David Warcup, who was expected to become police chief
ACTING Chief of Police David Warcup has said he does not want to be police chief and has blamed ‘malicious’ politicians for his decision.
Mr Warcup, who released a statement yesterday saying that he would not be putting himself forward for the role following the controversial retirement of Graham Power, said that his main reasons for leaving the force were the ‘political hostility which has been directed towards me, the attacks on my personal integrity and the resultant delays in securing my appointment’.
Article posted on 20th July, 2010 - 3.00pm
66 Article Comments
This is something of a poisoned chalice, we seem to have a new top copper every few months. Why don’t the politicians leave the police alone to do their job, they unlike the politicians know what they are doing.
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Rats deserting a sinking ship me thinks.! Too weak for the job.
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Well on behalf of the real people of Jersey we are sorry you were bullied and intimidated out by a clueless minority.
All the best and thanks for your excellent work.
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Your off the hook mate!! you will have a better life elsewhere thats for sure!I would,nt trust anyone over here. good luck!
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person from health, gone
person from airport , gone
and now person from the police, gone
just half way thru the year, anymore for anymore.
why is everyone jumping off the good ship jersey?
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The last time anybody made a list of the top hundred character attributes of Jersey politicians, common sense snuck in at number 79
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This is really sad because David Warcup was the best we could of had to date. The States members who meddled in this police matter should resign.
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Let’s hope Le Marquand can persuade this man to stay, he does seem to be a good cop.
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I think David Warcup has made a sound decision, the island is run by idiots !
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Good old Jersey politicians strike again, if he won’t do it our way, get rid of him, some things never change!
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& Treasury gone as well now!!.
Ozouf says lessons to be learnt,if referring to money exchange lesson they (treasury & Terry Le Sueur) should have followed from Cyril Le Marquands day, he exchanged in advance of the original incinerator saving the island a considerable amount,maybe they don’t check up on these matters today.
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Well all the best such a shame you are leaving but as it happens the politicians are muppets and are a bunch of no hopers just good at upsetting the island and losing money and introducing new ways of getting money from the islanders, sadly they like to think they know best….they are bullies.
Wishing you the best of luck
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I for one will not miss this parachuted in “Common Purpose” politically trained acting police chief.
Jersey’s Police Chief should be drawn from those who have risen from within our own local ranks. He should be someone whose life and working record is open and known the whole community. Someone whom we can all trust. Not some unknown over priced entity who is selectively parachuted in to suit some Civil Service or special interest agenda.
And finally, regardless of whom is chosen to replace this officer, the Island needs a strong, transparent and responsible “Police Commission” to over see all of our policing activities, because I for one, do not want to live in an unaccountable police state
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Well done bob hill. You are completely out if touch and have ruined the police ability to recruit any decent candidates. Follow the lead of mr warcup and resign.
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Please don’t let Le Marquand choose his replacement.
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The Jersey Bull is probably some Jersey politician in other words an uneducated person – Mr Warcup is quite right to resign after all the abuse he has received from the politicians – quite disgusting behaviour, but then Jersey is run by also uneducated, perverse idiots who are only interested in their own backsides. Disillusioned I certainly feel with my beloved Jersey.
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I was never entirely comfortable with the appointment of someone who played such a major role in the suspension of his predecessor and the subsequent enquiry.
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Sorry no 14 but Deputy Hill has been attempting to see natural justice.Any Chief Officer in Jersey needs to be made of sterner stuff than Warcup to deal with the politically inept government who do not know what accountability means.
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#13 Is he Common Purpose?
Either way I can’t say the news came as a surprise.
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#13 Okay, just confirmed that he is Common Purpose, the last thing Jersey needs is any of that lot.
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Mr Warcup complains of attacks on his personal integrity – when did he last give evidence in court ? Rank and file police officers have their integrity attacked by lawyers all the time but fortunately don’t feel the need to to resign. It goes with the job.
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How sad for our Force to once again see a dedicated and professional Officer leave. Anyone know how many that makes in the last year
or so?
Good luck and every success to those that have left. You have done the right thing!
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Common Purpose is all about training the leaders for the future post democratic world (read “dictatorship”) and empowering them to exceed their authority….
