed a nice enough fella.He was talking about breaking down barriers. I said they wouldnt have had to if they had asked nicely about the stolen car that had been left on the site overnight by someone.
He was telling me he was wanting to help and engage with the community.
I said we were always engaging with the community. For instance some of us are always out and about checking pensioners places for leaks and helping turn the water off.
For instance I told him recycling was one of our main aims as any council can tell you after we leave a site.
He was talking about access to services. I said access was not getting better since someone keeps on ripping out the pipework at the amenities block.
Like others who are not travellers I told him literacy was still a problem as some still think that Lead free means they could fill up and drive off.
He said he would keep in touch

Any way must sign off

Sy
 

Yet more evidence of the dangerous slide from police work to social work.

The police are here to UPHOLD law and order, not pander to the educational shortcomings of thieving, good for nothing gypo's!
 

What they need are books with lots of pretty little pictures to illustrate each law and offence with a tick or a cross beside each one.
 

Marvellous. I can feel all fuzzy and warm now that gypsies illegally driving isn't their fault, but society making unreasonable demands like them complying with the law. If they can't read, how do they know what road signs say? Oh hang on, it doesn't matter as they can do what they like.
 

This is good, this is really good DC, as in the email. This sort of email makes "twoddle" out of engaging the community.

This sort of email is the type that those that write, and those that manage the writer, actually use when they are seeking promotion. And they get promoted on this fallacy!

Firstly, we know that this community like others commits crime, so when we go onto their estates, we are now to assume that they can't read or write, or they can't remember their date of birth and have no idea where their passport is? Hmmm.

If the C/I wants to engage communities to the satisfaction of their Chief Constable I would suggest they listen, and stop stupid forums, which I know, achieve nothing but make liberals feel good that they are doing the best for this community. I am sure the C/I feels better as does Mark.

In this case Liberals includes the C/I who probably has no clue about diversity, otherwise they would stop this tokenism. Forces regulalry sidewards move these people for development.

These sort of Forums have budgets of around 5000 to 10000 per year and they will have a bit of a get together and discuss the way forward and two years down the line they have had meetings, and chocolate biscuits and social evenings but no tangible outcome.

This is really good DC, as in, it is hilariously true that this sort of thing happens, and then someone ticks a diversity box. But diversity ain't about this.

Hmm, still when the HMIC sees the forum and what it has achieved the Force can tick another box too.

It is just a surprise that Wiltshire has a particularly poor record when it comes to listening serving colleagues in their Force that are hung drawn and quartered for being honest, by other Black colleagues, who are shall we say, economical with the truth, and would rather attend meetings of such Forums, rather than deal with real things. Oh well...Not treating good colleagues that genuinely challenge might be something Wiltshire could do better, but oops, that's in the too hard to deal with category.
 

Strange how they never seem to have a problem conducting a transaction for a top of the range 4 x 4 (usually range rover), or managing to purchase a wide screen television isn't it.....hmmmm
 

From an avid reader, a product of the baby-boom generation:

First - G&T stands for Gin and Tonic. Get it right for Christ's / Mohammed's / Budda's / Moses' sakes!

Now some history, I hope that this makes you laugh and actually make you believe that your job really is worthwhile.

When hauled up before the plod at Wimbledon police station, aged less than 10, for nicking art materials from Wimbledon College of Art, my Mum and Dad accompanied me.

I was truly in the shit!

We had climbed upon garage roofs to ogle nudes being painted. This was between 1955 and 1957.

Disappointed that there were no naked women to be seen, we then raided the outside studio looking for loot. Bingo! Tubes of paint!! So we knicked them. And scarpered.

Enter man on bike. "Gotcha!" Scene 2 - The Nick.

The CID man at Wimbledon Police Station looked at me sternly, my parents behind me.

"I have a choice. I can caution you, or charge you. What do you prefer?"

Honestly, that's what he said.

Let me refresh your memory. This was in the mid 1950s. Rationing still existed, I was less than 10 yrs old. But I was flush with money ......

My grandparents had just visted and given me and my sister a shilling each. That's 5p.

My answer was (gulp) "caution". I could buy 12 black-jacks and 12 gob-stoppers if I got off, but if I had to pay up. I could afford it!

The judges and jury let me off, with a caution.

It's not like that now, is it?

I apologise if this appears to be an old man's memory of how it used to be.

On second thoughts - I am buggered if I apologise - that's how it should be, now.
 

Mick Leighfield;

Stop being a trench dodger and **** off and arrest someone.
 

Its retards like him that get promoted and its at the expense of the common sense, tell it like it is troops who get so demoralised when they hear such otter tosh as this.
Best value group.
Steering group.
Do us all a favour Mick.
Leave.
BIFF.
 

As a Police Officer I am always amazed that the Police can get away with making such broad, sweeping statements without any statistic analysis, day to day we spend so much of our time gathering and processing evidence… yet on diversity issues we seem to pay very little attention to raw fact. I can just image 12 people sat around a desk, pink slippers on feet and holding hands, someone comes up with ‘edgy’ idea and it is signed, sealed, delivered. Just because an idea is different, doesn’t make it right and when every Officer that reads your mail laughs to the point of despair it may be time to go back to the drawing board.

Oh how I long to treat everyone equally.

I expect Mick will be unhappy about this attention and I have always found him to be helpful and polite, so in some ways I feel bad for him, but if you put your head above the parapet you can expect to hear whizzing noises.

Maybe he has a point, maybe not… perhaps that would explain why a number of these people have previous for burglary / deception offences… if only they could read the door number none of this would have happened.
 

Well, now that I've recovered the ability to breathe properly, I still can't actually speak. I realy am shaking with fury. Is Mick Leighfield a police officer? I know exactly what Acting Chief Inspector Lisseman-Edge is! This is an example of how the police force and service (they used to be both) is being diverted from its core function - to enforce the law, to prevent and d etect crime and criminals, to lock the buggers up. Big Bruv (and everyone else) said it all. I don't recall seeing an Act of Parliament that contains exemptions because of a particular list of reasons. Ignorance is no defence. It's pathetic and I'm sorry once again to see evidence of how so many so called police officers jump on the bandwagon for their own personal ambitions. DO they really believe this nonsense? It doesn't matter either way, they're a disgrace to their force/service and to all of those officers who have to deal with the reality that really actually exists out there in the real world. Leave the social engineering to the state, for F**KS SAKE have SOME PRIDE! The TGB's will be laughing themselves silly at this.
 

You really have to feel sorry for these people, and have to wonder how they get through life. Perhaps they should be taken to a place of safety and educated, and not released until they can pass a literacy test. Jeff P.
 

So not being able to read or write means that the pikeys are exempt from laws that the ordinary citizen has to abide by?
Why doesn't this officer go out and do some real policing?
 

How about a new telephone help line for the TGBs.. We already have language line so it'll have to be called something like 'Pikey Line'. Obviously the adverts would have to be in picture form so that they can reach the target audience.
As a police initiative 30 frontline officers could be moved away from the distractions of response to man (or woman) the lines. They could dish out helpful advice to those that call on their latest mobile phones. If it was 24/7 then we could ensure that we always have people available to make sure we dont actually prosecute anyone... oh wait I think we have that covered already....
 

I am t angry to reply,will have to come back later.What a pile of sh**
 

Mick Leighfield, may i suggest that you resign from the police and join social services. its seems you have never come across a pikey if you had you'd realise that thier understanding decreases and increases depending on the amount of Sh*T they are in. You were probably one of those officers that as soon as your probation was over found themselves a nice cushy office job
 

Don't see what the problemis meeself. every one I've come across has apparently been "noine yars old" (even the ones with tashes and grey hair) and so has plenty of time to learn toread before they go for their test.
 

Reminds me of my time only a few short years ago when I appeared in Lincoln Crown Court to give evidence.

Defence " Officer in your statement you describe the person who the prosecution claim is responsible for these deceptions as a Gypsey Type !" Then in a bid to show the jury what a bigot I am he goes and asks the killer question.... "Pray what is your knowledge of Gypsey Types ?"

Me - Thinks..Honesty The Best Policy.. " Well having worked for years in $%$£"!(* in and around the !*&! Street site I can say I have a good working Police knowledge of Gypseys. I have never been to see them when they have been victims of crime only offenders, I have recovered scores of stolen cars, scrap and the odd shotgun from the site. My experience is sadly not good, they are dishonest, underhand, devious and violent. Dogs roam untethered, human and animal waste litters the floor (the jury are starting to giggle at this point) and I fear for my personal safety if I have to attend alone.
In relation to their physical description, the men are often stocky to large, hard features, ruddy complexion, wax jackets, moleskin pants, dealer boots, always a Jap 4wd to hand, a Shogun or similar, often difficult to get to the bottom of their identity (the jury can be heard laughing).....

Judge....'Officer can I stop you there.....'

Me thinks 'Oh £$£$'

Judge turns to Defence and says 'We all know the type of person the Officer is referring to in his statement and description, unless you have a valid point to make by this line of questioning we will move on'

Defence 'We will move on your h'ner'

He got 9 years.
 

All,

(1) Mike might not be a police officer.

(2) The C/I, instead of using their own metal, is probably doing what they think the CC wants to hear. The C/I in this case has no bottle I am afraid.
 

I'm quite shocked by some of the discriminatory language and terms used in comments. 'TGB' and 'Pikey' especially. I think you'll all find the correct term for our travelling community is 'Stills'.
 

I would like to be part of this "important project" and assist in breaking down barriers between police and gypsies.
I would like even more to break down the doors of their filthy caravans and lock the thieving **stards up for as long as possible.
Mick you are a complete W**ker.
 

All this racism is terrible. Our local travellers break down the barriers between our communities every day. If only I could catch them at it...
 

Tash, is that as in "Call him what you like, he's *STILL* a TGB!"?
 

Bloggs honestly......You tearaway you. I think people are having a go at those in charge who make a mockery of policing by trying to be PC when actually it is not the right thing to do.
 

Way off the subject, but had to post this- just been reading the Times, and I notice that the government is about to give the *taxman* the power to tap taxpayers' (that's all of you, readers!) phones and plant bugs in your houses.
Again, it may be me being old-fashioned (or sane!), but I feel strongly that the only people who should be able to plant bugs are the police and security services *with judicial oversight*.
But, apparently the government is happy to give yet another agency the right to subject us to surveillance!
I will log off now and gnash my teeth for a few hours....
 

Mick Leighfield is a fully sworn Police Officer.
 

Oh well, anonymous, I am sorry, I did not know that Mike is a police Officer. Then I am surprised. This is follow my leader. It's a game right.

Let's cut to the chase folks. Sterotypes are real, we as human beings stereotype, we as police officers do this because this is our job. We stereotype, and some stereotypes are real.

