Not what it seems.......

Three things you expect to encounter in a shift:

A large plasma screen television, purchased on finance from a catalogue.
A teenager who thinks he/she is the king/queen of the world.
A motorist who won’t move out of the way, even when confronted with flashing blue lights and a loud siren.

A while ago you purchased a film called ‘Notting Hill’, and only recently got around to watching it. The circumstances surrounding its purchase, you will never forget, but it wasn’t the best film you’ve ever seen, however, whilst you were watching it you noticed something. Throughout the film various shots are shown of a bookshop, showing the passage of months, but in every shot, a woman was shown attending to her child in the alleyway next to the shop, the same woman, the same child, even after months had past by.

This woman and little child reminded you of the human race, and more specifically the Police Service. Over the passage of time, nothing has changed; Officers still go to the same kind of calls, to the same kind of addresses, arrest the same kind of people, filling out the same paperwork, driving the same derelict vehicles, having the same kit shortages and of course, encountering the same red tape.

However, what attracts many to the job, is the fact that what is going to happen next, only God knows. One minute you're about to go off duty, three hours later you're still on duty, sat in a car outside a warehouse, freezing your arse off, next to a collegue who picks that moment to discuss how he had a kebab earlier, and now feels the call of nature.

You believe in paradox, but the job of the Police, screams it loud enough for anyone to hear.

'Actions are always more complex and nuanced than they seem. We have to be willing to wrestle with paradox in pursuing understanding.'

Harold Evans