The Policeman's Blog

Feel kind of guilty putting the first comment on as there are others who have been much more avid readers of your blog but it does give me pleasure to be the first (or one of the first, depending on how long it takes me to write this) to say best of luck over in Canada. I am suitably jealous. You have provided an inspiration to many, not least myself, and who knows, we may just be at the end of the beginning, not the beginning of the end.

Myself and the other bloggers will do our best to keep the blogging thorn in the politicians backside, led ably from the front by the Gadget and Bloggs!

Again, best of luck. There'll always be a place on my team should you leave Canada (doubtful!)
 

Good Lcuk on your new life and thanks once again for highlighting the many brick walls we all come up against on a daily basis...

Walesplod
 

Dave - I sent you a private e-mail to say cheerio to which you kindly replied (Cigars and Moose). As I said, you have made a difference and I wish you all the best.

To all the other bloggers out there - please keep doing a valuable public service - telling it as it is and keeping the home office and ACPO under pressure.
 

I hope you find your career in Canada more fulfilling than the one you had here in the UK.
I think you have got them upstairs a little rattled. Well done and best wishes.
www.afaircop.co.uk
 

I hope you enjoy Canada and that when you come back on holiday things will have changed.
David Holland
 

Rushed home from a "community government meeting"* at the council offices last night to watch the prog and have to admit PCDC is a bit of a disappointment, looks and sounds more like a schoolteacher or local government officer. But he came across as safe and comfortable, good at reassuring grannies whose cats have run away from home. I wonder if the Mounties will permit subversive blogging by newly recruited pom cavalry?

*Local Inspector and Sergeant turn up to speed read many pages of impressive sounding statistics designed to reassure councillors and the unwashed that they all represent/live in the safest crime-free wards in town. Questions restricted to ten seconds. These bi-annual meetings are how the police authority spins "public consultation". But Neighbourhood Watch is going like the clappers, soon there will be nowhere left for the kids from the estates to pursue their further education.
 

Just heard that you are on the Victoria Derbyshire show on Five Live today - great another chance to sock it to McNumpty!

Hope the book sells really well and you enjoy your new life in Canada.

Perhaps you could do a follow up to Wasting Police Time now you won't be spending all your time doing paperwork?????
 

All the very very best to you and yours. It has been a pleasure reading your experiences. I hope someone takes this on and it becomes the catalyst for some real changes so we can get on with Real Policing. If anyone still does not believe this blog and the book (Mr Mcnulty) then I can coridally invite you to do a 5 week rota with me just to enforce the bull**** we have to put up with. NCRS sucks. Once more all the very very best..
 

It was great to finally put a face and a voice to the best blog I've read.

Good luck in Edmonton...but a question...do Canadians have chav scumbags like we do? Isn't there a small part of you that will really miss the great British underclass?

I guess I'll just have to transfer my loyalties to Inspector Gadget now...hopefullly he'll keep up the great work that you started!!
 

Good luck fella!

Sorry to see the blog come to an end. Maybe you'll get annoyed with the canadian system and we'll see another blog!

You've been an inspiration and you'll be missed.

-Charlie Lima
 

Well, thanks to this countries fine government and it's interference with Policing, yet another fine and experienced officer leaves our shores.
All i can say to him is well done and the very best of luck with your new life.
As for the rest of us still left in good old blighty a word of hope.
Policing issues have always been in the headlines but it seems finally that both the Governement and Public are now beginning to realise the serious issues affecting front line Policing. As a front line serving officer with over 8 years experience, i am not ready to give up the fight but hope when the time comes for us to stand up and be counted, that we all do as a united group.
 

Good luck Stu, even my Missus hasnow realised and we are contemplating a move to New Zealand

Best Wishes Si
 

Loved the book and the programme although it didn't go far enough in showing what a complete waste of time NCRS is and that our spineless leaders in the command teams across the forces haven't got the balls to tell the politicians to rod off and keep their noses out of stuff they no f**k all about.. I have to say I particularly liked the bit that showed Mcknoby calling you more Dickens than police officer he looked a c**t but still in that time honoured politician way still wouldn't admit he was wrong. Ihope the opposition parties have the teancity to grab this bone and give it the mauling it deserves. The public are starting to cotton on and it's all thanx to people like you who had the guts to stand up to the establishment. Good luck for the future.
 

Vacancy.
Blogger. British. Bobby.
All the very best.
 

Congrats on getting the job in Canada, and good luck to you and the missus on that side of the atlantic. Sorry to see you go, but you cannot let the system grind you down so much that you go under, far better to head to new horizons. Hope your blog continues as a story of your new experiences in Canada.

Sage

ps - will be buying your book, also saw you on gmtv this morning. Good job on that and Panorama - shame the government didn't listen to you.
 

As a retired superintendent with a son in the Met., I have followed your blog avidly. There was a time when the golden thread of effective and accountable policing was independence from government. This Stalinist crew have put a stop to that and so effectiveness and accountability have gone.

Please keep up your blog from Edmonton if you are allowed. I am sure you won't be under the same pressures to hush up management incompetence as you were in the UK.

Apart from wishing to hear how you are getting on, you are also a fine writer and we enjoy your work tremendously. Best wishes and fondest regards.
 

