Chinese Lion, The Shard, Love Trees

Boris Johnston's folly going up here:

artwork on a building (below) which, presumably, is soon to be demolished

This little floating community by the canal:

I had a meeting near Stratford in the morning which allowed me a slightly more interesting ride into work.

Unusually I took no pictures on the Woolwich Ferry - it finally offers no new inspiration for me, or at least the flipping great lorry blocking my view didn;t help.

Cycled on the Greenway - noticing the refurb work going on everywhere, and dirty great stadium as I reach Stratford.

Also a massive shopping centre going up - not sure what that has to do with sport, or even why its needed.

Then from Leyton, via Hackney Wick/ Whick (?) onto the canal - more refurb work.

Came off canal at Angel, and on to Mount Pleasant where for first time I bought lunch at one of the many food stalls I've seen there for many years now.

Black bean stew - and very nice:


Back to central London along the canal. Unfortunately stretches of it are closed off due to works to repair decades of neglect in time for the Olympics.

I saw the sign, and I saw the ducks.

Things have changed a bit down by the canal:

End of the line for the Greenway?

Fwd: Your TheyWorkForYou email alert

I've been getting this email regularly for a few years now, but have only just recently started using it properly.

They tell you when your MP - or any MP you're interested in - speaks in Parliament and links to Hansard


speaker: Caroline Lucas : 3 Written Answers
Written Answers - Energy and Climate Change: Radioactive Waste (23 May 2011)
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2011-05-23a.56134.h&s=speaker%3A24910#g56134.q0
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate
Change pursuant to the answer of 3 May 2011, Official Report, columns
693-94W, on radioactive waste, what proportion of the high level waste
(HLW) inventory is (a) high activity liquor and (b) vitrified HLW; what
quantities of HLW and other radioactive waste streams he estimates will
be created from the spent fuel from a possible future new...

Written Answers - Energy and Climate Change: Radioactive Waste (23 May 2011)
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2011-05-23a.57100.h&s=speaker%3A24910#g57100.q0
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate
Change what information his Department holds on the quantities of
reprocessing waste that have been created at Sellafield and Dounreay
reprocessing and waste treatment plants.

Written Answers - Communities and Local Government: Housing: Environment Protection (23 May 2011)
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2011-05-23a.52762.h&s=speaker%3A24910#g52762.q0
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local
Government whether strategic environmental assessments will apply to
neighbourhood plans; and if he will make a statement.

More Tomlinson Stuff

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/may/24/tomlinson-police-officer-manslaughter-trial

 

Good news for now. I expect the shitty comments from serving officers on police message boards will go through the roof.

 

I don;t care if they do resign over it - though I suspect none will. I just want the c*nts to start obeying the law.

cutswatch

The Guardian Cutswatch project, which has now received more than 150 reports and testimonies of how public sector cuts are affecting communities around the UK. From JobCentre closures to axed bus services, find out how services in your area have been hit.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/cutswatch?&CMP=EMCSOCEML657

Consequences of Climate change

http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/climate-change/weather-disasters-in-the-poorest-nations-have-trebled-since-1980s-2287816.html

Photographer Cat

I think this is cute

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/artinfo/cooper-the-cat-photographer_b_863555.html

Fwd: Our Corrupt Police - Caught Out Again

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/police-in-dock-over-phonehacking-as-prescott-wins-judicial-review-2288151.html

Hilarious end of the world thread on The guardian

If you read this you'll notice my contribution - look for the cat motif

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2011/may/20/day-of-rapture-end-of-the-world?commentpage=1#start-of-comments

Idiot driver phenomena # 65

I've noticed a phenomena involving drivers on the road wherby they pull up to a give way line and upon seeing a cyclist apporaching, wait, and wait, and wait, until the cyclist is really close, then pull out at an absurd speed, often forcing the cyclist to brake sharply and risking driving straight into oncoming traffic.

 

It happened to me this morning, though with a twist, the driver was waiting and i saw him, and he saw me, and i though well he could have pulled out and gone by now, then i watched him some more, and he looked at me,i thought i wonder if he's going to wait till i pass him, and i looked at him again, andwas still looking at me, and then he pulled out and i stopped pedalling, though didn;t have to brake fortunately. then he put his left indicator on and turned left almost immediately, and that forced me to have to brake.