But Mike will be under pressure from above. Are we sure that Mike won't complain?
 

By the way please go to my blog. I have awarded the first "gong" of 2007 to the CC of Derbyshire for being PC when it was really a silly thing to do, being PC that is.
 

I am sorry but I have just picked myself off the floor. I fell over reading this. Since when is the inability to read or write, (ignorance), been a defence in Law? This has never precluded anyone from obtaining insurance before? And certainly even those from other communites who cannot read/write still have to have insurance. Surely the C/I knows better? Well, maybe not. And now I have bumped my head at jumping up and down in anger because we lost the Ashes 5-0. This is absurd. OK the Ashes loss is bad too, but this "tokenism" is absurd.
 

Mick won't be able to respond to any of the comments here, sadly he is too busy finishing his daisy chain.

Wishy washy bollocks.
 

I cant remember how many times I have turned one of them over, and they cant spell their name or remember their date of birth.
selective bloody ability to read write or do anything.
What a load of bo*@ocks this idiot is talking.
 

Yes, I am usually a strong proponent of reasoned debate, but in the case of Mick Leighfield I think reasoned debate might be a waste of time...
So, could someone who knows him please pass on the derision of the general public/others in the form of a few well-chosen expletives (if you are senior in rank), or (if you are not senior in rank) surreptitiously stick a note with the words, "I am the tw*t bringing the Police service into disrepute with the public" on it to his back?!
 

"What's your name?"

"Don't tell him, Pikey!"
 

This post has been removed by a blog administrator.
 

The flight from reason gathers pace. Truly the meek will inherit the world but they will be thrashed by a gorgon on the way...
Bet Mikey NEVER was a police officer, really, he has been hibernating waiting for the opportune moment to emerge and do some good stuff.
The caravan dwelling, amoral, feral section of our society ,laughingly referred to as the gypsy traveller will soon be given all the protection of the state ,they will be then able to continue with their evil lifestyle chosen to maximise misery for the hardworking majority. ,its almost beyond cliché or parody this is what happens when the morally weak stage a coup and take over essential services, where the leader despise their men and women and look for ever different ways to embarrass and tie them to the latest shibboleth.
As Bonnie Tyler says "were looking out for a hero"
Did we ever vote for this?
If we did not ,why are we putting up with it?
 

I would genuinely like to assist Mike Leighfield and his supervisors to get their promotions.
For as we all know - in the modern day Police "service" one doesn't get promoted working shifts and doing trivial things like locking up and prosecuting criminals...no.no.no - an "outdated idea". One gets promoted by jumping on the latest politically correct bandwagon and introducing some outreach, co-ordinating, touchy feely, do-gooder namby pamby initiative (thanks DI Grim).

To assist the G&T's or TGB's as I believe they are sometimes referred to ( T=thieving and B= unmarried parents - work out the rest)..how about...
....
....
....
...
A cassette tape with an Oirish voice detailing the basic requirements of the road traffic act. Such a tape could be played in their ford transits or their expensive 4 x 4's. As an extra it could be produced on DVD for them to play on their widescreens in their luxury stretched caravans.
We could then get Police Officers to go around "hug a gyppo" and give them free copies paid for by the stretched UK taxpayer.We could stage "roadshows" where they all turn up and park on someone elses land for weeks whilst we "outreach" with them...oh they do this anyway!!

They would no doubt ignore such a cassetter or DVD - as I think if "Call me Mike" does a little research - he would find out that TGB's are all fully aware of the Road Traffic Act - possibly more aware than he is being a "trench dodger" - and choose to ignore it. Like they also choose to ignore the Theft Act, Inland Revenue, Constructing driveways with more than 1mm of tarmac, not to dump their waste on other peoples land.....but manage to be able to read and write and claim every allowance going.
 

I would really like to say this is a one off for Wilts Police but we run on emailing s**t. Our bosses haven't got a clue about the devistating effect this has on the frontline troops. They all ponce around making up this b*****ks whilst we spend the majority of our time filing in the massess of computer generated forms they dream up or working our way around an abysmal computer crime recording system. Most are so out of touch with reality it is scarey and refuse to acknowlege the pressure the troops are under. Apart from the odd email denying any problems within the force I wouldn't even realize we had a Chief.
 

I thought ignorance of the law was no excuse, or does that only apply to literate, law abiding people ?
 

PC/Sgt/Insp Leefield is doing the job he is doing because he applied for it, the reality of being a propper policeman obviously did not appeal to him.
The alternative would be to have him backing you up when things got beastly.
I think he is probably better off where he is.
Im sure he deserves a police officers wage unlike those PCSOs
 

FOLKS forget this LeEfield character for now, some of these people know they are sucking up so to speak. Maybe he's innocent, who knows? But, bosses want loyalty.

WE LOST THE DAMN ASHES AND THIS IS DEVESTATING NEWS, FAR WORSE THANT THIS FORUM. WE SHOULD BE ACHIEVING FUN WITH MONTY AND FLINTOFF AND CO, AND CELEBRATING ENGLAND.
 

"G&T" in schools stands for "gifted and talented", the cohort of the 10% cleverest kids (in the school, not the county, so lots of ours still don't have IQs in three digits) who go on special trips and activities to assuage the guilt the Education dept feels for screwing up their life chances by making them do the National Curriculum in comprehensive schools with the spawn of scum for company.
 

I think Mick Lieghfield and A/Ch Insp Lisseman-Edge are doing a wonderful thing in trying to educate a very underpriviledged class of people. It must be very hard not to be able to read or write, and it must be very difficult to teach them when they are no longer young. Such a project obviously needs funds, which could be met from police funding. The police authority could buy a small caravan for the two afore mentioned officers who could then park it on the nearest travellers site and live there whilst they teach their charges the three Rs. I'm sure that they would made most welcome by the gypsy community and spend many happy hours round the campfire being entertained by the gypsy violinist and the skirt swirling beauties. There would be no more theiving, all the vehicles and drivers would be road legal. What a wonderful life !! Rob
 

I thought G&T must mean Give and Take.

GIVE the impression your from the Water Board,

And

TAKE some old dears pension money.
 

I'm trying to work out if being a Pikey is a cultural or an ethnic issue. More to the point, I rather like the idea of driving a 4 x 4 without having to tax it. Let's be brutally honest, I'm cheesed of having to pay my wack and fancy some diversity. Have you got any application forms for being a Pikey or do I just become one and declare it when stopped?

Regards Bigal
 

Mr Leighfield,

In my force you have to jump through HOOPS to get promoted, not just run your tongue around the A/CI's. Lucky you.
 

I have to be honest afetr months of reading this blog and the book, (very good DC) this is the first time i have commented. I had to after i stopped wetting myself with laughter at the comments posted by anonymous's between 5.33 and 5.53pm today. Hilarious.
Nothing informative to add sorry, maybe next time.
 

Dear Mick,
We have a PC at our nick who went through training school twice, and then did at least two street duties courses, before he got sent to team.
Eventually he had case conferences to "discuss" his suitability in The Job.
It was argued that "as his employers knew his first language was not English (therefore he does not fully understand what is required of him), and that they employed him, then he should stay". He is still with us, still as thick as pigs**t, if not thicker.
We also have an officer who only learned to read & write a couple of years before joining the job. That officer (no gender specified) applied to the local authority to keep a horse on her (damn!) property. It was thought that a horse on a balcony of a block of flats was not entirely suitable. Such is the desperation of The Job to fill quotas.
Dear Mick, please Mick, Sir Mick, could you take these officers? I am sure they would be valuable in your promotion...I mean, quest to rid the land of ignorant criminals.
They are, after all, qualified!
 

Well done Michael on this project I hope it all goes well.
I hope you dont mind me calling you Mick in future posts.I hope your job satisfies you and you dont feel guilty drawing your wages .Wasting Police Time Mr Copperfield I think.
 

We used to have a saying when i was in the military...
IGNORANCE IS NO EXCUSE FOR NON COMPLIANCE.

Cleary thats not true in the world..

Jobs f****d

Twelvelegs
 

I have never stopped a TGB and had them admit they can read and write, for christ sake they even get an alias when then get christened! As has been so eloquently pointed out they live outside the realms of society because they want to, they do not wish to comply with societies rules, why the ***k should they, as we are for the most part powerless to do anything with them. They are a transient community because they are harder to catch, I have lost count of the times I have chased after the ***ts only to have lost them on the site, of course the hilarious dialogue usually follows where you feel like an extra in Snatch. Perhaps as has been suggested the good old Wiltshire Cons could purchase a shiny caravan for the C/I and his family, complete with dagg and he could give the necessary literacy lessons on set days and evenings, then those more able could become CP3O's and go forth to spread the word!!!
 

Parts of the USA take government into their own hands; they have citizen’s charters & vote for legislation changes that politicians wouldn’t touch (not because they don’t agree, but because they don’t want to be seen publicly supporting certain ideals). Apparently they have some real clout.

It sounds like a great idea to me, considering imbeciles are running our land. If anyone knows any more about these “new” groups in America could they drop me a line?

How about we start by picking a part of this country & all we like minded individuals start migrating there. A true copland & other decent folks welcome of course. We could have true neighbourhood watches & patrol our own streets when working. Decent local pubs of course. Our children could play safely in the streets, a crime free utopia by design. With real people power. Sorry, sorry dreaming out loud. How daft am I.
 

I thought this was a joke and I have spent some time making anagrams out of the name Lisseman Edge. Nothing comes out in English and I only know a few words of traveller language, (enough to know I was a gorgy gavver who would regularly arrest chavys for chawing shant)
If anyone wants a serious suggestion it is this. Drunk drivers, speeders and kerb crawlers have to go on instructive courses and seminars as part of their punishment/rehab. Why could iliterate offenders be sent on courses to teach them to read and write?
I am not sure how the Police have allowed themselves to become uniformed social workers.
By the way Insp Gadget has a similar blog titled, 'It ends with a why'
 

Send it to a National Paper. Quick!!!!!!
 

Very good posting

I wait with baited breathe for a reply from one of the "STILL"s people to this !!
:-)
 

When I first started in this job it was because I wanted to help people. The person that had just woken up to find all of their possessions gone, the person who had been subject to a robbery and couldn't find the courage to go out into the street; I would say decent people but that is not right, when I first started I believed that I would be helping the criminally inclined as well but helping them to understand causation, balance and respect.

That soon passed.

It started when I realised that I was spending more time trying to build rapport with my suspects to get a cough than updating my IP’s or offering reassurance. It continued when I realised I was spending more time ensuring that I properly recorded crime rather than properly investigated it. And it carries on.

