Special Constable. Thoughts expressed are my own. ๐ณ๏ธโ๐ Ally. Please do not use this account to report crime; call 101 or 999 in an emergency ๐
๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ด๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ ๐๐ผ ๐ฎ ๐ก๐ฒ๐ ๐ฌ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ
A New Zealand police officer, Senior Sergeant Lyn Fleming, was tragically killed on New Yearโs Day while simply doing her job. She was deliberately run down while out on patrol, a senseless act that also left one of her colleagues critically injured. Imagine starting the year with a routine shift and never making it home. This is the brutal reality of the job some people choose to doโfor us.
Meanwhile, in London, chaos unfolded on Oxford Street. A man suffered a severe attack, reportedly with a machete, leaving emergency services scrambling to save his life. While this poor man fought for survival, officers on the scene dealt with the carnage and panic of a packed New Yearโs crowd. They stood in the firing line, not knowing what dangers they might face next but still stepping forward because thatโs what they do.
And across the Atlantic in New Orleans, another horrific incident. Ten people were killed when a driver deliberately ploughed into a crowd, injuring dozens more, including two police officers who were shot while responding. These attacks are becoming alarmingly frequent. Nobody can be alert 24/7, but please, always try to stay aware of your surroundingsโit could save your life.
Closer to home, we know scores of UK officers will have woken up today nursing injuries from last night. Maybe not from targeted attacks like those above, but from the usual New Yearโs chaos: drunkards, brawlers, and troublemakers who think the thin blue line is there for target practice.
To all of you who wore the uniform last night and went out to keep us safe: we take our hats off to you.
And if you ever wake up wondering, why do I do this?โremember this: if not you, who?
We need people like youโheroesโto stand firm on thay thing we all call the Thin Blue Line, keeping us safe from the worst society has to offer.
Stay safe out there and look out for each other. ๐
If anyone hasnโt watched it yet, Lockerbie: A Search For Truth is incredibly profound and hard hitting. I cried for a good portion of it and itโs definitely reignited my fear of flying too
Finished watching #mywifemyabuser on Netflix. Absolutely horrifying, heartbreaking and incredibly brave of Richard to come forward after the level of abuse he endured. I hope this can encourage any victims, including male survivors of domestic abuse, get out
Happy Halloween all, and please stay safe tonight if going out trick or treating! Consider the local residents, and stay aware for your own safety in the dark ๐
#Halloween#TrickOrTreat2024
Parents
Please check your childโs sweets bags carefully
We have been advised that some children have found Parma Violets in theirs
Be aware, be safe
And I recently passed my fitness test and completed my safety refresher only 7 weeks post partum. God knows how I managed, but that means Iโm free to go back on patrol whenever Iโm ready ๐ฅณ
Wishing her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales a speedy recovery from her chemotherapy treatment.
And that the Princess and her family are given time and space to be together and not in the unnecessary glare of the media pedalling rumours and untruths at a difficult time. โค๏ธโ๐ฉน๐ฌ๐ง
Been a long time since I last updated police twitter! My shifts as a Special Constable will have to take a back seat for the foreseeable, as we have another one due to join the blue line family soon ๐
Also, question for response officers: I'm finding my stab vest is causing serious discomfort on shift, borderline agony for me at times. Back, stomach and just under my ribs are all so achey until I can de-kit and lie flat. Anyone else experience this?
@PCDA_Cop_ I thought that initially but I've been out on patrol since March and it's not any better now. Nobody else on shift seems to have these issues, at least that I can see ๐ ๐ค
As we come to the close of 2023, some reflections:
Things *are* improving.
7% pay rise.
New, well made uniform.
More dismissals & arrests of bad apples.
But thereโs a lot more to be done.
Retention is the elephant in the room. We need Cops to want to stay. #ThinBlueLine ๐ฏ๐จ
Came in to work today to find out I'm on annual leave for the rest of my set. So I did the only obvious thing - I went home, got changed and came straight out onto patrol ๐๐ป