"Though I cry, 'I've been wronged!' I get no response; though I call for help, there is no justice. (Job 19:7)

So... off we went - on a late coach at 6.30.a.m. and then found it very difficult to get to Park Lane, London because so many coaches were trying to get there. We arrived in Park Lane a little late but the march had not started. One man from Staffordshire Police came up to me - looking up at ominous grey skies and said "Ask the big guy to keep the rain off us Padre!" so I did - and He did. As the march began for us - somewhereabout half a mile from the front - we made sure our white caps were on straight - there were a few cheers and applause and off we went. It was stop and start for the first quarter mile or so but then we began to walk a little more quickly.
Along the sealed off streets, Londoners passed by on the pavements - the vast majority paying not the slightest attention - as if they had seen it all before. But I doubt it. Twenty six thousand police officers (and a few like me) walked in almost total silence, the only sound was desultory conversation and the shuffle of feet. Strange and impressive - but not to the Home Office staff as we passed by who had clearly vacated their building and where no Home Secretary waited to greet the men and women passing by because of her perverse decision. So we ended the march near the Tate Gallery and then strolled up to Parliament Square which was already thronged with white baseball cap-wearing officers. Where were all the MP's who signed the Early Day motion? Were they there to greet us. Absolutely not! And so we went home.
Naturally this made me reflect. All those people has felt it right to go and march - but so few expected a change of heart on the part of the government and the Home Secretary - but they still went. I honour these men and women, many giving up a day off, some coming straight from the night shift, who showed such comittment and dedication and behaved with such decorum, wisdom and integrity. I wish I could feel the same sense of admiration for those elected people in whom these public servants of ours had put their trust. And it made me feel a little like Job in his despair... and I can't as yet see how this will come good. But I am glad I was there!

OFFICIAL - A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy person keeps a secret (Proverbs 11:13)

For those of you who may have been waiting with bated breath... today my official letter arrived to say that my security vetting had been received and I am after all worthy - officially Police Chaplain until 31.12.2010. (Maybe I will have had enough by then?)
With the official letter came a large induction file and contained within a number of generic documents - quite routine stuff really.
What was interesting and well hidden in the 'General' section, just to make sure that you read it I suppose, was the Official Secrets form which has to be signed and witnessed. It's over half a life time since I last signed one of these and it had never occurred to me that I might have to renew my commitment to being severly punished if I could not keep a secret.
Now I know that generally speaking the Official Secrets Act is much more than a way of stopping gossip, but it made me reflect - the Police Service is a closely knit family and there are few indeed who can keep a 'gossipy' sceret for very long. It is also amazing how quickly a secret can be disseminated throughout not only a division but even the force if it is juicey enough. I must be even more careful in this close environment to maintain the confidence of the confessional.

By this shall all men know...

Yesterday my daughter and her partner, both of whom work operationally on the Division attended a RTC where two young men had lost their lives. Theirs was the continuity responsibility and they accompanied the two tragic young men to the hospital mortuary and did all that had to be done if you undertand what I mean...
During my own service I dealt with 16 fatal accidents involving 20 fatalities and although you never get used to it you do become better able to cope, developing all sort of strategies and often kidding yourself that you were quite unnaffected. One thing that NEVER happened was that someone checked out how you were feeling or made any attempt to debrief you after such an incident.
I was so pleased this morning when the experienced traffic officer dealing with the incident- in all his busyness - found time to telephone and enquire how my daughter and her partner were. This was not his responsibility nor even expected, no supervisory officer had instructed him to do it - after all they were not new to sudden and violent death - but he did this out of the goodness of his heart and out of concern for his colleagues. I was blessed and impressed and really encouraged. It also gave me the opportunity to talk to him and, in thanking him for his concern to express my own concern for him.
This made me reflect - the job has changed - its not all macho and bravado like once it was. And it reminded me of the peculiar bond that exists between men and women who share the horrors that the job can deliver. Jesus must have known that such a bond must exist between his disciples when he was gone, that the world was going to be a difficult place for them, no wonder he said that they must have love one towards another...

Fight the good fight?

I have booked my seat on the coach and will hopefully be going to the Rally in London on 23rd January. I have had a letter back from the MP in which he says, "My own personal view is that the recommendations of the Police Arbitration Tribunal should be honoured and I will continue to press the Home Secretray when possible." So that's good.
I understand that up to 6000 officers will be attending and I heard just the other day that they want to stand in front of Buckingham Palace and declare once again their attestation oath. Maybe it will be even more than 6000 but whatever the number it will be a considerable spectacle.
I note that the editorial in the Police Federation magazine for January 2008 describes the Home Secretary as a 'puppet-on-a-string' - which is not very complementary. I hope and pray that all the officers in London's Rally will retain the dignity and integrity of their office and in every way be ambassadors for the service as they pursue their desire to see our government act with the same dignity and integrity that they espouse.