Police Memories

by Bill Williams

  Dealing with tragedy and similar becomes an everyday fact of life for career police officers but when one witnesses such himself it can be a different matter.

  One day Claude was off duty and walking along a steep hill in Broughton when he saw a colleague approaching on his patrol motorcycle. He was riding steadily, down hill, suddenly from behind Claude came a large jaguar car travelling at a fast speed up the hill. It overtook a slow vehicle but then was unable to reach its correct side of the road in time to avoid colliding with the approaching police motorcycle. The jaguar car hit the machine and travelled completely over it and its rider, driving off without stopping. Claude ran to the officer anticipating he was dead. He was not and just conscious, Claude recalled his words to this day, “He hit me and just ran right over me.”

  A passing motorist stopped and the driver called he would call an ambulance; there were no mobile phones in those days. The motorist then drove into the town but made the call. Claude remained with his injured colleague a man in his late forties and at the end of service. The ambulance arrived his colleague survived the accident but was off duty for many months before he retired. The villains dumped the vehicle farther up the road and after forensic tests; their fingerprints gave away their identities. They were charged with taking a vehicle without consent and dangerous driving and convicted.

  Police officers were and presumably still are not permitted to accept gifts or gratuities; there is always the exception to the rule.

  At Broughton there was a doctor who’s practice was in the rural area. An ex military doctor, he was well known and he was very popular, all referred to him as “Doc Davies.”

  Every Christmas he had loads of presents, more then he needed. Each year he arrived at the police station and deposited a number of the gifts for the police officers stationed there. As there was insufficient for a present for every officer, a scheme was adopted. Each present was given a number and these were placed in a helmet. There were additional blank pieces of paper.

  The cleaner, being independent pulled out the numbers and the presents were then shared in that manner. It was the only such donation of gifts Claude ever knew of in his thirty years service. The system was possibly breaking police regulations but a blind eye was turned.

  The reader may now be wondering why this account makes little or no reference to female police officers. There is a logical reason.

  In those days there were very few female police officers, also known as Pee Wee`s or PW`s. Copton Police only had an establishment of about ten such officers, an Inspector, a sergeant and the remainder being constables.

  They worked fewer hours in a shift and were paid less money than their male counter parts. They were always on call however for the whole force area and specialised in dealing with offences involving women and children.

  They searched and acted as observer when women were being interviewed or detained in custody. When not performing these duties they spent their time within the police station, performing some typing and making tea.

  They normally had their own office and thus were not directly involved with the mass of policing matters, such as disturbances, violence, investigation crime, traffic offences or checking of persons and property. It follows that Claude a young officer did not himself deal with matters involving women and children, which were often serious. He and his colleagues had little to do with policewomen other than meeting them from time to time.

  Another set of persons involved with the police that Claude was to come into contact with was the special constable. These were men and some women who once sworn in, the same as the regular officers had all the powers of police officers in theory that is.

  In reality as they received no training at that time and had no instruction in laws and their enforcement. Their use was limited to reporting for duty and patrolling with an officer. In addition they were employed at weekends and bank holidays performing traffic duty, that is to say standing in the road directing traffic. They also attended functions, carnivals, flower shows and the like again generally assisting regular officers. They themselves did not report offences or make arrests but when they assisted a regular officer they were required to give evidence in court. The regular officer guided them to make their notes and subsequently typed out a statement for them to sign.

  Claude was to find in the years to come these volunteers were a great aid to the regular officer, although some regulars didn’t appreciate their services. There were referred to as “Hobby bobbies,” due to them not getting paid and being untrained and part time. Some referred to them as “Sunday afternoon coppers.”

  At Broughton there were about eight such special constables, one sergeant and an inspector, known as a Commandant. In later years their training improved and some did make arrests and with experience were able to formulate their own statements of evidence.

  Claude was to have a bad week. He had decided at long last to take driving lessons. He had chosen Ernie who ran a driving school and was a special constable. Claude had hoped becoming a seasoned copper he might get money off the normal driving lesion fee of fifteen shillings or 75p for the one-hour stint, it didn’t happen. After several weeks, this week was to be when he would join the club of motorists.

  The test in a place called Wellingborough appeared to go well and coming to the end the examiner said, well at least Claude believed he said, “Turn right at the box hedge.”

  Although an unusual instruction seeing a hedge on the right hand side Claude indicated and turned right and within moments he was forced to break hard as he was in someone’s private garden, on the drive I might add, “What the hell are you doing?” asked the examiner.

  “What you instructed,” replied Claude, “You said; turn right at the box hedge.”

  “I did not say any such thing,” replied the examiner now in anguish.

  “I said,” he continued, “Turn right at the Bucks Head.”

  Claude failed the test.