 

So is it game? Or are these drivers really as thick as they look?

 

Heavens Knows I'm sociable Now

Feeling very sociable now. I led a 31 miles cycle ride around the Hoo Peninsula yesterday, which consisted of me, 5 women, and one other bloke. We started off gently enough from Gravesend, along the badly maintained NCN route #1 leading out of the town and into the nearby countryside. within minutes we have idyllic looking green fields to the right and marchland to the left. We pass a crowd of shooters about to use the firing range in the marshlands. Eventually we're on the roads, with small hills now, and some wind. but still quite easy riding.

We pass through Cliffe and Cooling. Two quite sharp hills test us but everyone is still riding, even the lady who is a runner, and not so much cyclist. Even me.

A lunchstop at Hallows by the Sea - where the river ends and the sea starts. this little town feels like the end of the wold. Too early for lunch - 12.00 - the landlady in the pub kindly offers to make sandwiches, cheese or beef, for any of us want them. I settle for a pint and my homemade cheese and chorizo roll.

After lunch - we were against the increasingly strong wind, which turns briefly into a storm, with hale stones. We all sheltered behind a small bush.

Within minutes the sun was back out as we ambled into Strood using NCN Route #1 again.

I can see ways to improve this ride now - lovely pub just outside Strood looking over the estuary.

A home I went online, drank a couple of ciders, and fell asleep on my bed at 8 pm. Woke up and it was dark. Woke up a second time and it was light again.

I'd been dreaming abot an intelligent sentient dog. A jack russel. I think I'd been talking to it. Most other details evaporated away as I realised I needed to get up if I was to get to work on time.

Libya: Britain's £1bn war | World news | The Guardian

Libya: Britain's £1bn war | World news | The Guardian

Love Trees! on Twitpic

Walking down from work to see Richard Herring in the Leicester Square Theatre, I noticed some minor subversion of an evil sign that has been becoming more and more commonplace in London over the past decade or so.Usually trees inflicted with such a sign are felled shortly after.

Love Trees! on Twitpic

Giant fox, Shard, South Bank

Rapture Index

Some nutters say it's tomorrow - other nutters have set up this website which is like a doomsday clock for the apocolypse:

http://www.raptureready.com/rap2.html

Northumberland Park Depot

some vile doggerel, and attempt at toilet humour - found inside a cubicle in the depot

brand new Victoria Line train in its shed - please note, no face, does not talk

urban wasteland

an artful recognition of NP's main industry:

Previously on Northumberland Park Depot

Dream Diary

kate bush concert
i could hear the music
mark elkington - at concert?
spike milligan as old man talking to me

Thamesmead

I spent the afternoon exploring round Thamesmead, helping out on a cycling stall, and taking a small group of kids for a cycle ride round Thamesmead.

I visited Thamesmead for first times in 1986 to start the Green Chain Walk, which took us on a walk all the way to Crystal Palace.

Since then Beautiful Thing was a made, in 90s, and me and S went on an early date to see it. then after Kubrick kicked the proverbial, A Clockwork Orange was released and more recently Misfits is filmed there. There must be some special force around Thamesmead that guarantees that anyhting filmed there will be great. Or maybe we just don't get to see the crap, if any, that was set there.

This horse didn't just like being petted by little girls - s/he was extremely keen for me to stick around too
I nearly broke my back getting my bike over the bike friendly barrier on the Ridgeway

Top left corner - is that a UFO? No! it's a fucking lamp post you fecking eejit!!

Dramatic Skies -the weather was variable:

cutty sark pics

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/cutty-sark-goes-up-in-the-world-2281610.html?action=Gallery&ino=12

dream diary

dream 10 05 11
some sort of event - part fayre/ sale and part party - in a complex of rooms. i was there with S. i think drinking was going on. also remember being in room which was home (?) - structural problems - massive water leak which i stopped and mopped up. K as a young child? Throughout i was wearing a knee length pleated skirt and no-one commented - slightly self conscious in front of people, but it felt fairly normal.