Dave, I've read your blog for about a year and to be honest I though you must have been in years. It came as a surprise last night that you've only got 6 months in more than me. At times reading your blogg has been like looking in the mirror and I find it strange that you gone to Canada at a time that I've been looking at Australia, Canada and New Zealand. Its a shame the bloggs gone, it would be nice if you can keep up all up to date with the policing that goes on in Canada as I would like to know if its a realistic option or just the similar type of crap that we deal with over here. The one thing I would like though is that this blogg made a difference and that all the people who post on it also add to that small stone that starts to roll down the hill, which then becomes a massive avalanche of change. All the best fella.
PS MCNUMPTY we are coming to get you, you arrogant, jumped up, pretentious twerp!
 

PCDC - the very best of luck with your great adventure, and good for you and Mrs DC for having the courage to make such a change. You'll like Edmonton a lot.

It is an awfully sad state of affairs, tho', when a bright and articulate, highly-trained copper with some years of experience is simply lost to the force and to the country because he and his wife see a better future elsewhere.

Once again, the very best of luck with it. It's been my experience that those who have the conviction and enterpise to make such a great change generally make a great success of it. Just remeber to drive on the right.

llater,

llamas
 

Good luck in Canada. I enjoyed your blog, it helped in understanding the arcane world the police have been forced into by the wretched politicians who run this country.
Look after yourself.
 

I'll miss this blog. Good luck to you and yours in Canada.

Having seen the Panorama programme, it really hit me how the UK will be losing a man who seems to me to personify the ideal policeman. Steady, reasonable, articulate and able to apply discretion and judgement. You fitted your writing style to a tee and did not disappoint, even after BBC editing.

If others of your kind come to the same conclusion then I'm afraid we're going to end up with a different police service. One manned by a bunch of bully boys (bit of a Met stereotype, sorry) who are barely distinguishable from the underclass. I know of a policeman who couldn't wait to retire because his colleagues were of this type - and he was becoming a minority. I remember him telling one story of how he was in the locker room at the end of a shift, when two young constables came on duty with the words "Let's get out there and kick ass". He didn't join the police force to do that, but saw it as the future. He retired to France soon after.

Maybe we should all move to Canada.
 

I've really enjoyed your blog and I'm also an ex Staffordshire PC who left eons ago to join the Army - some will already know who it is writing this!

Burton on Trent was in my Division in Staffordshire though I was at the other end of it and on the borders with Warwickshire and Birmingham - until I moved to work in the Information Room - seems like a century ago...

The very best of luck in Edmonton. I shall look forward to reading your ongoing (I hope) blog from my home in France.

Thanks for keeping me amused for almost a year!
 

Sancho - "do Canadians have chav scumbags like we do?"

Well 5 months of a real winter tends to keep a few of them off the streets :)

Steve
 

Is it right that you are going to be on Talk Sport today too?

Where will you pop up next?

Loved the book and the blog. Panorama was great too!
 

Good luck, and all the best for the future, watching Mcnumpty i can see our SMT mirroring his values, bury your head in the sand approach and a complete lack of moral fiber what is it with govt which wants to destroy our institutions allready doing it with army at least they have one general who is "still in charge" who has the courage to tell them its about to break Mc Numpty a useless MP and worse minister
 

Stu,

Good luck and send some postcards back to us.

(MRY is no more, long live MRY)
 

Would like to join everyone in wishing you good luck and success in Canada. I am certain that you have started something in this country that has been needed for years and I hope that you will be remembered for it in the future.Just one criticism, book was excellent,your blogs brilliant but the television program was the usual overdone crap that is the norm on television today,it was made in the usual style that appeals to the immature idiots that have given you so much to write about these past months.Jeremy Vine is obviously a prick of the first water but that was not your fault I`m sure its just a pity that there is no one around these days to make intelligent television for grownups.Again thank you for what you have started this country needs more people like you.
 

Any Police Officers, or other interested persons, looking for a place where common sense rules should look at:

http://forums.realpolice.net/

It has public section and Police only verified section where only officers can read and post. It has a huge international membership, and no BS.

See you there...
 

Keep up the blog, DC!

I am sure that you will continue to be able to think of a few amusing things to say about policing and life in general.

All the best in Canada...
 

All the best in your new job, just hope the government step into the real world and LISTEN and sort out this mess!!

Jason2612
 

All the best mate! it made me laugh when the politician’s made the comments about your book being a load of twaddle. Its a shame every Officer past and present knows you couldn’t make that stuff up (it was like reading my own diary!)
New Zealand awaits me for 2008!
 

Have never posted on here before, but have been an avid fan... just watched the programme on t'internet (cause I was on a noon shift last night listening to calls of 'can you just..')
Hope things go well in Canada and if I can persuade my other half, we may just follow you!

All the best x
 

Best of Luck in Canada.

You already know how I feel about anonymous blogging coppers (such as started by the "Gay Commander" on Urban 75) ... you swore in as an independent ministerial officer of the Crown. To act without fear or favour. But uopu sought to exercise influence from anonymity .. a concession to fear and a breach of your oath.

It was way before your time when Sir Robert Mark said that we no longer recruit the most able but the most malleable to be police officers to make of them what we will.

How true that became.

As for ex Superintendents lamenting the loss of past independence to Stalinists. It was Maggie Thatcher who, aided and abetted by the police, usurped Crown independence sand ran the police unlawfully under centralized control against the miners.