I look at what the Police have become and feel sad…

Instead of looking for others to blame let us be honesty, it is we that are to blame, us that have allowed the British Police to become a mockery of what we all swore to protect.

We allow absolute rubbish like this to pass for Police work and I for one think it is about time we stood up to this. Everyone who posts a reply to nonsense like this makes a stand and enforces the creeping rumour running through the halls of government ‘perhaps all is not well within the Police’. It isn’t, and a change has got to come.
 

We need to stop this nonsense - right here, right now, TODAY and reclaim our country from the stupidity to which our public services(!) have descended.

Who, in authority, will have the cojones to speak up for we ordinary citizen taxpayers who are sick to death of getting sub-Third World public services at First World costs (taxes)?
 

Mick Leighfield,you poor b*****d,you've been Copperknobbed.D'ont worry there are plenty more clueless apparatchiks out there lining up for the same treatment.Oh what fun!
 

Should I hate him?
Yes. I've decided. I hate him.
Frederick 4kin Chopin.
 

Dear Mick,

Trying to break down the barriers between the Police and the G&T community sounds lovely. Unfortunately those 'barriers' have all been approved by a democratically elected parliament and have received Royal assent.
Your job, such as it is, is to enforce those 'barriers' for the protection of us all.
I know you are just playing the game as you see it but there must be a better way to get a promotion than this.

Yours in hope and expectation

Joe. P

p.s. Is it OK if I continue to enjoy my G&T without a slice of hedgehog?
 

I wonder if Mick thinks that, when the TGB'S break into a commercial premises when there is clearly a sing that says "NO TRESPASSING", we should let them off 'cos if they can't read how would they know they're not allowed to break in.......Pathetic!!!!!
 

Oops, spelling in above post should read sign.....apologies (must have been taught by a load of gipceeze)
 

Can someone alert the local rag to this story?
Addresses are;

editor@salisburyjournal.co.uk

and

newsdesk@salisburyjournal.co.uk

I would but my email is playing up. I did try but I don't think it sent.

It would be great if someone from the locality would alert us of anything which appears about this thread, in print.
 

Having watched part 1 of the latest 'Waking The Dead' (Sunday BBC1) I feel I have a little more understanding of the irish traveller community or TGB's. Thank you BBC Drama for enlightening us as to the last bastion of pre-Christian pagan ritual, rite and worship in the British isles. I just wish I had known earlier, as do a lot of the posters here, obviously leighfield Mick and Acting Chief Inspectors Lisseman - Edge are at the cutting edge of community policing. Obviously the traveller community have more things to attend to than learning how to read and write, such as the production of 'organic' hallucinagenics hat can be incorporated into woad for ritualistic fighting ceremonies. Or was the programme the biggest load of bollocks I have endured for some time, just like having to listen to a pikey lie, lie and lie!
 

I'VE BANGED PEOPLE UP IN THE MAUDSLEY FOR LESS!
 

Have a look at the website of Welsh Tory David Davies :

"Following on from the £48,000 you gave for the production of a video aimed at giving schoolchildren a greater understanding of the culture and traditions of “Gypsy Travellers,” I am very keen to commission an equally “useful” and “informative” piece of film that will serve to educate said “gypsy travellers” on some of the ancient traditions and communal practices of another group of people, who we might called “settled folk”.

I use the term to describe that large group of people in Britain who opt to live their lives in houses or flats. Although large in number “settled folk” often face prejudice and misunderstanding from gypsy travellers when they come into contact with them.

I should like my film to focus on such issues as the importance which the “settled community” place on property rights, their rigid adherence to an ancient code which they refer to as “planning regulations,” and the time honoured custom of clearing up one’s rubbish."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/4222988.stm

This post may be of interest :

http://ukcommentators.blogspot.com/2005/03/travellers-tales.html
 

Try again

http://ukcommentators.blogspot.com/
2005/03/travellers-tales.html
 

Ah it all becomes clear now, not only will our beloved Traveller Friends be able to read the 'Pool' Insurance, but they will also finally be able to effectivly read all those water meters that they have been trying to suss out for years. Maybe then this is another as yet undiscivered aspect of this wonderful policy. They would then be able to fill in the application forms for the Water Board and then enter old folks homes legally. Amazing! Our Distraction Burglary stats would fall dramatically and the Service would look so good in the eyes of the public!

I applaud you for taking such an effective stance and encouraging these mis-understood and wayward members of society!

Oh if only we could all be as open minded and liberal as this fellow. Give him more pips I say!
 

How about the Government declare 43 sites in England and Wales where these travellers can travel to and lawfully settle and then retravel. Erm, the site could have full shower and washing facilities, (less pollution). These sites must not be near other housing, nor industrial estates, (less crime), because stereotypes are real. Who needs a Forum Group for it may just be a waste of time, but a way for promotion for do gooders who have no interest or clue. Gong of this week, for race and diversity, my own award, TWINING'S award, goes to Wiltshire, the fine C/I and the authour of the email. You have been Twining'd Wiltshire.
 

Only a copper with an overwhelming desire to remove himself further from the front line would dream up this sort of bollocks. If you talk to any front line copper with experience in dealing with the travelling fraternity, they will not have a good word top say about them.
This type of person only respects strength, through robust policing and being delat with properly, they will laugh with derision at how the Police are trying to cure the lack of understanding, when they know that its just them feigning ignorance and getting away with it.One Gypsy male even called me a "dirty hard bastard" which was the highest compliment ever paid to me in the Police force. This sort of politically correct shilly-shallying will only increase the contempt in which the police are held amongst the travelling community.
Incidentally, I came up with Caravan Using Nomadic Travellers to describe them....seemed to fit the bill perfectly!
 

I can't believe all you old dinosaurs out there, letting your stereotyping, & your prejudices get in the way of what is obviously the future of policing.
'Policing the streets' indeed!

Don't you see the possibilities in this exciting, innovative, vibrant initiative to engage our good honest travelling folk? The implications for Beat Officers under 'Neighbourhood Policing' alone are wonderful: contact with a 'hard to reach' community group, community consultation, diversity, partnership working!! Think of the time you can spend writing that lot up as you sit in the office for days 'proving' that you are policing in the community ( rather than being outside, actually policing the community ). Isn't that the whole point - accountability rather than response?

I can see that Senior Officers throughout the land will be rubbing their hands with glee at the prospects afforded by this project. All those boxes ticked! 'Policing the streets' - you fossils!
 

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I know a lot of travellers speak with Irish accents but these knackers are not Irish anymore than they are British. Most Irish people are very concerned to make this clear.
 

Just wanted to say that the entry at 9.35pm by Uncle Bob is 100% correct. In fact "the job" was so determined to employ someone who was dyslexic that she has been given her own laptop which is voice activated and prints out her statements.Despite being totally unsuitable for the job ( I mean seriously, applying to stable a horse in her flat!)she is still currently employed and ,wait for it , has now passed her probation. Her team inspector, a very good officer and friend of mine, named her to me as one of the reasons as to why he resigned and emigrated to Oz. He is now a PC and very happy. Good luck to him I say.

One final point which I know is often mentioned here, but the public vote in the politicians, who set the rules, who encourage the promotion of politically correct senior officers, the result of which is e-mails such as the type from Wiltshire.In short, the public deserve the service they get.

Hamish
 

Round our way (Hertfordshire) the gypos like to have races along the dual carrigeway (A414). Block both lanes with two pony & traps (carts whatever) then they are followed by a couple of transits with their hazards on (noting how gypo/travellers never use their indicators normally) full of grinning pikeys waving and smiling at the traffic. Last time there was a mile long, two lane tailback. And the police? Not a sign of them...

If me and a mate decided to the same I wonder how many minutes we would get away with it for.
 

Tash wrote "I'm quite shocked by some of the discriminatory language and terms used in comments. 'TGB' and 'Pikey' especially. I think you'll all find the correct term for our travelling community is 'Stills'"!.
Okay, let me get this straight - if the pikey's cant read or write surely it doesn't matter what we call them on this fine blog - THEY WONT BE ABLE TO READ IT - that is of course as long as Mike doesn't tell them whilst sat on the beanbags with the do as they likeys !!!
 

hmm, let me try something "succint"...

1. Ignorance of the Law is no defence.

2. Everyone is equal in the eyes of the Law.

3. The duty - and ONLY duty - of the Police is to uphold the Law.

Perhaps said police officer should join the local council instead.
 

I'm confused.

Our local Pikeys seem quite able to organise multiple and extensive legal cases in which they claim the right to have their current field turned into Pikeyville.

How on earth can they do this if they don't read or write ?

Note: Unfortunately my response to that prat would be unrepeatable.
 

My First posting here from a non police person.

My father is 88 years old. He too can neither read nor write - when he was a nipper, due to the illness of his father keeing him from work and therefore feeding the family, my father had to start work at something like 9 years old! So now he is illiterate.

However, he has passed a driving test, is fully insured and complies wilth all road signs etc. Why should a bunch of, what are mostly, Irish Tinkers (not true Romany Gypsies) use illiteracy as an excuse?

Go get 'em lads (and lasses)

Steve
 

"I cant remember how many times I have turned one of them over, and they cant spell their name or remember their date of birth.
selective bloody ability to read write or do anything."

I know ! Why not lock them up until you find out who they are. I bet their literacy skills will improve instantly !

"Mick Leighfield is a fully sworn Police Officer."

Err, don't you mean ....

Mick Leighfield is a fully sworn AT Police Officer.
 

Let me get this right, oooh, becoming road legal means I have to get insurance, and I might actually be under age, or over 18. But if I don't have insurance, and I can drive, then I can drive illegally. Therefore I save money because the costs of insurance is high.

If I have no identity then I cannot be traced. The list is endless, I could drive a road illegal car, I could use a pool car with ease. Shall I continue? Mr Leighfiled, and it's "passed" a driving test, not past. Seems illiteracy runs in numbers and is not just associated with the itinerant community. it runs to those who suck up too. "Past" is the past as in yesterday...
 

Oops I meant, Mr Leighfield, sorry, even I spelt it wrong...
 

fan them flames baby from :

http://www.travellerslaw.org.uk/

The Traveller Law Reform Project

**NEW**

The Traveller Law Reform Project Seeks a Policy Development Officer

21 Month contract
Salary: £25,395 - £27,807 pro rata Hours of work: 28 hours per week
Holiday: 35 days a year Incl: National holidays; pro rata.

The post holder will promote Traveller Law Reform, monitor the implementation of current legislation at national and regional level and support Gypsy and Traveller inclusion in the policy formulation process. The project is accountable to a steering group including the Gypsy Council, Friends Families of Travellers, the Irish Traveller movement and the London Gypsy and Traveller Unit and others; and the latter organisation will line manage the post. Understanding of discrimination, experience of lobbying, policy analysis and development work, good communication skills, and an ability to work with a committee, is essential.