UN introduced Cholera to Haiti

After all the racist accusations aimed at Haiti - we finally get the truth about their latest "misfortune"

http://news.sciencemag.org/scienceinsider/2011/05/un-forces-introduced-cholera-to.html

SPINELESS FACEBOOK

Cut and paste from the latest SchNews:

Whether you are orchestrating an uprising against an Arab dictator, or planning to wave a few placards to protest the closure of your local library, Facebook has rapidly become a key organising tool for activists around the world. Facebook's faceless masters however, seem to have taken issue with being a revolutionary weapon and have instigated a purge of pages of UK activist groups. Around 50 sites disappeared down the internet memory hole in a 'night of the long nerds' on April 29th. Anarchist, student and anti-cuts protest groups were amongst those pages erased. No warning was given and no permission asked.

Enraged by this outrageous but perhaps unsurprising political intervention from the multi-billion pound business, Bristol IMC investigated the closure of the Bristol Anarchist Bookfair page. They were informed the site had been disabled as it was an "inauthentic account" that violated Facebook's "Statement of Rights and Responsibilities" by not providing a real first and last name. SchNEWS is
now rifling through the phone book for the personal details of Mrs Clothing at Tesco...

green stories

wind industry urged to come clean

inaugural trams

conspiracy

I like Zoe williams, and I like discussing conspiracy theories, the more ludicrous the better:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/may/05/princess-di-osama-conspiracy-theory

Brian May - champion of foxes and badgers

About time we had some positive fox related news. Does the demonisation stop here? As foxes are reabilitated in the real world, s Queen are being reabilitated in my head. I have recently downloaded "Flash", "Save Me", "Another One Bites The Dust", "Crazy Little Thing Called Love". Last year I downloaded four tracks form "Night At the Opera". It's only a matter of time before I buy the full on albums, I guess, though I still think that there are quite a few dodgy album tracks in there, and they did nothing wothwhile after 1985.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/may/04/brian-may-champion-badger-welfare

twat on road

I was so mad this evening at the arrogant twat in Welling who nearly ran head first into me coming round a bend. His speed: 20 mph - which would mean a combined speed of 40 mph if he hit someone with the same twattish self belief as him.

 

Good riddance I say.

It does mean I have to be ultra cautious at this corner in future - so while drivers feel free to speed round it on wrong side of the road, cyclists have to carry all the responsibilty to ensure their recklessness does not turn into tragedy.

Fuck em I say!!!!!

cunts in uniform comments on tomlimson

http://ww2.policeoracle.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=15508&PN=1&title=g-20-discipline