We should have given the police a damned good hiding then for offending against the people. (Exercising our rights to immediate remedy).

As for anonymous blogging ... evidence of the moral inferiority of those serving in the police.

Richard Card
 

I *knew* you would be handsome! Good luck & thanks for this wonderful blog.
 

Your a courageous and respected individual. You did what many of us wanted to but always had an excuse not to. Always and great read and 100% accurate in my view. Good luck in Canada I know several who have gone and at least one who will be in Edmonton too. If I was 20 years younger I would follow in your footsteps. In the meantime I must merely envy your escape from the insanity that modern 21st Century Policing has become in the UK. If only we could get the keys back ffrom the lunatics we could re take the asylum alas it will sonn be too late the best will have left resigned or retired and the service will lie in the hands of the insane.
 

Well, David/Stuart - you had a dickens of a job on your hands with the book and the blog. And it looks as though it may have been worthwhile.

I'm not a copper and never have been. Just a concerned member of the public who would like to put his trust in the boys (and girls) in blue, that should I ever
need their help, they will be there.

Your blog, and others like it, have done wonders to highlight the difficulties officers like yourself face on a daily basis. Handcuffed by the managerialists in charge and painted in the poorest possible light by the media.

I wish you well in your new life in Canada - the Canadians are the nicest and politest people in the world. You won't have any problems settling in. Ask gran to knit a couple of scarves - it's a bit parky over there in the winter.

Best of British to you and yours.
 

Congratulations on your impending escape! I'm a little concerned, however. Do you intent to continue blogging, and what (if anything) does your new employer think about your hobby, since you're no longer anonymous?
 

We are happy to have you here, Stuart. Policing here is no utopia, as you well know, but its still Good Work for the most part, and we get to be pretty much what we signed up to be.

That being said, I will very much miss this Blog. One damned fine sign off though - well done.

May you have a safe journey West.
 

Dave/Stuart,

Can I add my best wishes to you & your family for your future life in Canada. Funny how things work out eh?

I remember when you first started this blog and posted a link to it over at Police999.com. I started reading it and have been following it ever since, indeed, it inspired me to start my own blog.

You're right, of course, as most front-line officers have known all along. I've got just a little time to go before I retire, although I've loved my job, if I was starting over again there's no way I'd join the British Police.

I just feel sorry for those who have a loooong time before their 35 years (is it now?) is up.
 

Thanks, Dave

Shouldn't be you that's going but all the self-serving, nomenklatura rubbish that infest what are euphemistcally described as the public services

Best wishes
 

All the best Dave,

You will be missed!
 

congrats on panorama, i thought you were really brave to lift the mask and reveal just how pointless being a copper is in the UK! hopefully now something will finally be done about the situation over here. best of luck with it all,

linda
 

You were great on Panorama mate. Nice to see it told how it is. I'm green with envy about your move to Edmonton. 17 Years ago when I was in the met I got all the paperwork on emigrating to Canada but at the time you got zero points for being a bobby.
Good luck to you and yours. I hope its all you want it to be.
 

Well done mate, good luck with your new life over the pond, I'm one of many hoping to take my family in that direction too, i was already convinced its the right move but panorama nailed it on the head, something the BBC haven't done for quite some time!
 

According to "The Burton Mail" talks are being held over turning the book into a comedy series?!

http://www.burtonmail.co.uk/burtonmail-news/DisplayArticle.asp?ID=137005

Quality!

I want that bloke out of Coronation Street (you know, the good looking hippy one with a funny nickname) to play me!

Stu, I think you could have flicked through the pages of the DIAL and TPO to demonstrate that they're actually 1/4" thick!

Good luck in Canada.

RIP MRY and ZTR... they served us well (in going from job to job to job to job to job...)
 

Best of luck and stay safe.

Thanks for the laughs and it was good to read that others tend to have the same day that I do.
 

hello my names sam im only 15 and would like to no abit about policing. all my frieds like football and all they watch is football on youtube and tv etc and all i watch is car wars and traffic cops. my dad was in the specials for 11 years so i no abit about the police forces and what you say when you arrest someone etc. i saw your panorama last night, i was going to watch the bill but i found your 'wasting police time' better and more realistic. i must say you have put me off abit by saying how much paper work there is even for someone stealing a mars bar it takes up the rest of your shift? i would like to no what grades you need to join or if you need grades and just stuff like whats it like carrying all that stuff around and when you aproach someone do you feel safe by having all the equiptment or is there not enough. thanks for reading this if you do. please email me on cunliffe_sam@hotmail.co.uk thankyou
 

Who do I go to now to have a chuckle at the end of a shift. have been reading your blog every day for the last 18 months to 2 years, getting frustrated when you hadn't blogged for a while, always looking forward to the next one. I suppose PC Bloggs will have to keep me entertained on her own. You told it how it is, and made me smile every day.

Good luck in Canada, One day I may follow.....Ping
 

To 15 year old Sam.

At present you don't need any GCSE's or qualifications to join the police. However, you do have to sit a maths and english test which is about GCSE standard to apply to join, so I suggest keep working hard to get as many grades as possible. There is a lot of writing in the police.