  The bad week continued, Claude was about to hear of further action on his crime of playing dominoes with the fire brigade in a public house.

  Arriving for work one morning, on this occasion working a 9 am to 5 pm shift he was called to see the Superintendent and given a paper to sign, the gist of the memorandum read.

  “You are posted to Ashton Police Station, C Division with immediate effect.”

  “Sign here Friendly report to Ashton Police station tomorrow 2pm; you will be given the day off to move. When you arrive you will be told the arrangements, you can go now.”

  He left and was met by the sergeant who obviously knew of what was happening but had said nothing.

  He commented to Claude, “The senior officer where you are going, you will find him different than any you may have met, just be prepared.”

  Claude finished at 5pm informed his landlady of the posting and spent the evening packing.

  His main problem was how to get to Ashton, he had a car but having failed the test he couldn’t drive it.

  Later he returned to the police station to clear up his remaining outstanding items handing them to the sergeant. There was some good news, a fellow officer Ralph Johnson who had arrived only weeks before was also posted to Ashton. He was a qualified driver and offered to accompany Claude the following day, which in itself was a blessing for both of them.

  It was 9am the next day; Claude was all packed and said his goodbye to his landlady. She announced his replacement would arrive the following day, Constable Grieves, Claude didn’t know him, obviously another new man.

  A knock came on the door it was Ralph, the suitcases packed they were soon off heading for Ashton Police station and new adventures for Claude.

  It seemed an apt moment for Claude to take a break, so having closed down it was time for further thought and back to the mundane life at The Homestead.

  Chapter 16

  The momentum of Claude’s book over, the rest of the afternoon was taken up with watching the television and reading newspa
pers.

  It was 4 30 pm when Claude headed for his room and on approaching he passed two men carrying a pair of steps, a roll of cable and some tools, he had no idea what they may have been doing, neither did the name on their overalls, “Barton’s Electrical,” mean anything to him, though he seemed to recognise the one man.

  Having passed one of the two men one sneered at Claude who after a little thought he recognised the man who many years before had been a trouble some thorn in the side of the local police.

  One Saturday night Claude received information several youths were trespassing on a building site in the town. When Claude arrived with a fellow officer followed by another, several youths ran off. He saw a young man completely naked at the top of a large crane. A Crowd gathered and so Claude waited until the young man climbed down. When he did so he was detained and once he had dressed he was arrested.

  Meanwhile one of the youths with the arrested man who had run away returned and whilst the officers were busy he climbed into the police car the driver of which had left the keys inside. The youth drove the police car down the road before running off. This caused Claude some embarrassment.

  Claude had supposed all the years later the youth still remembered it which was why he was sneering as he walked passed Claude, tools in hand.

  Claude smiled as he walked on for he wondered if the sneering man still remembered committing a burglary at premises owned by Mr Land Grab. The silent alarm had been tripped and so Claude and his officers arrived very quietly. After the delay the alarm siren was activated and the youth climbed out of the broken window and ran off across a field.

  An officer was about to chase him when Claude held his sleeve. With that Claude turned to the dog handler standing by him, smiled and nodded.

  The dog handler bent down, called “This is the police stop or I will release the dog,” he then unleashed the dog said seek and the dog was gone.

  Moment’s later loud shouts were heard from the field. As the officers walked over at the regulation pace they eventually came upon the youth rolling on the floor shouting and balling whilst kicking out at the dog but his efforts were fruitless.

  When he arrived in his room Claude thought he may do some more typing. On approaching the cupboard to recover his laptop he saw the relevance of the visiting workmen.

  On the wall was a meter fitted to the power point, obviously the work of Matron Raving, the results of the spying missions of Gladys Hailsham and the previous visit of Matron were now clear.

  He set to and commenced to write, he was to find to his shock the meter was set to require a one pound coin every half hour, a cost he realised he would be unable to afford from his allowance. He thought there would be little hope of acquiring more funds from his capital sum.

  His thoughts were interrupted when Sally arrived, she looked strange and said, “I am sorry Claude but I have been instructed by Matron to hand you this letter. She handed him the envelope and left.

  When she had gone he opened it and read its contents.

  Dear Client,

  It has come to my notice that male and female clients and residents have been visiting each other’s rooms. This conduct is contrary to all acceptable standards of decency and must stop forthwith.

  Verity Raving

  Matron.

  There was a knock on the door it was Angelina, “Have you had your letter?”

  “I have a letter more like an instruction." replied Claude, “she is petty and has double standards,” but he didn’t go further as to why but called, “a right so and so.” he replied then added. “She has had this fitted.”

  Angelina peered round the door and saw the meter, “Good heavens,” she said.

  Claude sat and contemplated until it was time for dinner and this consumed he was seated thinking not of what to write next but if it would ever be possible to continue.

