This week, whilst off duty and out and about, I met a colleague who I had assisted with a misconduct matter many months ago escalated beyond all proportion and reason by our uPSD to a criminal matter. It involved a minor squabble between the officer and his partner which resulted in her (probably) hyperventilating and feeling ill. Somehow a call to the ambulance service for help became a criminal enquiry into the officer for common assault. Not just any old enquiry, one that took 15 months to come to an end.

Without boring you with the fine detail, the uPSD got the matter beyond the CPS who, in this case, are just as culpable and managed to get summonses and the matter into Magistrates Court. The case was listed in front of a District Judge who refused to listen to the hearsay evidence because there was no case to answer and the matter should not have gone as far as it did. His words not mine. He was particularly scathing of the uPSD and Prosecution when it was realised that the medical evidence against the officer was obtained unlawfully because no consent to medical records had been signed by the partner. You know that you are on a loser when the prosecution, even before calling the first prosecution witness are discussing options relating to hostile witnesses!

As we left court with a resounding victory still fresh in our memory we were confronted by the uPSD officer who reminded us that our colleague still would “have his day,” a clear threatening reference to a misconduct tribunal. Eventually, after much work, time, effort and expense the officer was eventually told that he would not be facing any disciplinary procedures and he could return to work without restriction.

Back to the message. We greeted each other warmly and I remarked on how well he looked considering the stress he had suffered at the hands of an over zealous uPSD. I asked him about work and he replied honestly that he could not care less any more. It was sad that a good, honest and hard working cop had been turned into a cynical automaton. Our colleague would do what was required to get the job done, nothing more. He would not seek out work or other opportunities to improve society, he would assist colleagues and back up where necessary but otherwise he couldn’t be bothered.

I don’t blame him. What is the point of sticking your neck out and taking a hit when you don’t need to? The pay is the same. You can be the best in the world, the bravest officer but fail the marble in the head test of the uPSD officer and you are in trouble and nothing of your former career counts for anything. So my congratulations goes to our uPSD who have, once again, inefficiently and immorally turned a initiative using efficient officer into a robot who will only do what he has been programmed to do.

The consequences of Noble Cause for everybody to see.