It’s all out there to read.
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16 Geraldine..I suggest you review or re read the wisdom of The Jersey bull who is spot on, you no doubt and very forgiveably do not know about Matrix training or Common purpose…suggest you look at http://www.tpuc.org/node/107 and make sure you’re sitting down as the civil service is rife with it and it answers many questions as to why we are in the state we’re in.
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Its easy to understand the Police enforce the will of the politicians for good or for bad. If they disagree they are oot.
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In terms of seniority, this would leave Supt. Shaun Du Val in the running for the post and that would not be a bad thing. He’s a Jerseyman who’s entire career has been on the island and if he accepts, then he’d do so with no illusions about our political masters and their inept machinations, backstabbing and indecision/inaction.
Whoever drinks from this poisoned chalice, then good luck to them. But it would be good to see a Jerseyman (or woman, but thats dreaming too far!) steer the force to a better rapport with the public.
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Well done 13 and 20.Common purpose have infiltrated most new posts and I presume Ogley and the new Chief Exec at FNHC are also from the group.
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Througout his whole carreer Mr. Warcup must have seen everything in his job, vicious crimes, horrendous sights, this would toughen anyone up and after a while you would not be surprised at anything the human race will do.
This is why I refuse to believe that a man such as him, who has seen everything could be so sensative as to let any critisism bother him in the slightest, no matter how good you are at anything some one will slag you off, the people who offered him the job were obviously happy with him, that is all that matters.
I strongly suspect that there is more to this than meets the eye, we are once again not being put in the picture.
Be honest, Jersey is as good a place as anywhere for Mr. Warcup to punch in the few years he has left any then retire anywhere he likes, there is something not right here.
Bear in mind Mr. Warcup was not altogether very popular where he came from.
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some one posted a link about “common purpose” on these pages before.
maybe they should post it again , so those who don’t know can be enlightened.
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I agree with Dave (17).
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Bean Bag # 28. I imagine it will be many years ago that David Warcup witnessed “vicious crimes” or “horrendous sights.” Many of his ilk aren’t dyed in the wool cops, but are instead administrators having been in non operational departments for most of their careers.
Following the reign of Messrs Power and Harper, many highly qualified and experienced officers left the S.o.J.P. and now many members of the Force are demoralised and bewildered by the events over the last nine years.
Unfortunately Mr. Warcup inherited a crock of ‘cow dung’ and frankly I don’t blame him wanting to leave his post. Lets hope the States can find a dynamic replacement to lead and motivate the Force in the future.
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#23 Indeed, for a ‘training company’ their website is rather different to that of other training companies but since when was everyone being taught the same type of leadership a good thing? What if that turns out to be the wrong type of leadership? Differences bring balance, brainwashing breeds extremism.
When a friend first directed me to Commmon Purposes’ website (without telling me what they claimed to do) it made me quite uneasy, the best I could liken it to was a cult.
Dave (#17) also makes a very pertinent point, any potential replacement should have had no involvement in the original suspension or inquiry.
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Best person for the job – is what I want, regardless where they have been born.
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I think that the next chief should come from local stock. This may offend some, but policing here has gone to the dogs since we have relied on “better qualified” senior officers from the UK. Since the days of Parkinson, things haven’t been right, and we only had a brief period of stability when Le Breton was chief.
Look at the mess the States departments are in as a whole, run by another “expert”, Bill Ogley. Has anyone else noticed that the Island has become badly run since locals don’t run it anymore.
We have the Scottish and Welsh seeking full devolution, and we are supposed to be independent, but we are run by failed imports from the mainland. I will of course be accused of having an insular view, but I’m tired of our Island being run so badly.
Let’s give our own a chance, they certainly wouldn’t be any worse!
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2 UK police chiefs gone in a week how careless. How about a novel idea get a local officer in as chief or deputy chief. There are local officers of the right calibre who do know about policing jersey and have been undermined and snuffed out through the constant expensive importation of English cops who supposedly know it all a la power and Harper. Promote local talent. Buy local!!
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Local person or not – their place of birth is largely irrelevant to their competency. Although a strong arguement would be that someone with wider experience than working on a small island would be preferable.