Despicable comments from despicable cunts

Author	Message Share Topic Topic Search Topic Options
Maverick22 Moderator Group Brian Winner 2008 Joined: 30 July 2005 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 31310	Topic: G 20 = Discipline Posted: 29 November 2010 at 5:10pm
	http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-10777287
	Light travels faster than sound, thats why some people appear bright, until they open their mouths.
IveToldYouOnce Moderator Group Joined: 05 December 2007 Online Status: Offline Posts: 4485	Posted: 29 November 2010 at 5:17pm
	The hypocrisy of the Tomlinson family astounds me.
	I'm here to help - The Queen sent me. Let's go tickle some frogs.
CptDoby Class I (Fighter Command) Graham Winner 2009 Joined: 03 March 2006 Online Status: Offline Posts: 521	Posted: 29 November 2010 at 6:04pm
	It may be hypocrisy but Mr Tomlinson's family like many before and many to come are being used as as cash cow and a as a weapon by the usual suspects to attack the police service. It never helps when instead of standing up for their staff, there is spineless appeasement from the likes of Stephenson who should grow a pair and stand up for a staff member who has never been charged with any criminal offence. When did he last face a plainly obstructive man as Mr Tomkinson was in a charged atmosphere??? Cpt D
tee5 Garage Sergeant Joined: 27 October 2005 Online Status: Offline Posts: 925	Posted: 29 November 2010 at 6:13pm
	The way things are going, I can see the TSG / OSU / TAU etc etc being scrapped across the country, with PO duties being done by regular bobbies.
oldcopper Garage Sergeant Star Trekker ! Joined: 21 May 2009 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1411	Posted: 29 November 2010 at 6:36pm
	Absolutely disgraceful. To humiliate this PC further and cause him and his family even more distress than that which they have already undergone is disgusting. I never Policed a public order situation of the magnitide of the G20 demonstration during more 30 years service but I did Police several football matches and sectarian marches which turned into very nasty riots. During several of these and other lesser, and routine, public order situations I used force of a similar level to that used by the officer in this case to move on those unwilling to disperse with due dispatch or indulging in the `dawdling' game/tactic Tomlinson resorted to. On more than one occasion I gave evidence in trials arising from such incidents and described candidly what I had done and why. Nobody seriously suggested I had used a greater degree of force than necessary. Perhaps it was just fortunate the Grim Reaper did not decide to claim those I pushed at that precise moment. I fail to see how this officer can receive a fair hearing but hope that, by some miracle, he manages to keep his job. If, as I anticipate, he is hung out to dry it will be a signal to every copper in the UK of what to expect for doing his/her duty, and when people criticise Officers for not taking robust action in public order situations (as I hear them doing now in connection with the student riots) it would be appropriate to remind them of what happened to this unfortunate Officer and contemplate on why Officers seem reluctant to engage with the `mob' in the fashion they once did. If the Establishment of this Country, the hierarchy of the Police Service and the Legal System now deem minor levels of force such as that displayed in this particular case to be unlawful in such circumstances then God help us. I suspect certain people are in for a well deserved shock when the Barbarians ascend their ivory towers and disturb their reverie. And perhaps the sooner the better. How many of us can say other than say ``There but for the grace of God go I ?''
	oldcopper
oldcopper Garage Sergeant Star Trekker ! Joined: 21 May 2009 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1411	Posted: 29 November 2010 at 6:43pm
	[QUOTE=tee5]The way things are going, I can see the TSG / OSU / TAU etc etc being scrapped across the country, with PO duties being done by regular bobbies. I would not be surprised if officers in such units decided their careers lay in other directions. The entire spineless, dimwitted Establishment of this Country are sleepwalking into something they are going to regret, and it will serve them right.
	oldcopper
IveToldYouOnce Moderator Group Joined: 05 December 2007 Online Status: Offline Posts: 4485	Posted: 29 November 2010 at 7:35pm
	FFS. I've pushed people equally as hard to get them to leave an area when words alone weren't effective. Drunk, beligerent people....... ...........and if I do it again I might go through what this officer is going through? If I push the 'wrong' person who happens to be a bump away from internal bleeding and, God Help Me, death? I could lose my job and pension, be unable to support my family, lose my house? Who would give any officer a hard time if that officer decided that he wouldn't use any force at all? We all think that we can justify the force we use, but then I guess, so did the officer who is now up for Gross Misconduct......... TCF. The only positive to come out of it is that when it's truly f***ed, we can put our hands on our hearts and say "Well it wasn't our fault, what did you expect was going to happen?". Of course, what will happen is that some smartarse liberal will just blame us anyway......... Is it really The Way that the only way to be sure that each of us will never have this at our door, is to just not touch anybody - because just by looking at somebody you can't tell whether they're a nudge away from dying? Is that really where we are now?
	I'm here to help - The Queen sent me. Let's go tickle some frogs.