You do need a lot of Common Sense and the ability to think on your feet. Get yourself a part-time job where you speak to and deal with the public face to face, it helps to be able to speak to people from different walks of life confidently.

As for the kit, well I wouldn't say it makes you feel safe. it depends what you're up against. It always helps to be a little bit fearless at the time, and just get stuck in whatever and always help your colleagues and the public. You can (and will) worry about the what if's afterwards!

Hope that helps.
 

Best of luck in the new job. You're leaving a major gap in the UK blogosphere! Look forward to hearing what Edmonton throws at you.
 

What else can we say except good luck across the pond and I hope everything works out for you and yours. All the very best. Keep in touch via blog; it would be criminal to stop now.
 

Congratulations on your new career in Canada. I hope that it is all you would want and need. I wish that the situation in the UK Police Force (Farce?) had not declined to the point where you had to leave these shores to a place where you are properly appreciated.

Thank you for shining such an illuminating light on the current state of affairs in the police force. Now all we need is for some intelligent polititians (what am I saying? there is no such thing!) to understand that they don't understand policing, and to listen to the grass roots coppers, rather than the brown nose morons.

Take care of yourself, and have a peaceful, prosperous and enjoyable life in Canada.
 

Will miss your blog! This country has gone to the wall,the underclass are taking over and the government are letting them. You have done well to escape. Good luck!
 

Good luck in your new job. Loved your book, but sadly forgot to watch the Panorama show. Best of luck in Canada.
 

Where are the MAD and Religious skitzos going to post their drivel now DC????

Good luck Canuk.

Ex Job
 

Well done. You brought it to a happy end & outfoxed them.

Granny
 

Cheers Stu, from everyone at XF. Lets hope that the command team at Trent listen to us for once and get something done.

Gonna miss this blog.

Thanks again and all the best in the future.
 

All the very best in Canada; thank you for the blog which I've been a regular reader of over the past twelve months.
The Minister for Policing knows the square root of 'not a lot' about the realities of policing so he's probably well qualified to be spokesman for HM Government.
I found myself nodding again and again after reading of other coppers' experiences and realising that I was not alone. THIS IS WHAT IS HAPPENING EVERY DAY IN EVERY CITY, TOWN, VILLAGE IN EVERY POLICE FORCE IN THE UK. For the minister to try and suggest that it's all exaggerated, I have one question to members of the public who are undecided.

Who do you choose to believe? The hundreds of front line police officers who contribute to this blog in frustration, or the minister with a portfolio for covering his arse and feathering his own nest before being promoted to something else like minister for pensions?

What happens now DC is going?
 

Re Ex Job 4.10pm

I take it you mean Vera the SHERRIF?
I think she has been sectioned mate.

Thanks for your enlightened views of the chav world DC.
 

Dave / Stuart.

Thanks for blogging and the Panorama programme both saddening & amusing at the same time.

I'm not a policemann I'm just a member of the public who thoroughly enjoyed the humour and reality of your blog. Maybe someone important will take notice?

I hope Canada is all you hope, at least there seems to be less paperwork - their 20 minutes sounds about right, just long enough for a cup of tea and a biscuit while filling in the form when its parky outside.

Australians hiring 500 British policemen in one go? Blimey looks like we are still world class in producing coppers!
 

Really enjoyed the panorama programme... just a shame that the government/home office still don't want to face up to the reality of policing in Britain today... even when they hear it from the "horses mouth".... Ahh well it will be their loss when all the good bobbies are gone and anarchy takes over... then all we can do is say... "told you so, but you wouldn't listen"... I too am looking to go transfer abroad.. OZ. Can't wait..
 

WHAT PLANET IS MR MCNULTY ON!!!!
Hello!!!Mcnulty needs to spend a few weeks with me on shift in the real world...But i dont imagine he would last more than a day... Maybe he should give his rose tinted glasses away...and get in the real world.
A BOBBY WHO DESPERATELY SEEKING ... NEW CAREER...
GOOD LUCK MCNULTY IN THE FUTURE POLICING REGIME YOU ARE BUILDING.!
 

DC, I have really enjoyed your blog, book and program. I wish you all the best in Canada and as I have thought about going over there myself, I would be interested to hear how it goes.

I appreciate you will be really busy, but I hope you will either update this blog, or get Monday Books to let us know how you are doing. It seems a shame to let such a funny blog die, but in the interests of fairness to yourself, I suppose you will have to.

Anyway, again all the best and my email address is bignoggsy@hotmaildotcom if you need to make it private.

Good luck mate.
 

I listened in despair to Victoria Derbyshire grilling both you and PC Bloggs today Stuart. Clearly another student union agitator of the past who found herself a comfy job in the organ of the state.
For members of the public who didn't get it, PC Bloggs outlined the following incident: she was sent to a 'domestic incident.' A neighbour had called it in. When she arrived, she found a mystified couple who didn't know anything about any domestic. Turned out one of them had shouetd at the dog and the neighbour had got the wrong end of the stick. End of story you might think? Just radio control, say 'It's nothing,' and carry on. Not in our mad world. Because the job had been crimed as a domestic, Bloggs then faced the unbelievably difficult task of getting it struck off as a crime. She said - and I can well believe this - that it took months.
Derbyshire's attitude was, So what? That's your job.
WHAT A MUPPET YOU ARE, DERBYSHIRE.
Next time you call the cops and they don't turn up, it's because they're in the nick arguing about getting a non-crime de-crimed from the system (or something else equally mad).
You just don't get it, do you?
 