The real is issue is the interference of local yokel politicians who prove every day that they are not even fit to run a Parish fete.
There is a perfect example of local ability – hence why talent is imported.
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When will politicians learn that being a civil servant is not a political role? Civil servants do not expect to be the subject of personal criticism in the press, on the internet or in the States. Until this witch-hunting mentality ends, we will end up with chief officers continually resigning and being replaced at significant costs to the Island.
In the end, we have a choice: we can either spend our limited public money on maintaining care for people will diabetes or we can pay the money to recruitment agencies to find replacements for perfectly good civil servants.
It is just ironic that those who purport to be against cuts always seem to be the ones trying to waste money.
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35 Matt..you are so right whether cops or otherwise the states Human Resources have a lot to answer for as succession planning is just a phrase that lip service is paid to..in reality it don’t happen..and the valuable thing about having as many locals as possible is ..You know who they are..they don’t come with anonymous pedigrees.
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#36 God’s Mentor. Power and Harper – imported talent? Warcup was also destined to fail. The Police need stability, and a local senior officer, who can hold the post for 10 – 15 years is required.
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Spot on, God’s Mentor. Some of the deputies we have in the States are an absolute joke. Elected in on a handful of votes they show little to no understanding of how things work. ILM must have been tearing his hair as one after another they stood up to ask pointless questions over and over again. If this continues decent intelligent public servants will avoid Jersey and who can blame them. Look what happened to Warcup when he blew the whistle on a bungled investigation, he was hounded out by the moron brigade. The States needs a clear out and quick.
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Responsibility for clear outs lies in the hands of the voters who show little taste for change.
The charge of being elected on the basis of a handful of votes could be levied at almost every member of the States, even poll topping Senators barely achieve the support of 30% of the electorate and most are elected with a lot less.
Then there are the country Constables and Deputies that either ‘emerge’ without a contest or stand on a manifesto centred around old people’s homes and dog mess while studiously avoiding questions on GST, etc.
Some members do ask stupid questions, some Ministers avoid answering legitimate questions and a lot of members do not ask questions because they do not want to rock the boat, which raises the question of why they are there at all.
There are plenty of things wrong with Jersey politics, it is just sad to see the right wing apologists using the antics of a tiny minority of left wingers as a scapegoat for the failures of the entire system.
If we did get rid of them from the States, would they accept that the waste on things like the failure to hedge the incinerator is actually the fault of the ruling caucus or would they just find another excuse?
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The UK Police are a disgrace only yesterday they let a riot squad officer off for killing an innocent person.
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/4/20100722/tuk-no-charges-for-tomlinson-death-offic-dba1618.html
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31, Blue Knight.
Never occured to me that Mr. Warcup could have been one of these Police who are never at the sharp end , so to speak, your experience provides your logic,I shall look at the whole issue now in a different light, appreciate your comments.
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Andy 42. The Crown Prosecution Service are a disgrace for not recommending that P.c. Simon Harwood be charged with at least an assault. You can not tar all police officers with the same brush. Not all of them are brutal people who indiscriminately lash out at members of the public.
One has to wonder however, how the victim could just nonchalantly wander through the middle of a serious public order situation. I doubt many people would just innocently walk into such a fraught situation – I wouldn’t unless my job required me to be there. I am not for one moment excusing the behaviour of the police that day. I think in many cases the behaviour of the cops was heavy handed (Andy – what has this got to do with the Acting Chief Officer leaving Jersey?)
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Blue knight – “many members of the Force are demoralised and bewildered by the events over the last nine years”
A bit misleading there me old mucker. My recollection from my 15 years there is that it all started to go down hill after David Parkinson left. Le Breton and many of his senior officers were very unpopular too and morale was extremely low during his reign.
The exodus of experienced officers started while I was there and I never served under H or P. It also coincided with the huge rise in the need for compliance officers in the finance industry, which a number of officers left to embark on.
To blame all the ills on the HP factor is not entirely correct – or fair.
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Blue Knight 44
Re: “Andy – what has this got to do with the Acting Chief Officer leaving Jersey?”
Obvious methinks! The new entrant will probably be chosen from the UK Police force… but let’s not tar them all with the same brush, eh!
