I have a friend. Honestly, I do. He is a former colleague
but I can prove he is also a friend because Facebook says so. He is a quietly spoken, kind, clever and
thoughtful guy.
He also owns a gun shop. It is a good gun shop. It is the
type of gun shop that sells really sleek looking hand guns and rifles to smart
looking people who want to be prepared for a home invasion or hunting season or
the apocalypse or perhaps who just like guns.
He does not live in the UK.
Once we, as in me and my friend and a couple of other former
colleagues who did not end up as my friends, were hanging about waiting for a
briefing on something ever so important. I can’t remember what it was.
I can remember what we talked about.
There was the “guilty pleasure food” we would head for when
we got home. I won’t share what mine was
for fear of being mocked by my colleagues, but the clue is that they are made
in vast quantities in Callington. And
with less automation across the rest of Cornwall.
Then my friend asked whether I knew the story of the “Cornish
9 / 11 Hero”. I didn’t. His name is Rick
Rescorla. It’s an inspiring story if you
get the time to look it up.
I am pretty sure it was after 9 / 11 my friend’s gun shop
started.
We don’t have gun shops in the UK of the type my friend had
and still has.
But more and more recently we do see coppers out on the
streets with guns, which is a change.
Firearms have become a more common sight in the UK.
I don’t think most of us are used to the sight.
Two armed officers, both of whom I’d served with as a
Constable on patrol, turned up our office on Tuesday. They had just finished dealing with and
recording a domestic incident, and had dropped into the nick to grab a cuppa
and use the porcelain facilities before resuming patrol. I wasn’t used to seeing them with guns and it
felt a little strange to think these were the guys I used to stand beside at
the occasional “confrontational” situation.
I was interested to see how the community reacted to them
and what they would say to the great British Public if they could.
There were two things.
The first officer went for an explanation about what to do
if see an emergency vehicle with its blue lights and sirens operating whilst
driving. That should really get its own
blog. So it will.
Now there’s something to look forward to.
The second officer thought it would be a good thing to
explain it is ok to have random people come up to unarmed and armed officers to
say hi, have a chat.
He explained that a man had approached them when they were patrolling
a town centre.
He had clocked[i] the
fellow walking towards him and automatically made his assessment. This member of the public coming towards him smiled
and looked a little embarrassed. The officer prepared himself for one of the
“Public Information” questions that are so common. How do I get to such and
such? What bus do I need to catch to get
to? My neighbour has done this and what will the police do about it? That type
of thing.
What actually happened was that this fellow walked up to officer
and said “I just wanted to say thank you. Thank you for everything you do to
keep us safe”.
It took the officer a while to figure out how to
respond. In the end he settled for “You’re
welcome”.
The fellow then left, looking a bit less embarrassed.
The officer had a brief whispered conversation with his
colleague to decide if the man had been taking the mickey, or was being
genuine. The officer describing the
events to me made a point of saying the whole experience left him feeling a
little stunned.
In the end they decided the man seemed genuine.
Another officer in the office at the time said, “That
happened to me when I was PSU[ii]
in Exeter. Some teenager came up to me
and said “Thank you for being there to protect us”.”
This was the first time anyone had said anything like that
to either officer. In the years they had
been a police officer no stranger, no run of mill member of the community had
approached them for no discernible reason other than simply to say thank you.
The armed officer has served for nearly 15 years.
The second officer has served for 13 years.
And apparently the act of saying thank you is spreading.
Our deputy Chief Constable is at Glastonbury. He has just tweeted “Can’t move anywhere
without people shaking our hands. Great public support for the police”.
I have to admit I feel a little “stunned” myself.
What with guns being seen strapped to police officers on the
streets, referenda, elections, wicked people doing horrid things, tragedies and
outpourings of love life can already feel a bit overwhelming.
Add to that a very real, positive and noticeable change in
the way people relate to and behave towards the police family and I think it’s
understandable that some of us are not quite sure how to respond.
“You’re welcome” seems a little inadequate.
So I just wanted to say that if anyone feels a new sense of
gratitude or respect for the police family it is good to let us know. Any letter, email or conversation you have
that lets us know you care is a good thing. Your kindness and support is
appreciated, immensely.
But it may take the street tempered and world weary members
of the police family a little while to become used to having nice things said
to them whilst out in the public eye.
I’d ask that you be patient with us. It is a pretty new
thing for us and we have yet to work out a better reply than “You’re welcome”.
Oh, and to everyone who is in the ambulance, fire and rescue
and police families in whatever role, you are awesome.
PS – please drive safely, be kind to each other and don’t
mess with other people’s stuff.
[i]
“Clock”: to see, to notice, to have your attention drawn to. As in “I clocked
the bloke who had been on briefing”. Old
Bill Slang – none existent publications.
[ii]
“PSU” an abbreviation of Police Support Unit also known as “the big van full of
police officers with shields and crash helmets” and “ a unit of police officers who have
undergone specialist tactical training in Public Order and Riot Control.” www.cambs.police.uk/about/psu