So true, but the government just won't listen to the Police on the front line who do the job day in, day out. Think they might have a shock if either they came out on patrol for a shift or we were allowed to strike! All the best in Canada, lots more are on our way.... to do "The Real Police Officers Job".
 

Edmonton!

My mom's family lives in Edmonton! Biggest mall in the world and the biggest parking lot in the world (at the mall), d'you know. And it's the base for the Chinese triads in North America, which isn't something you'd have that would be terribly likely, but it is. I guess the head honcho lives fairly close to my grandmother in her leafy part of town. Which, btw, has a really bad case of the break-ins, you should know. Very flagrant. People will come in your back door while you're in the front yard and snatch your purse off the counter. Or knock at the front door to see if you're home and, if you're a little old lady who takes a bit longer than most getting to the door, you'll get there just in time for it to be smashed open. But they're very business-like about it. I have a cousin who's always in trouble... Just think, he could be one of your regulars.

I only mention any of this because of what you happen to do for a living. It's a lovely place and lovely close to two national parks (Jasper and Banff) and a whole box-load of lakes and things besides.

I have two lawyer uncles working in Edmonton... Just think, they could be your new nemeses... What a thought! Edmonton, of all places!

Good luck! (And keep up the blog!)
 

Im still laughing at the way that Mp came across. Posh twat the has no idea about policing. I would relish the chance to see that Mp in action on the streets
" i would welcome them back and offer them a cup of tea"
what a cock. i dont like using profanity on these blogs-i prefer to let the less educated use such words but that Mp came across as all Mps do-clueless and completely stupid.
 

Good luck with the move to Canada - I hope you start a blog about how different things are there! Seems emigration is on the up, and the way the country's going I'm not surprised. I just wish somebody would have the balls to sort it out.
 

Best of luck DC, It's been a pleasure to hear that were all in the same boat, really helps to think that "it's not just me"

all the best
 

Good luck to you mate, you were the first police blogger and inspired the rest of us. We will keep the truth coming out when you have moved on.
I still recon you could lose that bloody word verification thing though. It hates me you know!!
 

Stuart, I saw you on tv last night...funny, but I thought you would be taller. Lol

Good luck with the move and your new career and thank you for your blog. I hope you will continue to blog from the "other side". I'm sure there are lots of people who would be interested to see how the job compares.

Who knows you might be EPS's biggest recruiter, maybe they will work on commision.

Stay safe!
 

DC, missed the documentary. Will it be shown again do you know?
 

Oh my God you look young!!!!!

Actually, one point from the Panorama program. If you have to hit certain targets then surely the best thing for the Neighbourhood watch to do would be to spend the 1st of the month commiting trivial crime. The force could then meet there quotas on day one leaving the rest of the month for proper police work.

Sorry just being cynical
 

Best wishes, I have enjoyed your real life posts. Thanks for all your hard work and efforts, you have been a credit to the Constables of England and Wales.
 

Good luck with the new life. It's been a pleasure reading your posts made me feel sein at times and certainly sparked some good banter at work. Enjoyed watching your Panorama programme even though I knew I would end up feeling frustrated. What is that minister on??? More fiction than Dickens??? It's like anything else unless you're actually doing the job you're really out of the loop.
 

For those who missed Panorama, and wish to see it, I think if you go to the Panorama web site, you can see it on there.
 

Oi! McNulty!! Wheres my bloody tea!Tosser!
 

DC, all the best in Canada. I hope the publicity you've generated helps to create some positive change, but it sounds like the ministers and your force still have their heads up their @rs3s. Your book has been a source of humour and made me and my friends at work feel a little less alone. Hope you'll keep us updated on Edmonton.....
 

Good luck Dave.
Your blog is one of my favourite websites. Hope you keep doing it.
 

Canada's gain is our loss. Your blog has been an inspiration to many.
 

okedokey
 

Just watched the program on the net. All the best in Canada.
Strange feeling that the blog I've visited almost daily for over a year is coming to an end. Thanks for writing it and I hope that you and your family have a happy and contented future.
And I can't believe that I'm the first to mention that at least you had the correct shaped head for the job :)
Sorry couldn't resist.......
 

Panorama's "Wasting Police Time" can be viewed on the Panorama website here:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/programmes/panorama/default.stm

for a week after the programme's aired. It's currently available.

Hopefully someone's shoving it on YouTube as we speak!!!!
 

Never posted on here before but have been a regular reader and loved the book. As everyone has said, the stories are a mirror image of what I do and what others do on a daily basis.

This country is fast going down the pan - the underclass are now by far the majority and the toothless police "force" are not given the tools to do their job. My shift (I'm a patrol Sgt) has lost over half its original staff numbers to various squads. Yet the volume of calls increases. The command teams have their heads up their backsides.

I have tried to convince my wife to escape to sunnier climbs, but she will not have it. I know that in ten years time, she will regret this.

So, good luck to you Dave/Stuart. As with many, I am jealous of both your move and balls in writing this. You are an extremely good writer and it would be a shame for you not to continue with this.

Good luck.

GMP Sgt.
 