However, you did exactly that in one of your recent comments regarding the treatment civilians can expect from all the French C.R.S. and the German Berieteshaft Polizei.
So, push that ‘ghost of a helmet’ up and back and take a long look at the treatment civilians received during the G20 protest (note, I said protest not RIOT!)…it’s hindering your vision.
By the way, you used the right term – “nonchalantly wander”…the victim had his hands in his pockets.
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Barb Dwyer # 46. The French C.R.S. and the German Berieteshaft Polizei, use water cannon, tear gas and rubber bullets – I didn’t see that during the G20 protest.
I never used the term riot; I said it was a public order situation and I agreed that the behaviour of some police officers was heavy handed.
You are making the mistake of sterotyping all cops and I doubt that there is anything I can say that will stop you criticising the police.
Cops aren’t angels, but neither are they the demons as you appear to see them.
Many do an excellent job such as described in a recent news item, “Proud dad John Milne has described two police officers as ‘guardian angels’ after they helped deliver his daughter… in a hospital car park. Mum Stacey Milne gave birth to baby Isabelle in the family’s car as there was not enough time to get inside Lincoln County Hospital, following a frantic journey from their Tattershall home.”
Of course you will only look for the negative accounts, whereas many cops do good work on a daily basis. Of course I now await with interest, for further vitriolic comments about those you love to hate.
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Goodbye,good riddance we do not want your Tazers thanks, for those who read here and are savvy about Common Purpose, Cressida Dick the one responsible for ordering the shoot to kill incident where the innocent young Brazillian was asasinated on the tube ,I use that word as shots through the mouth at close range are the trademark killing,well what do you know within months Cressida Dick was promoted and has even more power..These people are dangerous..wake up they are among us still.
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Blue Knight 47.
Not quite right Blue Knight, I like and am proud of the “real” British policeman. However, I dislike bullies in blue who attack people from behind.
By the way, the problem at the G20 demonstrations was not crowd violence, but heavy-handed policing. And although you might consider “kettling” a form of “conventional” crowd control, I consider it mass detention…pretty heavy stuff.
Just one more thing, I think you will find that British mainland police are set to request the use of water cannons against demonstrators…
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It was never perfect but the running of the States is grubby these days.
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Barb Dwyer # 49. I sadly concede there was some inappropriate policing at the G20 protest and many officers were heavy handed. What amazed me was the apparent indiscipline, with some officers having removed their numbers, from which they could more easily be identified – I’d have thought their Sergeants, Inspectors and Chief Inspectors would have seen this and ordered their officers to replace them.
However, as I have said before, you should not stereotype all police officers.
The poem below sums up my view:
“Who is that one, on whom who sneer and oftentimes, will cheek and jeer? What do you call him far and near? Why Bobby. Yet when there comes a vicious fight, or when mad dogs begin to bite; who is coming? Hail you with delight. Why,‘Bobby’
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Barb Dwyer # 49 (Addendum)….further to my last entry. Nowhere in my submission at # 47 did I say, “crowd violence.” I discussed public order. (The discussion seems to be moving further away from the original theme).
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Blue Knight 52.
Actually, I simply wished to draw your attention to the fact that in one of your recent posts, you tarred all the French C.R.S. and the German Berieteshaft Polizei with the same brush…something you tell others not to do with regard the British police force.
Your views are somewhat biased – understandable considering your past. However, I too was convinced (until G20) that the British police had the edge. So much so, that after the Genoa G8 (2001 Italy) policing disaster (atrocious policing resulting in the death of a ‘not-so-peaceful’ young man), I boasted to my Italian friends that “such things would never happen in Britain”…but unfortunately, they did.
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Is this much-mentioned Berieteshaft Polizei like the German Bereitschaftspolizei?
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Barbed Wire # 53 I have tried to give a balanced opinion and have conceded that the behaviour of some police officers at the G20 protest was unacceptable. I can do no more than that.
I have only seen the C.R.S. on television – do you recall the student riots in Paris in the late 1960s? They didn’t mess about believe me. They used water cannon, C.S./ tear gas and rubber bullets and battered people with their riot sticks.
