Page 158 - Once a copper 10 03 2020

the float. Within seconds, the whole milk float was engulfed in flames, one
huge Molotov cocktail heading our way. The driver of the float and his
passengers jumped off and ran.

Our van driver, with instincts we were all to be grateful for, quickly started the
engine and drove us out of the danger zone. We all watched in horror as the
float stopped almost where we had been parked, exploding into flames. Our
radio operator had transmitted what was happening to control and within
seconds, back up serials started to arrive. The laughing and jeering mob
seeing this, fled in hundreds of different directions, larger groups being
pursued by riot vans.

That incident had its own impact on police strategy, with the control room
moving us about more frequently so we were moving targets rather than
sitting ducks.

The second incident occurred on an evening when I was posted as
passenger in a fast response car from Erdington. Technically, we were
available for riot support as this was Delta Zulu 8, whose geographical area o
responsibility bordered with Handsworth.

We took a call an hour or so after pub closing, to a pub on Birchfield Road
which was the dividing boundary between the D Division (us) and the C
Division (Handsworth). The report was along the lines of ‘armed robber in
progress at the pub now’. Road access to the pub was restricted as Birchfield
Road is the main road. My partner knew the roads well and got us to the side
road alongside the pub within a few minutes. I turned off the blue lights and
horns as we got within a few roads of the pub. Literally just as we drew up
outside the front door, two black youths ran like greyhounds out of the front
door and bolted across the Birchfield Road, heading into the streets of
Handsworth.

We jumped out of our car and we set off after one of the robbers each, who
immediately split up in different directions when they saw us in pursuit. These
lads were already athletic in build but now they had the extra motivation of
evading capture adding even more speed to their legs.
As I chased my suspect, he was a good distance ahead and increasing the
gap. All I could see was his dark coloured clothing and dreadlocks flying and
he ran. I wasn’t about to give up easily, but quickly realised I was running into
‘bandit territory’ and the thought of being ambushed by his waiting cohorts.

Suddenly, the decision was made for me. As I chased, I saw my mans left arm
throw something into a garden. I made an instant assessment of my choices.
Chase this lad and take the risk of being ambushed on streets I didn’t know or
lose him and recover whatever evidence he’d hurled into the garden. I Page158
chose the latter and stopped at the garden. I was instantly gratified by my