Stuart

We'll miss your writing style and humour so much if you don't continue.

Might I suggest a blog where you compare Canadian Policing to British Policing, and the retelling of humourous incidents (with anonimity for those involved as per your book) to keep our chuckle bones exercised?

Your writing talent is too good to waste!!!!

Best wishes and good luck for a new life and safe career in Canada.

BTW, what IS the fine for a jaywalking moose?!
 

All the best
 

DON'T STOP THE BLOG!

How will we cope at the end of another crappy day at work, not being able to click onto find out the latest offering ... life will never be the same.

All the very very best. The other blogs don't come near ...

;o)
 

DON'T STOP THE BLOG!

How will we cope at the end of another crappy day at work, not being able to click onto find out the latest offering ... life will never be the same.

All the very very best. The other blogs don't come near ...

;o)
 

Oops, sorry, posted it twice - too excited - ;o)
 

I have been an avid reader of your blog for quite a while now.

Great telly show last night, bet it had the lying two faced bosses cringing.

It'll take a bit of getting used now as the blog may possibly go.

I'm a cop and I take my hat off to you DC ( Can we still call you that, now you have revealed yourself ?)

Your blogs have been very amusing and straight to the point.

I wish you the best of luck in your new job DC and thank you for having the balls to let others know how it really is for us bobbies.

All the very best.
 

The only blog that I always read. Very best on the other side Canada is a great nation wish I had done the same tears ago.
 

Congratulations on your move to Canada!

I have been reading your blog since the early days. Although I have not always agreed with your views, your blog has provided an insightful window on the country that I left over sixteen years ago.

The Panorama program was excellent, although sadly, I doubt if much will change.

I hope you continue to blog about your new police job!
 

Good luck PC Copperfield. You were the first police blog I read and I wish you all the best and thank you for the last few years.
 

I got to see the Panorama programme here in the good ol' Blue Grass State of Kentucky thanks to the wonders of the internet. Nice to see that finally the media is waking up to what a mad, mad world policing in Britain in the 21st century has become. It would be nice if the BBC hadn't dumbed Panorama down to half-an-hour and still had the one-hour format because then we could have seen you have a nice sit down and a chat with Mr McNumpty over a cuppa and biccy or two. Or, better than we could have seen you do some angry man training with McNumpty acting as the angry man only without the padding!

Anyways, all the best for the move over the pond and your new life as a Mountie.
 

Only 11½ years to go to 30. Wish I had your balls to go for it. Good luck mate.
 

All the best dave, thankyou for taking the time to email me back those times i sent you stuff, wishing you all the best,!
 

Welcome to Canada.

Edmonton PF is a first class outfit, really busy with lots of opportunities for a smart copper, you'll love it.

The cost of housing might be a kick in the nads if you're not ready for it but aside for that it's great. You'll really love the rockies, quick trips out to BC and the national parks out there are unbelievable.

Cheers
 

I see guys referring to him being a Mountie - the city of Edmonton has their own police force, the RCMP act as the Provincial Police in Alberta.
 

I feel I have to make a comment on the last posting of PC Copperfield!

Mate, you made me realise that my force wasn't the only one implementing idiotic ideas to the frontline. After a horrendous shift I would come home and read your blog, I would smile again and move on to work another day.

PCDC you will be missed - Your blog was the first of its kind - You shared the crazy world of policing with the world and for that I thank you.

Good luck in your new role as a REAL policeman in Canada.

Maybe one day the powers that be over here will wake up and take note of what you have said in these pages. I live in hope because I have this week reached the end of my tether with todays policing style.

We as police officers are treated like the criminals whilst those actually out there breaking the law are protected and supported every step of the way. It's a mad mad world we work in - How many of us will have to leave the job we once loved before they see it?

Good luck DC, and thank you for the smiles ...
 

hi dc,
can only ech everyones sentiments posted on here.
just wanted to say you and your blog have made me feel prouder as a bobbie than anything the job has ever done.
everytime i read it i could think to myself " hey its not me thats mad..its the job!"

good luck to you and thank you for bonding the many readers of this blog together in a common fight for policing as the public want it and not as the govenment think it should be.
 

Thx DC for the many hours I've spent laughing. It really has been like listening to an old friend.
Enjoy life in Edmonton. You would have liked it more in Calgary though. Thanks for all the laughs
Will the last copper out please turn off the lights.
Love from Calgary cops
 

Thank God you're going! I've got too many Police blogs to read and spend far too much time doing so.
Good luck to you mate.
 

Good luck and have fun, i've travelled around Canada and it's a great place.

I managed to catch the T.V programme and for a change I think the BBC were quite fair.

I spent about 4 hours yesterday doing Missing Persons admin for several kids who had gone walkabouts from their Chidren's Home, this didn't include looking for them either!!

WHY DOES EVEYTHING WE DO NEED TO TAKE SO LONG!!!!!

I've been in the job for nearly 17 years and I think the admin is the worse it's ever been.

I've been looking at the Calgary Website for a while now and am seriously considering giving it a go.

Oh,I forgot to mention the total twaddle that is TOWBAR/WBA which is supposed to make me into a Supervisor. Again who thinks up this gibberish?

Tough on Crime (if you can get off the Keyboard for a bit) tough on the causes of crime.........
 