For further information and an application form please contact:
London Gypsy and Traveller Unit
Address: 6 Westgate Street, Hackney, London E8 3RN
Tel: 020 8533 2002, e-mail lgtu@aol.co.uk
Deadline 8th December 06
Interview date: 13th December 06
 

what about this




"The Traveller Law Reform Bill would establish for the first time within a legal framework the rights of Gypsies and Travellers to live a nomadic way of life."

David Atkinson MP

is he your MP?
 

good old Liberty


In 2004 The Liberty Human Rights Award was awarded to the Gypsy & Traveller Law Reform Coalition
The citation from Liberty read -

"For exceptional achievement in uniting Gypsies, Irish Travellers and New Travellers and providing a powerful voice to lobby for positive change and recognition of their human rights. For effective engagement of cross-party support for some of the most socially excluded groups in the UK.


read that again "for the most socially excluded groups in the UK"

Remember all this at the next election
 

now some of these must be getriddable at the next election:

All Party Parliamentary Group for Traveller Law Reform



The APPG Traveller Law Reform is a parliamentary group committed to raising the social inclusion of Travellers and improving relations between the settled and Traveller community.

Take action! Send a letter to your MP to invite them to join the All Party Group for Traveller Law Reform.

MPs/Peers who back the group
Labour

Chair - Julie Morgan MP

Ed Balls MP
John McDonnell MP
Barbara Follet MP
Martin Caton MP
Alan Meale MP
Michael Clapham MP
Anne Clywd MP
John Battle MP
Meg Hillier MP
Andrew Slaughter MP
Harry Cohen MP
Jeremy Corbyn MP
Diane Abbott MP
Karen Buck MP

Baroness Whittacker

Lord Alf Dubs

Lib Dem



Lord Avebury
Nick Harvey MP
Andrew George MP
Nigel Jones MP
Mike Hancock MP
Bob Russell MP
Evan Harris MP Conservative



Peter Bottomley MP
John Randall MP
Tim Boswell MP
John Butterfil MP
Henry Bellingham MP
Robert Spink MP
Peter Ainsworth MP

Caroline Spelman MP

Andrew Ryder and Martin Collins are researchers to the APPG Traveller Law Reform

info@travellerslaw.org.uk
 

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things you never knew:

The Issue

During the post-war period as a result of increased development and changes in the law, Gypsy and Traveller families, many of whom, were forced off the land they owned, found it increasingly difficult to find stopping places, this brought them into greater conflict with the settled non-Traveller community.


forced off their land ? its utter tripe like this that passes for fact that makes any sensible objection impossible
 

have a look at these happy people



http://www.dglg.org/gallery/

and this is just better

http://www.dglg.org/publications.php
 

How sad that yet again modern, forward thinkers, this time Mike Leighfield and A/Ch.Insp(Fast Track?)Lisseman-Edge, are villified by you neanderthal mysonigists.
Will you ever be free from this unhealthy obsession with selectively "banging-up" the under-privileged and down-trodden criminal classes and, instead, start helping that wonderful Mr. Blair and finally get tough on the causes of crime!
 

Can't believe i missed the deadline on that application.

28hrs a week for 27K - i'm clearly in the wrong job.

The lazy, ignorant, illiterate, thieving, caravan dwelling, tax-dodging, lawless masses will ALWAYS have more rights than a 'normal' member of the public as they are part of a 'victim group', and therefore must be given special treatment, funding and, obviously, different rules.

If this doesn't happen, we, the majority oppressors can be accused of ******ism (fill in the blanks with your favourite latest crap)

Am seriously considering emmigrating.

In a similar vein. In Arizona, illegal aliens are geting funding for reading and writing. One poster wrote

"Oh, the inhumanity of it all! Actually having to go back to where you snuck in from and actually attend school there! Check out how the liberal newspaper labels the ILLEGAL ALIENS AS “Undocumented Immigrants”. Well, sh*t, all you’re missing is some silly documents? Eh, don’t sweat it, we’ll legalize ya and then you can vote and collect social security."

Same'o, same'o
 

Dear Mick

I couldn't care less if people want to live in caravans. They can live in wigwams, treehouses, foxholes or dustbins, for all I care.

However, if they want to drive cars on the roads, they have to have insurance, to have paid the road fund licence and to have passed a test and possess a valid driving licence.

If they can't understand that, I don't think they should be driving in the first place.

cheers

Andrew Kelly
 

Great post DC. One law for some and another for the rest and the poor old bill stuck in the middle.

Just read your book - a brilliant read.

Favourite bit is about Sir Ian Blair and his suggestion that people in London are leaving their doors open these days. Apparently, there's virtually no crime in our great capital city now.

Just a siggestion to one of our newspapers: why not send a journalist to find out whether Ian Blair leaves his door unlocked? Just bowl up and wander in. Or not. I suspect he'll have walls, CCTV cameras, alarms, window locks, deadbolts and a panic button in his bedroom (maybe even one of those rooms like Jodie Foster's got).

W*nkers, the lot of them.
 

Back in the '80's the village I grew up in still used to get the occasional visit from the travelling community. Local history had that they'd been coming on and off for a couple of hundred years. Opinion back in those days was that they were hard workers on the farms and as long as you kept a close eye on your horses & daughters they were no problem.
Whether their mid 20th Century counterparts were their descendants I don't know. I do know the the final visitors arrived like a plague on the landscape. The rash of break-ins. Farm equipment vanishing from the fields. Intimidation of anyone who got in their way. The local police had a bit more gumption than their modern day counterparts but faced the usual difficulties. It was rumoured that Social Security clerks were visiting the site to disburse benefit payments
In due course there were huddled conversations at the village pub.
One morning shortly after, the word went round that it might be worth taking a drive past the Heath. The travellers looked a sorry site standing in the rain round a couple of fires. The sites where the caravans had stood were marked by scorched grass and twisted, blackened ironwork. Eventually they loaded up their cars and vans and disappeared.
The police from County HQ made their presence felt for a couple of days. Various village lads were questioned but had conveniently solid alibis. The local bobbies may or may not have got a bollocking but they weren't saying.
When all the fuss had died down one of the local farmers went up and bulldozed all the scrap & rubbish into a heap and it was carted away.
As far as I know, nobody has seen any travellers in the area since.
 

Fair is fair.
Announce to the TG... errr ... Travellers that they can have free literacy lessons courtesy of Wiltshire Plod. And then nick EVERY single one of them who drives off the site sans MoT, licence or inn-sewer-ants.

'Inclusivity' should include them being included in the laws the REST of the country follows.
 

Mick

After reading all the nonsense above, I thought at least one of us ought to give you some support.

One of the farmers in the village next to us was killed recently when a pair of travellers travelled over his head in the pick-up truck they had just borrowed from him.

Of course, the hysterical, right-wing press and sickening Little Englanders who live round here were instantly up in arms about it all.

What they signally failed to recognise was that it was all the regrettable, and sadly inevitable, result of the farmer's own inherent racism and lack of diversity awareness.

If only he'd been re-educated so he could appreciate their different attitudes, mores and lifestyle choices, he'd surely have stood aside and let them borrow his savings, plant and machinery and possibly, wife, as well.

Without urgent action of this type, designed, funded and regulated by the State, these cultural misunderstandings will certainly recur.

It's too late, of course, for those two poor, bewildered lads who never did anyone any harm that wasn't readily explained by recourse to their appalling exclusion from society and general underprivilegedness (?).

They're just left to rot, wasting the best years of their lives in a mean prison cell, with scarcely a line of coke and a porn mag to their names.

Why, one of them will be in there for eight years (with time off for 'good behaviour' - if ever a more judgmental phrase was coined, I've yet to hear it. Good? In whose eyes?).

Yours

T. Hieving-B'stard
 

I post this as a member of the public whose dad is a retired Beat Bobby....

errrrm, I was brought up to believe that the Law was impartial, that if you broke the Law, you got punished. As the motto goes; "Do the crime, Do the time".

I was also always told that ignorance is no defence in the eyes of the Law.

Admittedly, there are segments of society who are the bane of the lives of Police officers, who use every trick they can to escape justice as they feel it doesn't apply to them.

It's about time this Government stopped being so damn soft, stopped pussy footing about, and gave Officers back the ability to charge law breakers with breaches of laws which are already in place. And whilst they're at it, make the legal profession stop using loopholes to get their clients off scott free. Officers from Forces all over the country can't ALL be wrong in their assessment of defence solicitors!!!
 

Obviously some of the Caravan Using Nomadic Travellers can read, as when rummaging through a pensioners house they never take things labelled "photo album" or "Gas Bill" or "Water Bill". It always seems to be "pension book" "cheque book" or money with £5 £10 or £20 written on it. I may be wrong and it could be good luck on the burglar.
I can't believe what I've just written. I need a diversity course.
 

I haven't laughed so hard for ages! And before some watery pinko suggests that we are all racist stereotypers, let me make it clear that I for one have no objection to [insert acceptable euphemism] living unsettled lives; I am hacked off only at the presumption by them and other people who should know better that they are thereby entitled to different (i.e. slacker) treatment under the law than the rest of us.
 

In a former job as a bailiff I have been shot at twice with a crossbow and been threatened with firearms twice.

Three of those times (both the crossbow incidents as I'm sure any of the Police Officers reading this already guessed) were at gypsy camps.

How do the tools running their pet project here propose to deal with such offenders once they've wishy-washed road offences and the like away?

Of course! How silly of me, if they can't read and write then how can they possibly be expected to understand the various laws around firearms! I'm sure that must be it; it couldn't possibly be that the people who do things like this just don't care if it's right or wrong.
 

High Ranking Police Officers

For goodness sake stop this PC madness.

Tax Payer
 

I'm sorry but they can read and write perfectly well when they are producing fliers for tarmac and the like.

Its also interesting to note that the expensive dumper trucks that they use to take away rubble and dump on areas of natural beauty are all insured.

We ( police ) are too soft. When they set up an illgal camp we should seize any vehicle that isn't insured. They know that we will not intervene so as not to inflame things.

My arguement is if we inflamed things a few times they might stop ruining sports fields. We've all looked at the tax on our wage slips and thought if only I didn't have to pay. Well they don't pay for anything and they don't contribute anything.

They steal from the eldery and leave a mess where ever they go.
 

My favourite tactic when the nomadic ones arrive on my patch is to jack up a couple of spare traffic officers (hard to find but they usually enjoy helping on this front) and arrive at the site.

Whilst engaging the nomandics in polite conversation about their intentions and expected duration of stay, I set the traffic officers loose on their vans and caravans.

