Honest, transparent government*

“There is no greater responsibility than that which you as police officers accept. And there is no greater obligation for us in government than to support you in discharging that duty”.

Gordon Brown, ACPO Conference 20 June 2007

“Dear Gordon - I know what you said about the police in June when you were trying to make a good impression, but I’ve got to do something to get your attention and make it look like I know what I’m doing. So I’ve shafted your mates in the Old Bill and saved us all a few bob into the bargain. it won’t matter too much about having to pay back that £660,000 dodgy donation we had. It’s just a shame that my cunning plan has been leaked by the Daily Telegraph, even though it’s got ‘RESTRICTED’ printed on the bottom.

PS - can I have some of the £30million I’ve saved to set up a fund to buy a new striker for the Villa?**”.

Jacqui Smith, Home Secretary 5 December 2007

*NOT!

** Aston Villa - who revel in the nickname ‘The Villans’ - perhaps all Labour politicians follow this team? (Yes - I know it is spelled differently, but it sounds the same)

I’m sure he’ll make a great Dad!

Murderer wins right to IVF baby

So a convicted murderer has the right to a family life? Funnily enough, so did his victim, but I don’t suppose Dickson thought about that when he was committing his crime?

Of course, the Dicksons will be contributing some of their award to the family of their victim.

If ever there was any doubt that this country has completely sold out to Europe, then here’s the evidence. This decision has absolutely no basis in common sense and will just serve to further alienate the judiciary.

I’m sure that the lawyers involved are celebrating a job well done.

Thanks for (less than) nothing!*

If I were a member of Parliament (which I never will - I’ve got too much integrity) I would be worried today.

The people whose duty it is to protect the lives of our illustrious (sarcasm - it’s the lowest form of wit) leaders are only worth a 2.5% pay rise.

They can’t be that good then, can they?

* Edited in view of the Home Secretary’s unilateral decision not to backdate the miserly pay award - See “Honest, transparent government”

Cancellation

Amy Whinehouse (spot the deliberate typo - it’s more polite than Shitehouse) has cancelled all of her concerts for the rest of the year.

 Perhaps when she comes back, she’ll have learned how to sing?

Prison officers need to be nicer.

It’s this kind of cobblers that has prompted my return to the blogosphere.

It defies logic - but since when has logic had any place in the Criminal Justice system?

How to win friends and influence people…

Shame-Facedbook

A West Mids officer is under investigation for posting pictures of himself on Facebook - whilst dressed in women’s clothes.

I’m guessing that they aren’t particularly bothered by the fact that he was a) in a dress, b) wearing a wig or c) pouting. I think that what really annoys them is that he claimed to be a Chief Superintendent.

We all know that officers who reach this exalted rank have no skeletons in their closets, or sheep of a different shade in their policing family.

Calling yourself a Chief Superintendent when you aren’t one is a sin on the same scale as calling a teddy bear Mohammed.

I’m back!!!

I’ve decided to come back - re-launched, re-branded but still the same miserable old git that I was before.

I’ve moved to WordPress, as you will have already figured out. It’s easier to use and I can monitor comments (if there are any) by using the RSS feed. So can you - find the link and save it to your feed reader. See what other people think of me.

 The main reason for my return is the onset of winter. There is nothing on telly - the Coca Cola “holidays are coming” advert has been shown which means it must be at least a month before the 25th of December. It’s too cold and dark to go into the garden. I can’t be arsed to do any decorating or cleaning while Mrs Still is at work, so I need something to fill an hour or two.

What better than to rant on about the stuff that keeps me in food and drink?

I’ll be engaging on a ruthless campaign of self publicity to encourage my co-bloggers to update their sidebar links.

There are no plans for a book.

A TV series is out of the question.

“Lest we forget”

http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/

Stand by!

I’ve moved the site over to WordPress and I’m considering a re-launch!

Career break

I’ve come to a decision.

I know this isn’t the sort of thing that prospective Inspectors are supposed to do, but eventually the bullet has to be bitten.

I’ve decided to lay this blog to rest - for a while anyway.

Before you ask, I haven’t been threatened, persuaded or advised by any third party. I’ve made this decision without consultation or coercion, based on purely personal reasons. Fear of retribution is not even a factor. As far as I am aware, only one person in my force knows my true identity and I can trust that person to keep my online persona under wraps.

The main reason is that I don’t feel that the blog is achieving much. I made a conscious decision at the start of the blog of making sure I couldn’t be identified, so I don’t write about cases I’ve dealt with or people I’ve worked with. Not even in general terms. I’ve mainly commented on affairs in the public domain or things that affect us all, police and public alike.

Fellow bloggers, who are too numerous to mention but are probably on the sidebar, have developed their style and are making points in a much better way than I ever could. I will continue to comment on their contributions and bask in their reflected glory. “Typical of a supervisor” as some disgruntled PCs would say.

I feel that I can have more input and influence in the Police Oracle forum, where I hold the exalted position of Moderator. If you want to read my thoughts and opinions, then that is where you will find them.

Thanks to all those who have read my words over the past couple of years and more thanks to those who have been bothered to respond. This also extends to those anonymous loons who left bizarre and abusive comments. They made me laugh so much I forgot to press the ‘delete’ button on a number of occasions.

The blog will stay online, but I won’t be posting here in the foreseeable future, so if you are a first time visitor, I wouldn’t bother subscribing if I were you.

Be careful out there!

© Stan Still 2006 - if you want to copy my stuff, it would be polite to ask first!