Penbwlch Moderator Group Joined: 12 August 2005 Online Status: Online Posts: 60692	Posted: 29 November 2010 at 7:43pm
	Originally posted by IveToldYouOnce FFS. I've pushed people equally as hard to get them to leave an area when words alone weren't effective. Drunk, beligerent people....... ...........and if I do it again I might go through what this officer is going through? If I push the 'wrong' person who happens to be a bump away from internal bleeding and, God Help Me, death? I could lose my job and pension, be unable to support my family, lose my house? Who would give any officer a hard time if that officer decided that he wouldn't use any force at all? We all think that we can justify the force we use, but then I guess, so did the officer who is now up for Gross Misconduct......... TCF. The only positive to come out of it is that when it's truly f***ed, we can put our hands on our hearts and say "Well it wasn't our fault, what did you expect was going to happen?". Of course, what will happen is that some smartarse liberal will just blame us anyway......... Is it really The Way that the only way to be sure that each of us will never have this at our door, is to just not touch anybody - because just by looking at somebody you can't tell whether they're a nudge away from dying? Is that really where we are now? Not yet but we will be if he is found guilty.
	I used to be conceited. Now I'm Perfect
IveToldYouOnce Moderator Group Joined: 05 December 2007 Online Status: Offline Posts: 4485	Posted: 29 November 2010 at 8:19pm
	Originally posted by Penbwlch Not yet but we will be if he is found guilty. It has often been said that, should an AFO ever be charged with murder, the country would find itself without too many AFOs..........there might be parallels to be made.........
	I'm here to help - The Queen sent me. Let's go tickle some frogs.
BIkerider Moderator Group Joined: 03 February 2007 Online Status: Offline Posts: 4562	Posted: 29 November 2010 at 8:20pm
	All I can say is I am so glad I am not serving now. I think of my 20+ years as the best working years of my life but to see how it has denigrated into a mealy mouthed excuse of a service, I am glad I am no longer part of it.
	Kingy from Tyneside Sometimes I sits and thinks. Other times I just sits!
Maverick22 Moderator Group Brian Winner 2008 Joined: 30 July 2005 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 31310	Posted: 29 November 2010 at 8:32pm
	The Tomlinson family have had nothing whatsoever to do with the father/husband for 11 years. He left home because of his drinking habits(and other reasons) and the family made no effort to trace him. Then 11 years later the family are all concerned for his welfare and were rushing around shouting about their poor old Dad being pushed around by the police. All they could really see was the old ''cash cow'' coming down their way. I hope the PC keeps his job, and the Mets gets a Commissioner with some 'balls', I thought Blair was bad enough, but Stephenson takes the biscuit by a mile.
	Light travels faster than sound, thats why some people appear bright, until they open their mouths.
Penbwlch Moderator Group Joined: 12 August 2005 Online Status: Online Posts: 60692	Posted: 29 November 2010 at 8:36pm
	Originally posted by BIkerider All I can say is I am so glad I am not serving now. I think of my 20+ years as the best working years of my life but to see how it has denigrated into a mealy mouthed excuse of a service, I am glad I am no longer part of it. I would like to associate myself with this comment. It is precisely how I feel.
	I used to be conceited. Now I'm Perfect
newBeatboy Class I (Fighter Command) Joined: 11 November 2006 Online Status: Offline Posts: 502	Posted: 29 November 2010 at 9:04pm
	Originally posted by Penbwlch Not yet but we will be if he is found guilty. Well unlike you dinosaurs () I'm only just starting, and I can see this having huge ramifications if found guilty. I listened to the Tomlinson's family solicitor in the BBC clip, and he obviously doesn't understand the difference between sufficient evidence to charge and actually being found guilty. But can anyone tell me why Sgt Smelly got prosecuted for assault in the first place as the 'victim' admitted in media interviews that she had struck him despite being warned? I am public order trained and have enjoyed my live ops, including one arrest (football fan). But all this casts a dark shadow over how we can police with (metaphorically) one hand tied behind out backs. Who knows who has what condition, what is being videod, and how long after the fact (and various investigations, post-mortems, reports etc) we may still be on 'light duties' awaiting a result? I note that the Met promised a quick enquiry back in July. Well they have all the evidence (it's on Youtube guys!), HMIC, IPCC and CPS have also conducted their investigations, so what's the delay on the result?
	So all you really got to do is just-a move you little feet And just-a rock-a to the beat
BIkerider Moderator Group Joined: 03 February 2007 Online Status: Offline Posts: 4562	Posted: 29 November 2010 at 10:48pm
	So they have demanded a public hearing. Well the Chief Constable of North Yorkshire is on a disciplinary hearing shortly, I wonder if his will be 'public'?
	Kingy from Tyneside Sometimes I sits and thinks. Other times I just sits!
tee5 Garage Sergeant Joined: 27 October 2005 Online Status: Offline Posts: 925	Posted: 30 November 2010 at 12:02am
	I was working the city centre a few weeks ago and one pissed up individual decided he wanted to pick a fight. I politely pushed him back using Home Office approved techniques. He then gets his phone out and dials 999 to complain about me, quoting my collar number. The call gets routed to my control room and they ISSI me, telling me there's a complaint been lodged! FFS- what's it come to when a call handler takes the word of a drunk over a sober copper?
