Life in Police Custody

There are some things that we do in life
Sometimes to earn a living
Sometimes for pleasure
But in doing so we often feel or witness pain
We remain humble in order to provide for our families
Our compliance merely to prevent feelings of disdain
This is not intended to offend, shock or offer abuse
Just an honest set of opinions
Dare I say the truth



Michael John, a recent retiree, recounts his thirty-year working life with the Metropolitan Police Service in various parts of London. Rather than an exact chronology he tackles a wide variety of topics relating to police work with chapters headed: Pros and Cons, a taste of what goes on; Drink Drive; Death; Diversity (which must be the shortest chapter ever!); Drugs and Drug Use; Mental Health'; Policing and Crowds. He describes in some detail daily life e.g. as a custody officer relating some pretty hair-raising incidents, being at the Notting Hill Carnival and early on his first visit to a mortuary. He is not afraid of revealing his opinions about changes in policing and gives them air in a series of poems that conclude almost every chapter. The reader cannot but help being impressed by his overall attitude with his lack of bitterness even when matters seem to turn against him. Needless to say he writes under a pseudonym.

Exista unele lucruri pe care le facem in viata Uneori pentru a castiga existenta Uneori pentru placere Dar, facand acest lucru, simtim adesea sau asistam la durere Ramanem umili pentru a asigura familiilor noastre Conformitatea noastra doar pentru a preveni sentimentele de dispret Acest lucru nu este destinat sa ofenseze, sa socheze sau sa ofere abuz Doar un set onest de opinii Indraznesc sa spun adevarul Michael John, un pensionar recent, isi povesteste viata de treizeci de ani de munca la Metropolitan Police Service din diferite parti ale Londrei.