  His thoughts were interrupted when Angelina arrived bearing a piece of paper, not more notes thought Claude.

  “Here Claude” she said “A list of the other residents on the floor all have agreed to allow you to use their room for typing during which time our sewing lessons can be held in your room.”

  “None of that will be necessary,” said a voice, it was Charles the handyman and Joe, the horse betting duo thought Claude.

  “No more to be said on the matter eh Joe,” said Charles and with that Charles and Joe walked off laughing.

  Claude had just arrived in his room when there was a knock, it was Joe. “Hi Wack,” he said, “Make sure you put an odd coin in the meter now and again but in future put your computer into that socket there in the corner, it has been connected to the socket in the hall, get my drift.” He winked and he was gone.

  Claude had a peep and sure enough a very neat job had been done, the socket was almost not to be seen and from that day forth Claude used it, not forgetting of course to slip an odd coin into the meter, just to keep the peace.

  In view of the help he had been given and the appreciation of the other members of The Homestead community he now felt obliged to pull out the stops and write, faster, bigger and better just as his police supervisors had done over the years.

  He recommenced his story.

  He arrived at Ashton Police Station in company with his colleague. There was a dated stone over the door that it was built in the year 1861.

  Claude’s arrival was not without event for having left his vehicle and struggling with his suitcases he tripped on the steel chain containing spikes laid across the pub car park over the road from the police station. As he fell he ripped his trousers and gashed his leg.

  Once inside the building he discovered it had a small foyer with a door to the right and another to the left, in front was a glass door and to the right of that a hatch where members of the public were dealt with. The floor beneath their feet sounded hollow there was a trap door covering the entrance to a large cellar.

  Claude rang the bell on the enquiry desk counter it was only moments before the duty constable arrived. They identified themselves and he opened the door to allow them to enter.

  The officer gave them a tour of the offices and an explanation of the strength of officers and the working system of the station.

  Turning left was a small room, which housed a telephone switchboard with the wire and plugs in two rows to connect the calls in and out and between offices. Behind that was an office from which the door on the left gave access. There was a small room adjacent to the switchboard where a blonde girl was typing she was in civilian clothes. Through the back there was a passage with a stone floor containing two cells with wooden doors and a fireplace for each one facing into the passage. Claude was to learn that in the old days the superintendent’s wife living upstairs was tasked with cooking the meals for prisoners and visiting to keep the fires between the cells burning during the winter.

  There was a toilet and an exercise yard with a high wall and a fenced roof. To get to it one had pass through what had been a cell many years ago but which was used as a passage to the exercise yard built in the late 1800s after the original building had been completed. There was a large room with a massive desk and lockers this was the parade room. At the far end and to the right was another cell marked “female cell.”

  Returning to the main entrance, as one entered through the front glass door was an office it was the office of the station commander, an Inspector at that time. Adjacent to that was another, this was the sergeants office, one of whom Claude was to learn still lived upstairs and so that part of the building did not at that time form part of the police station. History was to tell Claude, Officers; mainly superintendents had lived there since it was built in the year 1861. The superintendent had moved years ago to the then new Market Police station some miles away and he now supervised both but had an Inspector at each one as his deputy.

  He once met the wife of a retired occupant of the police quarters upstairs who complained bitterly that when she had lived there she and her sons often had no s
leep due to prisoners in the cells below constantly banging the hatch on the cell door. Her husband often arrived back in the police station requesting police officers talking late at night to be quiet, this didn’t work with prisoners of course. What a blessing she recalled when permission was given for officers to live in their own houses away from the police station.

  There were two sergeants based there, one living upstairs the other in a police house in the town.

  The superintendent apparently visited, occasionally; when he did he entered the Inspectors office through the door on the public side of the counter. He never went into the station or spoke with any staff except in exceptional circumstances and they certainly never approached and spoke with him.

  Claude recalled in two years he had only spoken with him on one occasion when a lady from the town had complained whilst at the police station having knocked an old man off his cycle she had not been offered a drink of tea by Claude. Claude was given a telling off although no mention was made to her or him that the police authority provided no such refreshments, what was available was supplied by contributions from officers, called the “Tea Fund” administered by one of the senior constables

  The Inspector worked 9 am to 5 pm every day and the sergeants 9 am to 5 pm and 5 pm until 1am remaining on call after that until 9 am. The Inspector remained on call if the sergeant was not on duty.

  There were ten constables two on each shift; they worked around the clock, two officers worked 9 am to 5 pm and the others 5pm till 1am to cover the office.

  In addition there were two rural officers each of whom had a twenty-four hour responsibility, there had of course been more years ago when they used pedal cycles. With the introduction of motorcycles the number had been reduced to two. A patrol motorcyclist also lived adjacent to one of the two rural officers; each house had a small police office attached.