newBeatboy Class I (Fighter Command) Joined: 11 November 2006 Online Status: Offline Posts: 502	Posted: 30 November 2010 at 12:45am
	Originally posted by tee5 I was working the city centre a few weeks ago and one pissed up individual decided he wanted to pick a fight. I politely pushed him back using Home Office approved techniques. He then gets his phone out and dials 999 to complain about me, quoting my collar number. The call gets routed to my control room and they ISSI me, telling me there's a complaint been lodged! FFS- what's it come to when a call handler takes the word of a drunk over a sober copper? I think we just want the bosses to be a bit quicker to come to our defence. Perhaps they are scared of backing a losing horse? In Sgt Smelly's case when the support came it was too little to late. I still think that Meredydd Hughes, the Chief Constable of South Yorks set the best example when he was quick to come to the defence of the copper involved in the supposed ‘police brutality’ film a couple of years ago. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article1490289.ece I'm pretty sure he backed the PC withing a couple of days of the incident airing (it was all months after the event anyway).
	So all you really got to do is just-a move you little feet And just-a rock-a to the beat
oldcopper Garage Sergeant Star Trekker ! Joined: 21 May 2009 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1411	Posted: 30 November 2010 at 1:30am
	It really takes some believing. We have riots on the streets of the Capital and more demonstrations which are likely to turn violent being promised for the future by trade unions, in addition to students, and yet we have an officer who did no more than push someone and tap him on the leg with a lawfully issued baton being pilloried for doing his job. What example does that set to other Officers involved in public order situations? What encouragement is there for them to discharge their duties properly when they know they may end up on the `wrong' side of criminal, civil or disciplinary proceedings? Are the Establishment of the UK trying to discourage the Police from performing their function of maintaining order? Is there something that I am not seeing in all this? Successive Governments of all political hues have gradually weakened and emasculated (figuratively speaking) the Police Forces of this Country to a level whereby they are becoming ineffective.
	oldcopper
Penbwlch Moderator Group Joined: 12 August 2005 Online Status: Online Posts: 60692	Posted: 30 November 2010 at 7:55am
	Originally posted by tee5 I was working the city centre a few weeks ago and one pissed up individual decided he wanted to pick a fight. I politely pushed him back using Home Office approved techniques. He then gets his phone out and dials 999 to complain about me, quoting my collar number. The call gets routed to my control room and they ISSI me, telling me there's a complaint been lodged! FFS- what's it come to when a call handler takes the word of a drunk over a sober copper? Arrest for attempting to obstruct police in the execution of their duty, seize phone as evidence?
	I used to be conceited. Now I'm Perfect
BIkerider Moderator Group Joined: 03 February 2007 Online Status: Offline Posts: 4562	Posted: 30 November 2010 at 8:22am
	Certainly arrest, the very minimum for D&D, or more if the offences are there. I was told early on in my service that if there is going to be a complaint make sure that your evidence is watertight and that the person is reported or arrested for an offence for which the individual can be prosecuted. There is no need to make up any offence if your conduct was above reproach. Obviously there are times when the complaint comes in out of the blue but a PNB entry should support your story. The call handler is duty bound to take note of the allegation if a call was made so please don't condemn them. Edited by BIkerider - 30 November 2010 at 8:24am
	Kingy from Tyneside Sometimes I sits and thinks. Other times I just sits!
M&MBM Moderator Group Sheep Rescue and Speed Awards Joined: 22 November 2006 Online Status: Offline Posts: 64650	Posted: 30 November 2010 at 8:48am
	Originally posted by newBeatboy Originally posted by tee5 I was working the city centre a few weeks ago and one pissed up individual decided he wanted to pick a fight. I politely pushed him back using Home Office approved techniques. He then gets his phone out and dials 999 to complain about me, quoting my collar number. The call gets routed to my control room and they ISSI me, telling me there's a complaint been lodged! FFS- what's it come to when a call handler takes the word of a drunk over a sober copper? I think we just want the bosses to be a bit quicker to come to our defence. Perhaps they are scared of backing a losing horse? In Sgt Smelly's case when the support came it was too little to late. I still think that Meredydd Hughes, the Chief Constable of South Yorks set the best example when he was quick to come to the defence of the copper involved in the supposed ‘police brutality’ film a couple of years ago. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article1490289.ece I'm pretty sure he backed the PC withing a couple of days of the incident airing (it was all months after the event anyway). Let's remember how tragically that ended. So sad. It seems to me that every copper everywhere is liable to be the victim of a malicious complaint completely out of the blue.It's ridiculous the amount of sh*t a copper has to wade through just to do a fairly ordinary duty. aaaggg, this quotes problem drives me nuts .