Funnily enough, the nomadics aren't big fans of having traffic officers checking every minute detail of their vehicles, seizing any suspected of being used in crime, any in an unroadworthy condition etc.

The few times this has happened they seem to pack up and move on within about an hour. Although it may be hard work to get the traffic patrols, it's always been worth it.

And as an added bonus the traffic officers also 'kindly' escort the nomads over the force boundry.
 

This post has been removed by a blog administrator.
 

Why is that, anonymous? Have you been TOLD not to seize uninsured cars if they "belong" to travellers? How did the moron who issued that order get away with it? "Inflame"? Who's ever happy to have their car towed? I am daily aghast at the revelations on this blog.
 

I am outraged as a member of the travelling community ( travel to and from work , and often travelling for holidays ) that you all think like this , however i can see an opportunity in all this i am having problems with the OSPRE exams perhaps Wiltshire could sit it for me save time on reading all the questions!!
I had to get a grown up to write this for me as my arms are tied by being hugged by a wilts officer.

A.Traveller esq.
 

As a member of Joe Public I am well aware that our society is arse-about-face when it comes to law and order. As a civilian (sorry, member of police staff) for my local force as well I get to see and read most of the bollox arising from the disease of political correctness. Check out www.civitas.org.uk for the "Retreat of Reason" document (download it for free). It sums up very nicely that growing feeling of unease you feel everytime the latest bit of PC crap bubbles up from the rotting bog of '1st world' white guilt that it all comes from. Have a look at the Campaign Against Political Awareness (http://www.capc.co.uk/) while you`re at it for some of their real-life stories of politically correct twaddle. Having spent a bit of time studying some of the government reports (McPherson, Laming, Bichard etc) and the reactions to them on civitas.org.uk I ain`t laughing at it any more, I`m good and bloody angry. For any members of the general public reading this McPherson found NO EVIDENCE OF RACISM OF ANY KIND. Problem is, so I`ve heard, that Hendon started all this in the eighties, getting senior officers fast-tracked into power if they toed the PC line. Why do the police have to undergo diversity training?, because we have to set an example. Why do we have to set an example? because the government has had no border controls for 40 years and things are reaching breaking point. Spin? Alistair Campbell has a lot to answer for, 'spin' is another word for downright bloody lies, spoken sincerely enough of course. Have you noticed how many politicians now bare-face their way out of answering difficult questions by repeating their useless spin responses? There was one on the radio today. I need a lie down...
 

'3rd world' just means the one third of the population that doesn`t know where its next meal is coming from. There isn`t really a first world, but by the same definition it`s the rest of us with a Sainsbury or Tesco within 400 yards. What politicians will have you believe is its something to do with democracy and our system of law.
 

This epitomises all that is wrong with the modern day Police Service.
(1) It should be called a Police Force
(2) It should be, as in America - dedicated to "Law Enforcement" not namby pamby outreach social work in the name of "community safety"
(3) The thousands of Mick Leighfields in offices up and down the country should be kicked out onto the streets in full uniform to do the job the public pays them for.
(4) TGBs should get tax, insurance, MOTs and driving licences else they should have their cars s165'd and they should go to court - in custody if they are of no settled address
Why oh why oh why can we not Police rather than stand on the sidelines talking a good job and skirting around the issues
Ricky G
 

I don't know whether to laugh or cry. When you replicate Mick and the acting chief inspector Lisseman-Edge and those like them in the service throughout the uk who are engaged on this sort of rubbish, then one begins to understand why the police have become so ineffective. We have too many people - robbed from the poor frontline troops of course - engaged on "non-jobs" which have sweet ...k all to do with anything. This sort of rubbish denigrates the job even further. Please, please someone, send this to the Daily Mail and let the geeneral public know how the police are spending their time and money.
 

You may find this amazing but my Indian friend, at my local reataurant, has a good command of english - spelling and grammar.
He wasn't even born in this country, english isn't his first language and he certainly wasn't educated in a UK school, yet he knows how to put a menu and a bill together!

If he can do it, what excuse have these 'travellers' got?
 

Dear Mike
Having spent many years dealing with the traveller fraternity I would like to know on what basis you maintain that they are unable to read and write. Is this knowledge based on your personal experience or are you basing it on what a cosy round table discussion concluded. My experience is that they are no different than many people in our society who have problems reading and writing. They however are different in that although many other people with these difficulties do not resort to a life of crime they DO. My advice is let the Department of Education do there job and the Police do there job which in case you need reminding is to feel collars without fear or favour. The people of Salisbury and anywhere else in Wiltshire want the police to concentrate on crime and criminals, not airey fairy rubbish like this. I live in Wiltshire and contribute money through taxes for this nonsense rrrrrrrh it makes me angry
 

“What I do want to hear is from anyone that thinks that they could help in this project. We are trying to break down the barriers that we all know exists (sic.) between the Police and the Gypsies. If you think that you would like to be part of this important project then please let me know”

taking a leaf out of Micks book. I like breaking down barriers by using P.A.C.E. it says we can talk in a language that people understand.

“is this your vehicle”?
“just bought it, boss”
“do you have insurance”?
“err”!
“do you know who I am”?
“course I do, yer d polis, boss”
“correct chummy boy, now if you don’t get this s**t heap of my f*%#king manor now, I am going to k*%$k your fat a*%$e all d way to d f*%$king station, do we understand each other”?
“we do indeed boss, god bless ya, thank ya thank ya”
“have a nice day”

I know I could have prosecuted for a variety of offences, but that would mean rest of clan settling on some nice land & carrying on at great discomfort to nice people, whilst waiting for chummy boys eventual release. I like to think of it as a trade off & putting my skills to good use. thus leaving a very positive image in chummy boys brain, after several barriers have been broken as requested above.

all above board according to P.A.C.E methinks.

its d way I tell em! to be sure.
 

40 Gypsies died and went to heaven. They turned up at the Pearly Gates and asked St Peter to let them in.

He said that they didn't have room for all 40 of them. He only had room for 5, so they should go away and think about who would come in.

A short while later St Peter went to see God and said " They've gone!"

God replied, "What, the Pikeys"?

"No the F*cking gates"!!!!
 

Mick,

lick my hat end!!!
 

Maybe "PC" Mike has hit upon a cracking idea. A type of "sting" operation if you will.

He will invite lots of these travelling folk to a meeting place (not sure about the invites mind, as they can't read - possibly have to use pictures)and then as they arrive they get checked for insurance docs. In one fell swoop, most of their vehicles can be seized using Sect 165.

On the other hand I could be way off the mark, and he's serious about teaching them to read.
 

I'm a Wiltshire Officer and I assure you that Micks in box is still full of emails from Oficers in our Division telling him what we think.
Who ever sent this in I applaud them, and I can think of a couple of suspects

Gypsies are the vermin of society, everyone thinks it.

Do you like dawgs!!!

Xray 1
 

Whoi dont cha staap slaggin aff uz Gypsies? Oim only troin ta make a fookin livin. Dya wanna bay a dag?
 

Some traveller ladies are actually quite fit. The O'connors near my manor look just like the Corrs sisters.
 

I cant wait to see Mick tommorrow at work I'm loving this.

Wheres my watch.............

Xray 1 (again)
 

Could someone post Mick's email address, please? I think one or two or us taxpayers might like to communicate our thoughts directly with him....
Go on, just post it here!
 

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Just in case anyone thought this was all a load of rubbish and that dear old Mick didnt exist.... from Wiltshire's own web site....


http://www.wiltshire.police.uk/news/newsview.asp?id=1014

As our dear friend Inspector Gadget says "You could'nt make it up!"
 

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I'd like to comment on this but all I can think of is piss. Piss, piss, piss.

Don't mean to offend (or even re-offend)
 

Teaching G&T to read and write? Mick and the other Wiltshire cops must have too much time on thier hands to be branching out into the education field. Come spend the day in Manchester if you are short of police work, we could do with a few extra bods. And why not extend this generous offer of free education to all the 'underclasses' and asylum seekers and anyone else for that matter who claims they cannot read or write. If we do this then crime will definitely get off it's arse. NOT!!!!!
 

Dear Mick

Sorry me old chum... your way off der pace in wilshire..Here in Cambridgeshire where I park me trailer for a number of months of der year.. The Gavver (police) kindly brought round a DVD for us all called "Gavver Cheer Us" (Give the police a chance)There were loads of these DVD's made up to help build bridges with the Gavver.. Sadly they're in Romany which the North of der County speak and the south of de county speak Gaelic (as they're Oirish)so couldn't understand a word of it !! So that was wasted..More recently some of the Cambridge PCSO's are berating the rest of the force in there deloightful magazine about how we are not TGB's but respectable sellers of lace and how they are striving to build stronger links wid der travellers good luck my innocents !! Ho ho .. So Mick your off der pace and perhaps the man with the funny double barelled name need to speed up and catch up wid der loonies in Cambridgeshire !!

As dictated to the greasy pole climber by Fred Smith cro 4267/58/k
 

Until Mick teaches them to read & write, I don't suppose we shall see an answer from them here. But, what about Mick? 135 comments and no answer? Come, come. Not promotion material at all, u know.
dickiebo.
 

Boooo, hisss! Come on DC, removing Mick's email address- that's just not fair. Just when us taxpayers were going to send him him some belated season's greetings :)
 

136!
 

dam! somebody else posted i'm out of sync. missed the oportunity for sharp humour.

140.
 

Whilst on the subject of Wiltshire police...I've just looked at their web site. On the right hand column of a diversity page there are links to:
1. Stop and Search - Know your rights (I thought it was advice for police officers and their rights, but I'm mistaken)
2.Making a complaint against police
3. Freedom of Information

Whose side are they on?
 

(The following is to be read in an Irish/Traveller accent, and the punctuation has been put in to assist in reading).

I am looking forward to my lessons on the Road Traffic Act. I hope they will take place in my urine smelling, cramped caravan, with my kids riding outside on their (stolen) quad bikes. I did wonder, when I first started driving my dad's/brother's/uncle's transit van/L200 at 15 without'documents' or 'a license' why i was arrested and 'disqualified' at court.
And why I get stopped when driving the above vehicles and detained to ascertain my identity then arrested and charged for driving
whilst 'disqualified'when you figure out what my 'true' filename is.
I believe the lessons on the RTA 88 will allow me to become a productive and law abiding member of society. I may even start to pay tax and take old engines/fridges/tumble dryers to Local Authority Recycling Centres.

(The following can be read normally).

What a load of rubbish. It's bad enough they are allocated sites to live on or given houses to move in to, or to trouble the local community by breaking into sheds/houses (either by distraction or otherwise)/cars without handing out free lessons in law.

