Anon

I find these days that I have to be carefully what I write.

I can't really talk about work these days, which sort of deprives me of a major source of material. Ever since I got discovered by some back-stabber who saw it fit to go straight to a superior without perhaps having a word in my ear, I basically can't mention... Well... Pretty much anything of the day to day life of a response officer in a rural county. Really it is quite frustrating. I have the utmost respect for the police bloggers out there, however I simply do not have the anonymity. I'm fairly sure some colleagues googled my late colleague Stacey and ended up finding the tribute I wrote back in 2007, and then putting 2 and 2 together. Though I'd rather have remained anonymous, that's one post I could never, ever delete.

I'd like to talk more about personal issues as well, but again to the small band of you who read this. Hell, you actually know me in person. Which makes it easier, yet harder to share.

What has happened in recent weeks?

Plain clothes policing
Unmarked cars
15hr shifts
Drug seizures
Internet dating
Blind date
New girlfriend

Pick one. I'll try to elaborate if I can.

Newswipe

Absolutely spot on. Charlie Brooker rocks!

If you haven't already seen this - seek out more on BBC4, Youtube, or his excellent Guardian columns.

Protest

Unusual perhaps for a copper, but I'm all in favour of protest.

Up to a point.

Free speech, free press in this country is something we should all be extremely proud of.

Anarchists hijacking peaceful protests though is hardly a surprise these days, but the scrum of media and photographers surrounding those few protesters who stormed the RBS building was a frankly ridiculous sight.

Three or four protesters actually doing the damage and what looked like twenty-plus camera lenses early snapping every move.

Now that's corageous journalism.

Protestor to BBC:

"We've tried to go along this route, protesting peacfully..."

Fair enough.

"We've been angry, but you can understand that we've been angry..."

D'oh, you said it!

"And basically the police have come along here and hemmed us in on all sides... We can't get out. No-one can go out, no-one can come in."

BBC "Can I just ask - why are you here, why are you protesting?"

"I think the government have made an absolute ass of themselves, and look what they're doing, they're encouraging the police to be violent."

Hmmm. To be honest looks like it was all hunky-dory until your anarchist mates stired things up by redecorating the RBS foyer. Perhaps you should ask the Climate Camp up the road for a (ahem) crash course in sensible protest 101?

Meanwhile I'm going to go and seek out for my home-office approved Urban Violence course.

I never knew we had one.