For the fourth time this year I had to go to London to advise a television production company about policing in the '60's. A lot of people are now wishing that old style policing could come back which has obviously sparked a great debate. I have my own very strong views on the reasons why things have altered so much since my time in the force when we knew almost everyone on our beats and, more importantly, they knew us. That in itself prevented lots of minor crimes from taking place and hugely decreased the amount of time spent in detecting it.
It appals me to know that not one of my three children or any of my six grandchildren know a policeman. WHAT'S GONE WRONG.