DC, just bought the book. A++. This type of publication is the way ahead by letting the public know what we are really up against. You have my support all the way.
 

i really dont understand what all the fuss is about, i think the tgb do a cracking job...i can only assume its them that managed to resurface bristol airport in less then 24 hours!
cant read? fair enough i accept thet...cant write...again i accept, cant understand they are breaking the law?...what a load of pc skin sacs!
mick..get a life, get an opinion and for gods sake get a pair!
 

In light of the update posted by DC (re. this not becoming a forum for wantonly slagging off the 'unfortunate' Mick), let me try to dampen the wanton vulgarity being displayed by some posters, and inject some reason and rationality into the debate:
I suggest that we agree to cease forthwith any further criticism of 'poor old Mick' if he a) admits he has been behaving like a complete 'tw*t', and b) dusts off his handcuffs and promises to get off his fat arse and go and do some real policing for once in his career...
Actually, come to think of it, this is far too much fun- let's carry on slagging him off- after all, he deserves it!
 

This post has been removed by a blog administrator.
 

As a serving Wiltshire officer it has to be said we have little to laugh about! But imagine the collective gasps and general derrision around the county when we dutifully opened this particular email!
Even the sparkly new probationers and PCSO's not beaten down by years of cynicism had to err on the side of non PC for just a moment! What ever next? will we be teaching rapists the art of self pleasure?
Dear Mick, a long serving and well meaning officer who has an excellent record and for most of his 108 year service has been operational. I do not know if this particular gem came from him or above but either way it shows a clear lack of ethics, common sense and realism! Can you imagine getting up in the morning for "op teach-a-thief"!
What it has shown though is the direction that my once realistic force (service) is heading...MY tax payers money is being poured down the drain while each shift struggles with a lack of staff covering hundreds of square miles singles crewed! Yet all these departments/action groups are being formed in order to come up with such wonderful ideas as this! Wiltshire Constabulary "first and best"....trust me I'm a copper!
 

to the idiot who just reposted Mick Leighfield's email address, which I see Dave has just removed, why?
the blog owner has made a polite request for you not to do this, for reasons any normal person would easily understand.
 

anon 8:18... here here. DC has asked people not to post things like that, most of us reading this blog would respect that i'd have thought??? d*ckhead, whoever put the address back up. not needed.
 

Bloody hell, bet the divisional management team got a right hard on when they saw this email.

Mick, how about spending some of your copious amounts of spare time trying to detect distraction burglaries.

Most of the honest gypsy folk I've met aren't old enough to drive anyway, they're all nine years old.

You don't need to read or write to get insurance, just walk into a brokers with some stolen cash and slap it on the table.

The gypsy community seem to be able to buy vehicles and caravans without any problem. Maybe the police should help them fill in their V5's!
 

I have no doubt that the Professional Standards dept. will be working flat out to find who sent this email to DC. They will probably draw on extra staff from the front line to help with the investigation.

If you are a Wiltshire officer reading this at work beware you are probably being monitored by the IT dept and your details passed (or past if you are Mick)onto Prof Standards. You know what happened to the officers who played 'Smack the Penguin'!
 

I'm not sure what's worse, PC Mick Leighfield's misguided ideal that members of the gypsy fraternity would actually welcome ANY involvement with the police, his abominal spelling, his dismissive 'I don't want to hear it' remark, or the fact that someone gets paid 30 grand a year to come up with this twatting nonsense. I'm sure Mick's a good bloke and so is Bob Lisseman-Edge and the idea in theory sounds good doesn't it? "let's get all the travellers road legal and everyone will be happy" but one important thing to remember here is this WE LIVE IN THE REAL WORLD GUYS!! these people hate the police! they contribute very little if nothing to society except misery and couldn't give a flying fcuk about complying with the law! I suspect both Bob & Mick fully accept this and privately are probably having a little giggle about it, let's face it who are the mugs here? they're not out getting cold & wet, being sworn at, spat on abused by kids, finishing late, doing quick changeovers, uncovering crappy new computer tasks by the bucketload. Surely these are problems that are more worthy of global e-mails asking for good solutions?
 

re anon 9.40am and the suggestion that Wilts PSB will be chasing the emailer, if they are and they catch someone, can someone else please let us know on here?
i imagine that would elevate this whole thing into a much bigger story (ie Wilts police spending time and money trying to catch a whistleblower who is drawing to the public's attention this appalling waste of, er, time and money)
 

'Important Project'???
For who? shouldn't it read...
"IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO COME UP WITH SOME CATCHY NEW IDEAS THAT CERTAIN OFFICERS CAN CLAIM AS THEIR OWN & WILL BENEFIT VERY NICELY FROM IN THEIR NEXT INTERVIEW BOARD PLEASE GET IN TOUCH"
It's the land of 'make believe', and in the words of Victor Meldrew "I DON'T BELEEEEEEEVE IT!!!"
I'm sure they don't either. It's called prostituting your values and isn't it just horrible?
 

I think is is disgusting that Mick Leighfield should stereotype gypsies as illiterate.

I am tempted to make a complaint using the useful link on the Wiltshire Police website.

Come on Mick drag yourself into the 21st Century.
 

People who attack others because of sexuality or race are festering retards who deserve locking up and there is important work going on to ensure members of these 'groups' can report crimes with confidence safe in the knowledge that it will be dealt with properly. You would like to think in years to come society will have no more need for officers such as PC Leighfield and the very notion that we ever needed people like him will have long disolved into what's left of the ozone layer. I suspect by now that the gay & lesbian community are very well aware that homophobic crimes are given premier service and are maybe even getting a little bit bored of the old bill banging on about it every five minutes so he now needs to move on to a new cause albeit a lost one!
 

It could be PC Leighfield thinks like us that Gypsies are irrepairable - but he is just in it for the 8-4 days and every weekend off.


Maybe he is the brainy one drawing £35k for an air-conditioned office job.

The idiots are the Government who initiated all these outreach liaison key-working jobs and increased our council taxes to pay for it.
Ricky G
 

The police service requires strong leadership. The Mick Leighfield's and Lissamen-Edges are like sheep.
They are following their leader.

Let's not kid ourselves; some of these people are only in it for themselves, they care not about policing; they care more about personal career progression, and these people exist everywhere.

They will cause no real change, get promoted and move on. If the emailer is chased then I would suggest they have a legitimate claim. If Wiltshire police are silly enough to chase that person, which I think they are, then that person has a legitmitate complaint. By the way I spoke to some freinds, Panesar and Mahmood and they are supportive of good principles.

And if Wiltshire do pursue anyone other than their own managers then please someone let me know, because they could well recieve another one of TWINING's well deserved 2007 gongs for failing race and diversity through PC Ness.
 

how about inventing in a programme for politicians to experience what it's like to be elderly and get ripped off for their life savings or war medals so that they can give magistrates more powers to up the ante on those rare occasions when someone is actually put before the court? any idea that you can rehabilitate habitual criminals before they commit a crime is utopian bullshit. also it's unfair to turn this into a personal diatribe against constable Leighfield or his supervising officer. they are merely puppets on a string dancing to the governemnts tune.
 

anon 11.13 has hit the nail on the head.
mps don't live in high crime areas, they have (or can afford) private health and, as we've seen this week, they send their kids to private schools even when they're allegedly socialist ex education ministers. or, like tony blair, they ignore the local comp in islington, where ordinary people have to send their kids, and bus them across town to The Oratory, while also paying from private tuition by teachers from from westminster school, one of the country's most expensive private schools. how this alone didn't sink blair, i'll never know.

re mick, i actually have sympathy for him. this isn't down to lowly PCs and SGTs, this is to be lain at the door of the Wilts chief. who on earth does he think he's serving? if you cut Wilts off from Home Office funding tomorrow, made it dependent on local taxes and made him directly electable, would this nonsense carry on for very long? there's your answer.
 

Let me just once again urge any police officers out there who want to inform us about the latest idiotic scheme or policy to use:

1. Tor

http://tor.eff.org/


2. Anonymizer:

http://www.anonymizer.com/default.html


Don't use the office computer to inform us - use your home computer running one of the tools above!

By the way, Tor and Anonymizer are not perfect, but they will usually work very well indeed.


Generally it's easier to stay anonymous if you use webmail and don't use email clients such as Outlook because tools like Tor work better with web browser based apps.

A couple of examples- if you want to know how easy it can be to track an email if you are not careful:


1. In your Microsoft Outlook inbox, right click an email and select options. You will see all headers which often will tell you from which computer an email was sent, and even at approximately what time.


2. You can also examine the email headers (and therefore find the originator) in Hotmail by going to 'Options', selecting 'Mailing Display Settings' and clicking 'Full' under 'Message Headers'.


Anyway, please continue to let us know about those idiotic schemes, and keep your job at the same time!
 

Mick, I'm a black, blind, post op transsexual gypsy. Any chase of helping me pass my driving test? Get me through and you'll hit loads of diversity targets.

While you're at it could you pay for my family to go to Disneyland (Florida not Paris).
 

to the poster from 11.31 re anon web email sending thingy's I dont think you can get sacked for voicing an opinion can you? as long as your communications are not abusive or inflammatory etc then you maintain the right to free speech surely?
lets keep this thing in perspective as well no-ones going to get hurt by these idea's of old Mick and it's nice to see someone at least trying to change things isn't it? even if we all know it's completely mad!
as for the need to remain anonymous I dont feel that need so here is my name: Janet Fred Smith from Manchester Upon Tyne, London, Wales.
 

Well, I'd hope that police officers can voice their opinions without fear of losing their jobs, but I'm not entirely sure that's true these days...
 

Anonymous 11:13

You make a very good point!

Although I’m sure that we are all just letting off steam because of the nature of “this week’s idea”. It is by design so unworkable, impractical & unthinkable that it makes for humorous responses. There are very few sensible arguments in its favour, if any. Imagine the absolute catastrophic & detrimental effect it would have if we were to recognise publicly that ignorance was a defence. I don’t know many intelligent criminals but I know loads of sharp solicitors.

Even amongst the humour there have been some great & very honest comments. Those that mention why we have the law, those that state ignorance is not a defence & those that state we are police not teachers. These are some of the most down to earth, sensible & workable comments I have read.

What’s that phrase that the job likes, “keep it simple”.

Well,

Police: should catch baddies,
NHS: should treat the ill,
Teachers: should teach (those that want to be taught that is)
Social Workers: should …… mollycoddle, tell bobby;s off for being to abrupt with the young criminals, blend the truth & support political correctness.
Politicians: should pray for forgiveness for the irreversible damage they are doing to this once great nation.

