Page 78 - Once a copper 10 03 2020

Prison staff work with people from all kinds of backgrounds to create a safe
environment with the aim to help change lives for the better. Often tough,
playing a big part in the life of an offender, helping them develop new skills
for life after prison.

It takes a very special kind of person to commit their lives to helping others
who have strayed off the straight and narrow moral path. Dangerous and
violent situations erupt when human beings are confined in often cramped
and insanitary conditions. Personally, I found it a challenge refraining from
judging criminal offenders, so Prison Officers, who carry the responsibility of
working with offenders all day, every day, win my admiration and respect.

It was then perhaps a stroke of fate that I was to experience part of the Prison
Officers life for a few months of my probationary period.

The latter months of 1980 saw the Prison Officers take industrial action over
pay.

I was summoned by our new shift Inspector John Brown QPM (Queens Police
Medal), who was one of those rare individuals who earned our respect as a
true leader of men and women. ‘Gaffer’ as we could call him, guided us to
do the right things. He set direction, built an inspiring vision for us as a team,
and created a fresh and exciting atmosphere on D Unit. He led from the
front, by example and proved his worth as a leader repeatedly.

I was to enjoy many shifts working for the Gaffer, but for now, fate had
something else in store for me.

He called me into his office and told me about the Prison strike. A national
prison officers strike had begun with the consequences that prisoners
conveyed to Birmingham Magistrates Court on remand, who were usually
returned to prison afterwards, were now being housed at Steelhouse Lane
Lock-Up. The strike action meant that prison officers refused to transport the
prisoners back to Birmingham Prison and they would spend their remand time
at ‘The Lane’ for the weeks and months that the strike would continue. Police
Officers were required to act as Prison Officers, guarding and escorting these
detainees for as long as the strike would dictate.

Each station was required to assign at least one officer to temporary Prison
Officer duties, working the same shifts 6am x 2pm, 2pm x 10pm and 10pm x
6am. ‘Gaffer’ Brown explained that it wasn’t a mandatory duty I had to
accept and that he had been asked to seek volunteers. I expressed concern
that I hadn’t yet completed a full year as a pro-con and if this would impact
on my probation. He said he had thought carefully about who to ask and he
was totally confident I would complete my probation with distinction. He told
me that whoever volunteered would be credited as an officer prepared to Page78
stand up and help in a time of need. Put like that, I volunteered immediately.