The same goes for the Berieteshaft Polizei in Germany. Have you watched them on television dealing with people at football matches? They hit first and ask questions later.
I wasn’t at the G20 protest in London and the only information I have was from wathcing the television or reading the newspaper. What I saw didn’t look good as I have alluded to before in previous entries. There is only so much contrition I am prepared to give – really there is no more to say on the subject.
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Jerry 54
Yes it is, I just copied and pasted it from Blue Knight’s old post…sorry for not checking the spelling.
Really, we’re talking about French, German and Italian “Riot” Police who, in the past, have had to deal with real riots (not peaceful demonstrators chanting “This is not a Riot) and, as Blue Knight says: “They hit first and ask questions later”…unfortunately, seems to me that the British police have been taking lessons from them!
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Jerry # 54 and Barb Dwyer # 56 Bitte entschuldigung meine herren. The Pedants strike again but I think we all know what I meant.
Mr. Dwyer – there you go again sterotyping and quoting the term riot, which I never mentioned – oh well never mind.
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Blue Knight 57.
Mrs Dwyer not Mr, but you can call me Barb! And I’m not stereotyping, I still believe there are still plenty of “real” British policemen out there…but I just hope I never have to say: “Whatever happened to the British Bobby?”
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Hmmmm i really do think some people on this forum need to get a life. The ONLY option for SOJP is to get an outside Chief Officer. As long as someone checks his or her CV to make sure they didnt get it from the back of a Corn Flakes packet like some recent employees obviously did, im not referring to Mr Warcup either!
SOJP is far too small for one of the now 2 Superintendants to take over the reigns. An independant head need to be selected to ensure that things are done fairly and not in accordance with any of the funny handshake mob!!
Far too many good Officers have been ousted by the boys only club that exists within the senior management team at the Kremlin. I wonder why no-one has stopped to ask why so many have left?
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Mr Warcup has decided to leave, but let us hope he follows the trail to concusion, regarding Deputy Carolynne Labeys file on the rushing through of green field sites for development before he goes. This indeed would silence his critics. Retired Chief Police Graham Power is on record as being interested in her information. The Attorney general ( Jerseys answer to the Crown Prosecution Service )is not interested according to the vile blog.
Has Mr Warcup decided that the actions and camaraderie of certain senior civil servants and others on a small island, although against all the rules in the political book, are to much to bother with, at his stage of life ?
Would a good Jersey policeman promoted to the top be already influenced or independent and impartial, like the retired Police Chief ?
Given that Ian Le Marquand has released a mere thirty percent of a report by Wiltshire, when he was on record as saying the report would be made public, unlike Minister Anne Pryke who released the whole Verita report, has the public lost faith in him ?
The good news elections are yet another day closer, and the questions for weak politicians are getting harder and more informed.
Davey
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Chris # 59. Does a Force of just under 250 officers need a Chief Officer, Deputy Chief Officer, two Superintendents and four Chief Inspectors? The term too many Chiefs and not enough indians springs to mind.
Barb # 58…..you are awful – but I like you.
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@59 Chris
“I wonder why no-one has stopped to ask why so many have left?”
Public admission that things are not right within the SOJ police force?
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Blue Knight, I agree with most of your comments, but why are you so easily wound up.
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Anton Dec # 63. I get wound up because I am passionate about Jersey and I am upset about the events that have impacted on policing over the past nine years. The lives of many good people has been badly affected because of the ineptitude of a few. I mostly get wound up because I can’t do anything about it, except express my opinions.
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thankyou for your reply can you confirm if you joined the Jersey Police in 1967 or 1968? thanks
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Anton Dec #65. Careless talk may reveal secrets that I do not wish to disclose.
Suffice it to say, I care greatly for the reputation of a once fine and honorable organisation. Even now I still worry about the welfare of many of my former colleagues, both those currently serving and retired officers.
It was once for me, a ‘band of brothers’.
I sometimes grieve over the constant barrage of abuse the lower ranks have suffered, due to the poor leadership and lack of support from their policitcal masters.
The Island doesn’t appreciate what it had before the interference of some egotistical meglomaniacs. It will take a lot to repair the damage.
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