Surely the officers actually involved in this “idea” don’t personally believe in it. But I fear that it is the result of our web of political correctness policed by the all knowing & wise “Hindsight Police” ( I wish I had joined them instead, they are never wrong & always seem to come up with the best way to deal with difficult incidents) which prevents people speaking the truth about such ideas. Especially the higher up the ladder you go.

But isn’t the answer simply that people shouldn’t be afraid to say “no” that’s a really bad idea or “no, I am not taking that complaint about my officers because you are a right villain & you deserved it”!

How many ridiculous paper wasting stress inducing exercises would never start.

BRING BACK HONESTY & COMMON SENSE.
 

This post has been removed by a blog administrator.
 

UK readers might care to know that the US also has a small community of 'Irish Travellers', whose lifestyle and social structures closely mimic those of the UK 'Traveller' community.

With one minor difference, which is that their penchant for plunking themselves down wherever they please is rigourously prevented. Without the UK traditions of 'common land', and with strict enforcement of land-use and public-health regulations, the blight and crime that they bring is generally kept from sticking around. They are reduced to congregating in some very small, permanent enclaves in the southern states, spreading out from there as each warmer season comes to inflict their scams on the populace. Their usual stock-in-trade seems to be identical to that of their UK cousins - painting and blacktopping scams, long-firm-type frauds, and anything that can make a quick buck off a willing dupe. They seem to steer clear of bright-line property crime, although there are some groups that specialize in mob-invasion-type shoplifting, insurance frauds and suchlike.

The cure for them is simple, direct enforcement. Aggressive attention to traffic laws and equipment violations and informational approaches to the public to steer clear of iffy deals with unknown tradesmen moves them on quickly and effectively.

Outreach? Pah! They will scam those doing the outreaching, just as they scam everybody else. The results will be amusing, to say the least.

llater,

llamas
 

llamas is back!

Unfortunately he will need to come back again to explain to Mike, exactly what this part means...

"...direct enforcement. Aggressive attention to traffic laws and equipment violations and informational approaches to the public to steer clear of iffy deals with unknown tradesmen moves them on quickly and effectively."

 

So a group of people who do not contribute taxes to this country, drain our economy, and artifice burgle the elderly are getting the full spending of this new department?

Ridiculous just another example of Political correctness gone mad!
 

Oh Yeah forgot to say. My heritage is Irish and even the irish people didn't want them! Kicked them out.
 

By the way, for anyone who knows the now infamous Mick- has there been any reaction from him? Any sign of contrition? Any words that could be construed as acceptance that his email was ludicrous? Anything?
 

Big Bruv I think Mick and others who pursue tokenism may not realise they are being used. They behave as they do because of Chief Officers. Senior officers want to see people talk a good job, they don't want problems, they want to be able to say they are achieving even though in reality they are not achieving anything but their very own personal goals. Thus this work that Mick does allows the bosses to tick that box. I think this is more about the bosses, the service and leadership. Mick and C/I Lissaman-Edge just allow the Dinosaur mentality to continue, and then they will be in power. Hence, Dinosaurs will never become extinct! And I am categorically not calling anyone a dinosaur here, I have to make this clear. I think we reflect on Mick as an excuse, the cause is higher up. I need a coffee.
 

You really can't blame Mick for wanting to avoid the Wiltshire streets at the moment. We have had a couple domestic related murders and now we're lifting someone at every minor family tiff we attend. Join the queue at custody, spend several hours sorting the useless computer forms only for the subject to get bailed and the so called IP (who didn't want it to go this far) to come and collect them. Then off to another one! Marvellous.
 

The 'hug a pikey' brigade make me sick. They'll have us all farming hedgehogs next to provide them with meals.

Noddy
 

What's amazing for me is that *apparently* all the senior ranks used to be beat bobbies (perhaps I am wrong here?)! I just find it difficult to believe that anyone who used to be a beat bobby could acquiesce to/encourage all these ludicrous schemes...
 

You one need to read the posts and comments on this blog to realize that the rot has set in to the Police Service. Any officer willing to take a stand against this c**p unfortunately has to put their career and pension on the line. Remember Ray Mallon and his 'Zero tolerance to crime strategy'? Didn't do him any favours among the namby pamby ACPO brigade. Soon saw shot of him and the return to social working for scumbags.
 

Right then,

Lots of talk on the threads above about the consequences of forwarding the Email for publication on Coppersblog. I am responsible for this and would like to add the following comments:

I bear no personal animosity towards Mick, I just don’t know him well enough to call him a F***wit and if you publish an Email like his you should expect robust arguments from people who don’t agree with the contents. The culture of the job I am in does not allow me to do this without fear of disciplinary action so this is the only medium I have to vent my frustration (well that and swearing loudly in the office obviously) hence the number of police blogs out there. Two important points are; Mick is an officer with over 30 years service as a PC. I have never seen him operationally but he has no doubt done a fair bit of policing in his time. I don’t doubt the job has changed beyond belief since he started but nasty people and horrible situations have been around for longer than the police and he would have been dealing with them dressed in a tunic and armed with a piece of wood and a radio which didn’t work. God knows, if I’m not in an office when I’m near retirement my partner will want to know why, its getting no safer and I get hurt and knackered often enough at the moment while I am still (relatively) youthful. Secondly and more importantly, the Email was signed off by an operational C/Insp and was clearly acceptable to the organisation, this is where the real problems lie.

Regarding the consequences of forwarding the Email; if I am called to answer for this, there is no criminal offence, the hated human rights act mentions something about my rights of free association and speech so I imagine at worst I would have committed some kind of contravention of Email acceptable use rules. I have never read these and never been required to sign anything saying I have read them but I would guess that if caught out, it would be worthy of a Div Comd’s formal warning. If it is a sacking offence it probably isn’t an organisation worth working for. I work hard, am effective in dealing with the routine stuff and occasionally get to target real criminals, I don’t take ref breaks or catch up on Ebay at work (I don’t have time) so I have nothing else to worry about. Anyway you’ve got to get caught first, so for the fine officers of PSD, I know it’s been a while, so a few clues: I have 8 years service with Wiltshire and have never served North of the M4. I used a computer in work but not while on duty and I waited until someone left their account unlocked to ensure my anonymity and provide them with an alibi as they were somewhere else at the time. To commit a discipline offence you have to be guilty on the balance of probabilities and if I don’t have a defence based on my comments above then I have wasted the past few years laughing at solicitors representations on behalf of their clearly guilty (but not to CPS charging standards) clients.

To the Wilts officers who read and post, there would appear to be a witch hunt going on and I apologise for the apparent removal of Coppersblog from the list of acceptable web sites (well done management, heads firmly in the sand then). Keep doing a difficult job well under frustrating circumstances, keep laughing and keep looking after each other. I will personally ensure that the first officer to use ‘Caravan Using Nomadic Travellers’ in an update on the radio finds a bottle of 6X in their work tray (assuming of course it fits).
 

To the Wilts officer and also DC. If there were more officers like you two, we would possibly not be in this mess. Congratulations to you both, and I hope you both stay anonymous.

Well done.
 

DC. This has to be the one we've been waiting for. Get this published in the Nationals, comments included!!!!!
 

well i have read all the blogs and i can honestly say i am so proud to have u all as fine upstanding honest coppers protecting me, i mean who was it that leaked the email from Mick? Are you scared to be honest and open about who you are, surely if this incenses ( have i spelt that correctly, hhmm) you so much there are less underhand means of letting the powers that be know??? Oops sorry underhand was a term used for what was it TGB's, that is the term used by the non prejudiced honest open police officers amongst you??? As far as I can see Mick is doing his job,I have more concern knowing that so called honest coppers are leaking police emails onto the internet...... and not even big enough to own up to who you are
Lisa ...a wiltshire nurse
 

DC thanks for your blog which has brought my chin up, as a down trodden overworked stretched tired underpaid frontline copper it has brought a smile to my face, actually I've laughed my socks off. Well said wilts officer I did hear a rumour of a witch hunt by the police police!! Id rather have a bottle of JD than 6X but you will have to leave it with a note on the table in the paraderoom as my tray like my niche inbox is overflowing.
Other force officers please dont tar all wilts officers with the same stick as poor mick, as most are out there trying to make a stand against the CRO!!!
 

Wiltshire Nurse

I think you will find that many Police are 'afraid' to voice their views openly and freely ... hence the presnce of this blog in the first place!

This has very little to do with "letting the powers that be know". They already know and dont care because their next promotion depends on then coming up with similiar stuff!

"I was only doing my job!" - heard that before from a Nazi guard at a concentration camp.

I wonder how "non prejudiced" you would be if someone pitched up camp on your private land/ childrens playing field/ local beauty spot/ etc without permisssion!

Are you really more concerned that this email was leaked rather than it (apparently) existed in the first place?
 

Thanks for posting the email, as a tax payer but not a copper i feel we "Tax payers" have every rite to see how our tax is spent.
The tw@s who run the show obvioulsy know they are talking out of their arse if they are trying to cover it up, or punish anyone who released it!

DC and all other frontline coppers, keep up the fight, its a tough job, and im glad i can trust you to do it so i dont have too.
As said in a few goodmen (very appt)
"Nobody will hurt you, not on my watch."
Im glad there is a lot of you out there who still hold true to that sentiment. Thank you!

DC great book, hope you dont earn enough to retire, that would be a loss to the force :).
 

I've known Mick for a few years now, before I didn't really have any faith in the Police doing their jobs properly. Mick has helped me in a couple of problems that have arisen in the time I've known him and my faith in the Police and getting the job DONE restored! Whoever leeked this email should own up to what they've done, its people like you that give the Police a bad name and make people turn away from the faith we should have in the Force!Jackie, Salisbury
 

Sorry DC but your update saying that "its not open season on Mick " just won't wash, you new precisely what would happen and should not now be trying to feel sorry for Mick ...its shite and you know it,so does everyone else,ask Mick if he was required to write that e-mail 15 years ago...bet he would have been as derisory as everyone else ,it not his fault he has been given a soft job to see ouy his time but don't expect anyone else with dignity and intelligence to go to hell in hand cart with him.
and to the the previous blogger ,so what if he helped you ? good but that does not excuse this unimportant drivel which passes for police work.
DC is your blog self serving now ?
 

Sorry DC but your update saying that "its not open season on Mick " just won't wash, you new precisely what would happen and should not now be trying to feel sorry for Mick ...its shite and you know it,so does everyone else,ask Mick if he was required to write that e-mail 15 years ago...bet he would have been as derisory as everyone else ,it not his fault he has been given a soft job to see ouy his time but don't expect anyone else with dignity and intelligence to go to hell in hand cart with him.
and to the the previous blogger ,so what if he helped you ? good but that does not excuse this unimportant drivel which passes for police work.
DC is your blog self serving now ?
 

