[BITList] Fwd: [vsdh] Appropriate Use of Force !!

[HUGH]

Mike,

I recall when it was commonplace for the magistrate in a Police Court here (we used to have magistrates and Police Courts) would ask a Police witness, "And how did the accused come by the contusions to his face and head?" The invariable reply, understood by all was, "He tripped on the way to the cells."  That was before the Law did it all from cars.

When I was about 10 or 11 I was standing in a queue for something to do with coal, and a gent came running along the street, a stout copper in pursuit.  The copper was the faster, and the attempted burglar (as it later transpired) got a severe thumping, much to the horror of the ladies in the queue, though they limited their criticism to shouting, "Leave the lad alone, etc.  Is that no terrible?"

The copper went under the nickname of Toe Rag, famous for thumping unarmed criminals and chasing the likes of my pals and I when he found us anywhere in sight - but not averse to making an alliance with the other side in the cause of justice. During WW2, when the blackout was in force, a gang of thugs beat up and robbed passers by in Greenock and district.  They carried gear chains and razors.  Beside the railway at the end of a street near or house there was a large wooden hut, used for PE, boxing and dances. It came to the notice of someone that this gang - they called themselves The Cheeky Forty - had it in mind to invade one of the dances and wreak havoc. So plans were laid, and a consortium of Police and hard men put aside their natural differences and lay in wait. End of the Cheeky 40.  One of them was chased the 200 odd yards down the street, up 4 flights of stairs, and thumped against our door.  We didn't open it.  Happy days.

Hugh.
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://lists.bcn.mythic-beasts.com/pipermail/bitlist/attachments/20110210/b4b4ce47/attachment.shtml