MY POLICE SERVICE
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I joined the Greater Manchester Police in November 1977 having just left school. At the time of my recruitment I was 18 years old and I was told that I was the youngest serving member of the force.
I successfully completed ten weeks basic training course at Bruche Police Training College at Warrington Cheshire and was posted to the 'M' Division south of the Greater Manchester Police initially stationed at Sale.
During the next seventeen years I worked predominantly in uniform but with spells working in plain clothes and in the C.I.D. I spent most of my uniformed service driving the sub-divisional van. I also took part in the policing of the riots in the Moss Side area of Manchester in 1981 and also policed many industrial disputes around the country including Hadfields Steelworks in Sheffield and miners strike in Yorkshire, Warwickshire and more locally at flash points around the Manchester area . I also frequently policed Old Trafford Football Ground, the home of Manchester United. This was the scene of much trouble in the late 70's and early 80's. Click here to see me with victim of dart attack at Old Trafford.... Opens in pop up window
A couple of years of my police service were spent in the role of community Police Officer. I frequently had to reply to concerns raised by local and national politicians and give talks or presentations to local schools or groups. On one occasion I was one of a group of officers selected to enlighten a Member of Parliament regarding policing problems. This community policing role took a little bit of getting used to as it involved a more considered approach to policing an area and in many instances required resolution of matters affecting peoples quality of life rather than outright breaches of the law. It was not unusual to carry out an arrest following months of intelligence gathering, a very satisfying way to work.
Having initially joined the Police following an interest in Scenes of Crime Work, I quickly realised that people had to retire or die before a vacancy became available. I eventually attended the Initial Scenes of Crime Course at the National Training School at Durham and having passed the course with top grades was for several years a reserve /standby Scenes of Crime Officer working from Stretford. In January 1995 I took up a permanent position as a Detective Constable in the Scenes of Crime Department working from the Crescent Police Station at Salford on the 'F' Division.
The next couple of years saw me involved in the investigation of numerous major crimes up to and including murders. Click here to see a photo of me with examining the scene of a shooting incident.... Opens in pop up window
During this time I also passed a Scenes of Crime Development
course at Durham again achieving top grades. My career was cut
short by my injury and following surgery I was medically retired
from the Police in April 1997.
My certificate of service, which was posted to me, states I served
with exemplary conduct.
During my service as a Police Officer I also received a number of
commendations and a Royal Humane Society Certificate for
resuscitating a young boy who had stopped breathing after falling
into a disused swimming pool.
Click here to see an article in the local press.... Opens in
pop up window ( 50kb).
One of my last appraisals as a Uniformed Officer rated me as
'outstanding' in 21 of 23 listed categories.
I include this information to demonstrate the kind of loyalty and
hard work with which I approached my chosen profession.
In August the same year I rejoined the Greater Manchester Police as a civilian Scenes of Crime Officer (now for reasons only known to some boss somewhere known as a Crime Scene Examiner) and again went back to work at my old desk in Salford.
During the following 18 months I also worked for a considerable time from Longsight Police Station on the 'C' Division, covering the surrounding area including Moss Side and again being engaged on all types of criminal investigations including several murders. I managed to claw my way back to Salford but was overtaken by extreme exhaustion and pain and eventually reported sick. I was in fact never to return to work for the Police.
Whilst still working at Salford I was again involved in major crime enquiries for which I have once again been awarded a commendation.
During all my service as both a Police and civilian employee of the Greater Manchester Police I have never been disciplined or the subject of disciplinary procedures.
My service with the Greater Manchester Police finally finished on 31 March 2001 with a further medical retirement. That means that effectively my first day of unemployment was April 1st...Hmmmm.