It,s a shame some of you other police officers couldn't take notes from mick he is one of the best officers i have ever come across, he is not driven by greed for promotion, if he was he would have done it years ago. When Mick has dealt with problems for me,
1,He never looks down on people
like a few officers (I could mention)
2, He don't judge
3, he has respect members of the public, ( LIKE ME)
4, Turns up when promised ( not six weeks later like some of you out there)
5, HE IS NOT A RACIST AT ALL!
6, More members of the public have so much respect for Mick in Salisbury.
No matter what back ground us members of the public come from, MICK has always had the highest respect for us and I thank him for all the hard work he has done to keep me and my children safe.
So all those nasty racist comments made by other police officers, you should be asking yourself are you the ones in the right job? where is your respect for us members of the public?
 

It would appear at some point A/ch insp Lisseman-Edge was actually a genuine police officer. Amazing what happens when the office environment kicks in.
http://archive.wiltshiretimes.co.uk/2005/4/6/89718.html
 

Hay mick your one in a million,
we know your one of the good one's
YOU RACIST POLICE MEN AND WOMEN OUT THERE, I STICK MY FINGERS UP TO YOU!
Mick keep up the good work you have done. from GARY WALKERS Salisbury Wilts.
 

Well it has been an interesting week in our little station, at first it was everyone round a computer marvelling at the wonder and delight, but this has subsided now and hushed whispers are used to speak of naughty things.

I know the Officer who posted this and is responsible for the event of the last few days, they are a hell of an officer, the kind you double crew with and are instantly reminded of what you wanted to be going through training school. The Officer is polite to the law abiding public, firm but fair to those who stray across the line and will always back you up when things are going wrong.

The Officer has made no comment on his / her views on gypsies just highlighted what he / she believes to be ridicules decent into madness, to the point where we have become combat ineffective. The point of this entire website and the many like it! It is unfortunate that some people have taken the opportunity to attack Mick Leighfield, he has a long amount of service behind him and never sought promotion, I don’t think we can blame him for not wanted to roll around in the street with 18 year olds anymore.

The Officer knew the potential consequence of his / her actions but spoke out anyway.

If senior management / professional standards would like to devote their time to an investigation (and rumours are they are about to) then why not muse this over:

Why has an intelligent, articulate and well serviced Officer felt the need to express his / her opinions of the Wiltshire Constabulary via an anonymous web blog?

Your front line response officers work hard for you, they don’t go home to their kids on time for you, don’t see their partners in days for you and get injured on duty for you. But we don’t come to work for you, we come to work so that the person sat next to you in the car gets to go home after a night duty, we come in because we know how thin our blue line has become, we come in because every now and again you get to log out of RMS and save someone’s life.

We don’t need to be told the factors and reasons to why people commit crime; our role is keep the peace, uphold the law and prevent all offences against people and property. This is what we swore and this is what we joined the job to do, we are less interested in the correct recording of crime and even less interested in procedures that wastes police time.

Maybe it is time you started listening to us.
 

"Whoever leeked this email should own up to what they've done, its people like you that give the Police a bad name and make people turn away from the faith we should have in the Force"

I see Wilts PR department is posting here, complete with the usual dodgy spellings.

Let me explain it so it is comprehensible by retards.

The people who make the Police look stupid are not the Copperfields and Gadgets of the world.

It is the people who encourage memos of this type, and the other seemingly endless cretinous behaviour by Cop managers and Government who make the Police look stupid.

And patronising gits who demand quasi-stalinist control freakery in a desperate attempt to cover up the idiocy in the "Service".
 

Deer Policemen,

You are all rong and raceist. It is really bad wot you have dun.

This is a genuine email from a member of the public genuinely concerned about policingand the important application of appropriate policies and procedures and showing appropriate internal usage of diversity training, honest, and all you people who display puerile comments about our much appreciated travelling community r bad bad bad peeple. (U no I'm real cos I can't spel)

If only you believed everything we^H^H that is sed about the Police then everything would be great and there would be no criminals anywhere, and I'd get a bonus (No ! delete that bit before posting this Maisie).

Just a bit mor bad speling so u think Im real.

I hope u get dun by our^H^H^H the investigation team which is no doubt at work as I rite.

Hugs and kisses to the wonderful travelling community from

Darren Smith,
123 Madeup Address St,
Salisbury, WILTS.
 

Well Dawn, I see clicking on your blogger link shows that you have been active since January 2007 and your blog contains no posts.

Obviously not just made up so you could post here and not be anonymous then.
 

No one exists in a vacuum , if you make stupid remarks ,put forward foolish ideas then the last time I looked it was a free country and I reserve the right to put you right In Mick’s world can we only agree with everything he says? The sponsored Mick PR campaign attack on other officers for their comments is to be expected. We have earned the right (through shared experience) to speak from experience and bitter results. The apparently civilian postings make no comment on what Mick wanted, which was for us to enable travelling criminals to be better protected from the law by the possession of driving documents.
It is our shared experience that the travelling community is institutionally criminal, it’s a lifestyle choice to do what ever is required to earn money, some of which is what passes for piss poor work but is never far from crime, it is endemic and frames both genders and age groups, they neither want to be inclusive in the way Mick would dream about or really care what we think of them.
There comes a time in argument and debate that we put away silly notions of human nature and actually deal with the world as it is
Remember we are the people, and get this, if the majority don’t like we will change it at election time.
So tough luck, roll your political caravan somewhere else.
Mick lad, stop being daft and help the really needy regards to you and your family
 

I have to say to dwan that tokenism is not waht we want. Toekenism is a watse of resources, and what Mick has done, all be it well intentioned, he has not acknowledged the difficulties associated with crime and this community. Mick and A C/I Lissamen-Edge's response are "false" diversity. Such responses are a total watse of time. Most Forces are still in this position.

Perhaps someone wants to ask why a Muslim male from London travelled all the way to the North to rob a travel agent, kill a serving police officer and injure one other?

How this person then allegedly left the country wearing a veil is incredible.

There must be a balance in race and dviersity. Toeing the party line, if the party line is wrong, is not right. These people are here trying to change the service from inside. We are all against a torrid of Senior Officer's who stumble.

Oh, let's go full circle and bring in detection's shall we. let's put pressure on Team Leaders to hit detection's. Well, what does that really mean? That means we might record matters, we otherwise might not have? That means, to get a detection, where we are being monitored, what are we forcing colleagues to do. This bullying mentality is ridiculous to say the least.

Performance Culture back fired on us in the 1980's. It will do the same again. No one is saying Mick is racist. The reflection here is upwards. I

f the service wants to "play" with diversity then people will get their fingers burnt. When police officers are shot dead or killed and "race" is a factor we need to ask why?
 

SPELL CEHECKED VERSIOS - i have to say to Dawn that tokenism is not want we want. Tokenism is a waste of resources, and what Mick has done, all be it well intentioned, he has not acknowledged the difficulties associated with crime and this community. Mick and A C/I Lissamen-Edge's response are "false" diversity. Such responses are a total waste of time. Most Forces are still in this position. Perhaps someone wants to ask why a Muslim male from London travelled all the way to the North to rob a travel agent, kill a serving police officer and injure one other? How this person then allegedly left the country wearing a veil is incredible. There must be a balance in race and diversity. Toeing the party line, if the party line is wrong, is not right. These people are here trying to change the service from inside. We are all against a torrid of Senior Officer's who stumble. Oh, let's go full circle and bring in detection's shall we. let's put pressure on Team Leaders to hit detection's. Well, what does that really mean? That means we might record matters, we otherwise might not have? That means, to get a detection, where we are being monitored, what are we forcing colleagues to do. This bullying mentality is ridiculous to say the least. Performance Culture backfired on us in the 1980's. It will do the same again. No one is saying Mick is racist. The reflection here is upwards. If the service wants to "play" with diversity then people will get their fingers burnt. When police officers are shot dead or killed and "race" is a factor we need to ask why? I am afraid press offices are just a mouthpiece for Chief Officers. Let's be honest here shall we, sometimes they fly in the face of honesty, they have no crediblity, they build the service up to what it is not.
 

I am sure that Mick and the AC/I are decent coppers and decent people. We all joined the job to protect the public and through all the absolute bulls**t policies and government directives, we still strive to keep the wheel on. Look at yourselves and the way your good will is being taken advantage of. The time is coming when we will have to say enough is enough. I'm sure you all know that. Mick and the AC/I are in the unfortunate position of having to convince us to keep pushing this politically correct nonsense forward.

When we initially joined the Police I am sure we all felt that we would be at the pinnacle of a group of people whose role it was to rid the streets of crime. It has proved very different. Instead of being at the pinnacle, your frontline officer finds themselves very much at the bottom dealing with schemes, static gathering, form filing and other c**p that comes from office based staff who should be helping us rather than dumping on us. After all this, we still have to go to the jobs, deal with the drunk, violent and dead, still providing those upstairs with our PI's to make sure we are working at maximum capacity.

I don’t envy Mick’s job as a diversity officer. He has to come up with these ideas to remain in post as much as we have to provide the PI’s to stop us feeling the wrath (We can’t be removed from our posts as there’s no-one lower on the totem pole than uniform patrol). They want ‘Targeted Patrols’ as long as they don’t target any diverse group. They want ‘Intelligence lead Policing’ as long as that intelligence doesn’t lead to a diverse group. A no win situation.

As for Dawns comment, I believe Mick is a good Officer. 99% are. I personally couldn’t find it within myself to write or in fact believe what was in the email. But then again we are not in Mick’s position and not faced with sticking our heads above the parapet and refusing to pursue the wishes of those in the higher echelons of the service.
 

ha ha ha, laughed by arse off at the 'defend mick' posts.

1) the only way to get this sort of thing out into the open is to leak it to people like DC. if you know of another way, please let me know.

2) the public has a right to know how its tax is wasted.

3) the point of the post (i think) is to let people know that rather than spending time catching people who are wilfully driving without insurance etc (or burgling the good folk of wiltshire, or committing any other kind of crime) mick's trying to get officers involved in utter rubbish.

4) as for attacks on mick, as DC says at the top, not about attacking mick particularly - it's about attacking the culture.

5) racist???? where? what 'race' are people who decide to live in caravans and carry out bad tarmacing then?
what next... 'criminalist'?
 

In response to GARY WALKERS post.
Who has actually claimed Mick is a racist? Who has responded in a way that would be racist? We can all respond in capitals too.

GARY WALKERS YOU ARE A TW*T
 

OK, Complaints and Discipline I sent the email.

Pc Spartacus.
Wilts
 

No you didn't! I'm Spartacus.