Copperfield. May I just add my congratulations and thanks to a job well done. You have done your bit for Queen and country. You have brightened up my day many times with your book and your blog. You really struck a chord with us rank n'file. Consider yourself a true gentleman, and an officer. Good luck. Snakey
 

I have been trying to look into transferring into the NZ, canada or OZ police service. Does anybody know of the websites/links for these. Dave, any suggestions.
 

When you get out there please locate the two brothers that invented Niche and run them over. Its the worst thing to happen to West Yorks since NCRS.

Also could you give the federation some tips on PR. Where are the newspaper ads highlighting how hard we work and how we bend over backwards to make the job work. We are being sold down the river again with regards to the pay dispute and the Federation have waved us off. What on earth do we pay them £16 a month for. West Yorks fed are allowing our bully chief con to introduce a new rota that is worse on every count than what we do now just because he wants to.

Apart from get drunk at Blackpool what do they do ?
 

Mate,
I have to say that you had the balls to be counted and show what a shame the 'modern day policing' is.

With NCRS, Airwaves, Service level agreements, lack of staff, lack of support, pressure to get that 9 call answered. After all, that is one the most important things that the government 'grade' us on. I mean, what the hell is that all about!?!!!?

We are not a police force, sorry, service, we are being made into a PLC. We dont have time wasters, chav gangs, drunken kids, drugged up dirt > we have customers!
Yup, take a ticket and form a cue 'customers' I'm here to listen to your rubbish about the man that skanked ya for your dope, the mother Fing and Blinding in the front office, as you have arrested her little Gaz for doing Feck all. Point of fact that he was carrying large amounts of dope, pulled a knife and then assaulted an officer has nothing to do with. As we are always picking on her kids. She knows the paperwork, hand out and time constraints better than most veteran custody Sgt's. Now you have one officer at the hospital, another doing constants, as the 'customer' says he is suicidal and some poor probationer left to do the paperwork and no officers actively policing the streets. Did we achieve our SLA's for that, or does the management, or government not grade that?

They need taking out, friday and saturday night for a few weeks to see each area at its worst. Thats front line, stations, custody and Communications. Come and see how much of a copperfields circus it really is folks.

Good luck, start clean and work well mate. Thats all any of us wanted to do when we joined.
Are they looking for communications staff at your station.

Yours
Civvy the Skivvy
 

All the very best with Edmonton! I am so jealous of you! :) I wish I could just up and move but too much holds me here at the moment what with the imminent arrival of baby response plod. Maybe just maybe in a few years time I may well do the same as you!

Good luck fella!
 

Good luck.... Funny i had a mental picture of you and i was so wrong!
I enjoyed both your book and your blog.
Be lucky, stay safe.
 

The truth is out there...

At last you have said, what the Police "Manager's" have all known for years.

But the higher up the greasey pole they go,the more of their spine is removed,they appear to lose the ability to tell the truth.Instead they swing into action to get just one more "detection" cause it's what the Home Office wants.

I'm sure the full resources of Professional Standards are now working overtime, to see how best to deal with this outbreak of "telling the truth" there must be a breach of something?

I wait with bated breath,for my own Force's(sorry dirty word) PR machine to release a new dictat on the intranet telling us "this is not a true representation of todays modern Police service,blah,blah,blah......"

As for McNumpty "not fit for purpose"

Best of luck for the future,I only wish I was 20yrs younger and I would follow you!!!
 

Congratulations on the job in Edmonton. You are doing the right thing. Hope you have your thermal underwear though. I fear that Britain is going to become an increasingly unpleasant place in the years to come!
 

Best Wishes for the future - I've been retired from Hantspol for 10 years - I just wish I could have foreseen the way this Country was going 30 years ago - you can guess what I would have done & where my family would all be now..............

PS Daughter's boyfriend (ex Hants) has recently joined Western Australia Force. You could say I envy him a bit. Oh .. and they give you a gun as well, which is rather good, because in the UK only the Criminals have got the guns now.
 

Been reading the blog faithfully, got the book, been following what has happened...

...then find out you are moving/have moved to Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Where I'm based after leaving England six years ago.

Freaky.

Hope to see you out at a community duty. I'll probably be the one by an ambulance with an English accent.
 

I normally read books on people who the police arrest, this book is a bit different to my usual. I would recommend it to anyone, not often I laugh at any modern books, but yours I have. I am amused with it all, ever thought of joining the House of Commons/Home Office, and sorting the mess out. NO..Oh! well! Never Mind! All the best... Zena
 

Been reading your blog for nearly two years I think, it's been informative and entertaining. Panorama was excellent. Best of luck :)
 

Edmonmton???

Why not Vancouver, Victoria or Calgary?

Crikey, Canada's a stunning country but Edmonton is the arm pit. All the charm of Basildon with the culture of Milton Keynes.

Oh dear.

Good luck
 

Good luck DC.
 

DC (or is it Stuart now?) good luck in your new job in Canada and thank you for all your guidance when I myself looked at joining. I myself was thinking of jumping ship at the earliest convenience and so will look further afield next time I decide I need a change in career.

Thanks and good luck.
Tomrat247.
 

Dont forget to pack your winter woolies!

50°F - New Yorkers try to turn on the heat. Canadians plant gardens.

40°F - Californians shiver uncontrollably. Canadians sunbathe.

