Undercover Cop

I am so grateful for the police force in England, I really am. They get a lot of bad press, but really they are pretty amazing and I don't think that they get enough recognition for what they do.

Why this sudden outpouring of police love? Well, let me explain....

I was travelling on train yesterday, as you do, when a man came through to the carriage that I was sitting in. Now, I have to explain that it was about 1pm at the time, so there were a few lunchtime passengers, but it was by no means as busy as rush hour. This man goes to the top of the carriage and beginning to shout out:

'Sorry Ladies and Gents, I hate to do this and I know it annoys a lot of people, but I'm looking for any change people have got going spare. I'm really sorry. But my friend is ill, he has got emphysema and we are so hungry. My friend hasn't got long left ladies and gents. We've sold all our copies of the Big Issue, but they don't give us any credit.....etc. etc.'

As such, I'm in my seat dreading this man approaching me and asking me for my money. I definitely think that this form of begging is completely unfair, its intimidating and a bit scary.

Anyway, a man from behind me gets up and approaches this man in the carriage. At which point i'm getting a little nervous, I don't want the situation to escalate into anything dreadful, so I begin to peer out of the window, assessing when I can make a swift exit from the train.

Well, then, quite by surprise this other passenger pulls out a badge and says,

'Transport police. Sorry mate you're going to have to get off the train at the next stop.'

To which the other guy argues.

'Listen, i'm really sorry, i don't want to do this. It is my friend. He's ill. People think he is drunk, but its the valium for his emphysema, he's only got a few months left. We're hungry. I'm really sorry.'

At which point we pull into the next station, and both the man and his friend with emphysema, who is apparently on the train too, are booted off.

Now, I don't want to get into whether I believed this man's story was true or not. It might have been, it might not have been. But to be honest, the way they were going about their begging was completely wrong.

However, more to the point, I'm so glad that the transport policeman was there. Luckily I don't think that this particular man was any threat at all. He was quite polite and obliged when the policeman told him to get off the train. However, regardless, it could have been much worse and it is comforting to know that policemen are there protecting public safety.

What was particularly cool was that I would have had NO idea that this particular policeman was a police officer at all. He was dressed casually with a satchel and his headphones in, he easily passed as commuter.

In my summer job last year I worked alongside some policemen and really got to know about them and their work. I am really and truly proud and grateful for what they do. They work long hours, have to do a lot of paperwork (which they'd rather be without), but they do a great job.

Anyway, Policeman Pride!

-B
xxxx