No matter what your opinions are on neighbourhood watch, its here to stay.

I am not the biggest fan of this scheme and find that the constant stream of useless information from repeated sources can sometimes bog you down.
However after much deliberation I have decided that this is due largely to the calibre of coordinator who is running the scheme.
I spent today visiting all of my local sources and signing them up as coordinators.
After all I only go to sources I trust, therefore this may bring up the standard of the neighbourhood watch intel in my area.

What are everyone elses view on neighbourhood watch?, is it just a home insurance scam or can it really work in a society where the bad apples often outnumber the good?

Also today I enter a local rail platform and saw a male standing tapping a screwdriver off the railings.
Unfortunately I did not notice the item until I was right next to him, as he was stood at the top of the stairs I was ascending.
I decided I had to box clever and hit my emergency button which gives me 10 seconds of air time.
I then asked him 'why are you openly waving around a screwdriver in trumpton (not the real name lol) rail station?'
'He replied that he normally carried one incase he needed it'
Luckily control didn't ask me to clarify my situation and immediately dispatched two units to the station.
The male who had concealed the screwdriver went to put his hands in his pockets again, and I warned him to keep his hands away from his sides.
He continued and I advised that if he didn't put his hands on the railings I was going to floor him (or words to that effect).
The cops turned up a few seconds later and searched him.
He was carrying a knife, a screwdriver, and was wanted on a warrant for failing to appear (the offence was aggravated vehicle theft!!!).

Overall I know people are going to criticise my actions, but I for one stand by my decisions in the heat of the moment.
I am not paid enough to have a knife/screwdriver or any other object stuck in my side, and yes, if he had of kept going for the screwdriver I would have punched him in the face.

Let the berating begin!

I have read recently on a pcso forum that certain forces are planning to change there uniform to combats and t-shirt.

PC's = black t-shirt, PCSO's = Light blue t-shirt

Now I have never wanted to be a PC, but I do think that sometimes the second glance that it takes your local scumbag to check to see if I am a PCSO or PC, creates enough time for me to react to the situation.

I think a completely different uniform will put PCSO's more at risk.
I know plenty of crapbags who will see the uniform and front up to us straight away, as there is no doubt who we are.

I am not wanting to con the public, I just want to get home to my family in one piece.

Well the festive season is fast approaching and with it comes the local pond lifes penchant for all things made by lynx.
I feel kinda stupid that for all these yers I hve stressed when I have been short of cash.
If only I had known that if you put what items you want up your top or down your pants, they instantly become yours....for free.
The only catch seems to be that you have to run like a chipmunk on speed incase some over zealous cop, cso or security guard tries to deprive you of your new found christmas presents.

I like to think that I have quite a good sense of humour, though I must admit that I am pleased that local kids haven't starte copying this - http://youtube.com/watch?v=ShkuaA_XeB4

The big thing for our neighbourhood team at the moment is to complete as many stop forms as we can.
The process seems to be that if we know there names, then we should be stopping them.
I personally don't see the point in walking around looking for these people, I simply stand outside of the local Markman and brothers pharmacy and let the toerags come staggering up, with there knuckles trailing on the floor in search of there methadone.

Right, I'm off to claim my free Lynx shower gel from boots - if I don't post in the next few days, check your local arrest logs for the name localpcso

No.....its a traffic warden.

Ok, for all you none police folk out there.
If you see a member of the police family standing in the street and writing in there pocket note book - please stop assuming they are giving you a ticket.

I waited 2 minutes and 6 seconds for a man to stop ranting and raving about how he thought it was unfair he was getting a ticket before I explained that I wasn't a traffic warden.
He wasn't impressed, and neither was I.

So in answer to the great pcso uniform debate, lets all get pink uniforms with a badge saying professional child minder. I give it 6 weeks before anyone takes the time to read the badge and realise.

Rant over.

p.s. I am not from the rspca either

Its been a while folks, but luckily I had some annual leave I had to take before the end of the year.
I returned to work yesterday, and the time off had made me look at situations in a different light.

I caught 2 shoplifters yesterday.

The first was a 67 year ld man who stole a sandwich from boots, I took it back for him and let him get on his way.

The second was a guy who ran out of sports direct with a new pair of adidas trainers on his feet - he got lifted, but onl after I told him not to bother trying to nick them again as they obviously couldn't make him run faster than me.

I then attended a report of a burglary dwelling as I was only two streets away and I had heard a female pc shout up for the job even though she wa single crewed.
I instinctively went straight to the back of the house as my colleague entered through the front door, it was only when I was in the house and seen that my colleage had her baton out, that I wondered what the hell I would do if someone was there.
Maybe I could hit them with my enormous hat!!!
Luckily for us the offenders had left the scene, and didnt seem to have taken anything.

I then attended a resident group meeting, where the main complaint they had was that schoolkids are dropping litter - at least the serious crime has been knocked on the head!

I will try to keep the blog going as best I can, though I am currently juggling work, wife and three kids. Stay safe.