35°F - Italian cars won't start. Canadians drive with the windows down.

32°F - Distilled water freezes. Canadian water gets thicker.

20°F - Floridians wear coats, gloves & wool hats. Canadians throw on a t-shirt.

15°F - Californians begin to evacuate the state. Canadians go swimming.

0°F - New York landlords finally turn up the heat. Canadians have the last cook-out before it gets cold.

-10°F - People in Miami cease to exist. Canadians lick flag poles to see if their tongue will stick.

-20°F - Californians fly away to Mexico. Canadians throw on a light jacket.

-40°F - Hollywood disintegrates. Canadians rent some videos.

-60°F - Mt. St. Helens freezes. Canadian Girl Guides begin selling cookies door to door.

-80°F - Polar bears begin to evacuate Antarctica. Canadian Boy Scouts postpone "Winter Survival" classes until it gets cold enough.

-100°F - Santa Claus abandons the North Pole. Canadians pull down their ear flaps.

-173°F - Ethyl alcohol freezes. Canadians get frustrated when they can't thaw the keg.

-297°F - Microbial life survives on dairy products. Canadian cows complain of farmers with cold hands.

-460°F - ALL atomic motion stops. Canadians start saying "Cold 'nuff for ya?"

-500°F - Hell freezes over. The Toronto Maple Leafs win the Stanley Cup.


Seriously though - good luck.
 

good luck on the move, Edmonton eh? it gets cold there, Calgary had their first snow fall this week ...
I made the move to Canada 2 years ago now, joining Ottawa Police after 10 years of UK policing - Best thing I ever did - its not utopia of policing but after working here I realise how bad the job had got in the UK.
It must say something, 50% of my unit where I work on patrol is actually ex British police officers, is there anyone left in Blighty ?
 

Well done you certainly hit the nail on the head. I am a British Officer with over 12 years front line service and also have been the only officer on duty many a time to cover a large area. I will also be off to join the Canadian police very soon, can policing in the UK get any worse?
 

Anon @4.17pm slagging off the sheriff. Who do you think you are slagging off an officer of the special constabulary? A chief officer at that, knob head.

You know nothing of the work I have done, so shut your face.
I am a sworn officer and your derogatory comments bring the office of HM's Sheriff into disrepute.
I have done my job without fear or favour, and for THAT you call me "mad". If I actually had balls they would be bigger than yours pal. I have also "told it as it is", just like DC, so they had better section him too!

It's clear that a lot of you plods have a very low opinion of the special constabulary, who provide a service to the public and to the regular force.

I have found that those who try to slur my name have the most to hide. My enemies, perverts and other evil minded bastards have used the good old insult "she's a nutter". They try to create a smokescreen to hide their own wrongdoing. I've even had arrogant twats "tell" me that I'm not a sheriff. I was deep undercover and they forgot all about me - no pay check as a special.
My "mission" was for justice, for the murder of my sister and the abuse done to many children, including myself. I have had to wait a long time for "justice", so don't you dare criticise or ridicule me. People don't get "sectioned" for providing a service to one's country, nor for telling the truth. Knob head.
 

COPPERFIELD. First and the best. Joygasms, honest. Enjoyed every minute! :)
 

Welcome to Canada! All the smart people seem to be moving over here from the UK right now.

I'm sure you'll find Edmonton a great improvement; I have a friend in the police over here and their work stories contain far less form-filling and targets than yours, though there do seem to be some creatures bearing a scary resemblance to British chavs. Edmonton was one of the cities I considered moving to, but the current house price bubble put me off the idea.

As others have said, please keep the blog going if you can; I'm sure you'll have a different take on Canadian policing to the locals.
 

"I have been trying to look into transferring into the NZ, canada or OZ police service. Does anybody know of the websites/links for these."

Not sure of any sites for police emigration in particular, but www.britishexpats.com has a big forum for discussion of emigrating to all three countries and I remember a couple of police officers posting there in the past about their experiences emigrating to Canada. If you can get a job offer from a Canadian force you should be 'fast tracked' and not have to wait four years for a visa like the rest of us.

"-40°F - Hollywood disintegrates. Canadians rent some videos."

A few years back I was visiting some friends in Canada during the winter, when we decided to have a hot-tub party in the back yard. Running around in swimming trunks between the house and the tub at -40 was an interesting experience.

I actually found that winter less of a hassle than returning to cold, damp Britain afterwards; Canadians are used to the temperatures and build their cities to continue working, in Britain a tiny smattering of snow brings the roads and trains to a halt. Just don't get drunk and fall asleep in the street on New Year's Eve; you probably won't wake up again.
 

Ah, trust you to have your identity revealed while I was visiting UK all the way from Australia. Good on you Stu... Ah Copperfield... and best wishes for Canada. I think you are a loss to the Police Force here, but you will do well where you are going and there are some top quality colleagues still on the job in Uk. Best wishes to you. Glad our estimations about age and region turned out fairly close, not that we were looking or anything!!... Keep up the good blogging.
 

ps, to my last entry, forgot my callsign,

cheers,

Albert Stuart Ian Owens
 

Good Luck, hope you're enjoying it out there, I am soooo jealous. Never mind, when the kids grow up, I too might be able to escape from the clutches of the UK Police Service.