Let’s begin with a small confession.

I wanted to be a policeman as a kid, our local beat bobby was held in high regard even though it was a fairly tough area – he was respected. He walked everywhere, knew everybody’s name and was good at calming situations down.

I drifted into another career though and it was probably for the best. I’d probably have been good at it though.

This story here sort of proves it

But I’ve been happy with what I do and I’ve travelled to some fantastic places and seen some incredible things.

I’ve had a number of friends over the years who’ve been serving or retired police and they’ve all carried themselves with honour and dignity.

The man in the front seat here is my recently deceased friend.

Oh yeah. He nicked Barrymore.

He was apolitical and fair in all things.

Why am I typing this?

Because most of the policemen that I’ve met in my life have been fair-minded, brave and there to help the public.

I’ll gloss over the little uniformed sergeant in Southend who told me that I’d get a kicking in the cells but will always remember the giggles of the two monsters with him when I called his bluff and said that as long as he came into the cell first, I’d take the kicking after I finished with him.

Spoiler alert. I was sent home without charge or any sign of him again.

But why am I typing this?

Because something is rotten with our country.

We see evidence of terrorism support, antisemitism, rising numbers of rapes and assaults and a steady flow of stabbings, murder and mayhem.

And that’s without the actual terrorists.

And then we have the ‘communities’ – well actually the same one in different towns, the police admitting that they agree policing tactics with ‘leaders’.

And now, as a backlash against the drama following a mass-murder of little girls for unknown reasons, we’re seeing people arrested for words on a screen.

This can’t end well.

And I can’t imagine that the police staff who aren’t thugs or sociopaths can be enjoying this drip-feed of horror.

Anybody who thinks that the actual elected government is doing this isn’t paying attention.

They’re keeping the lid on the pressure cooker.

It isn’t sustainable

And it’s going to explode at some point.

I’ve never been gladder to live rurally and in a traditional area.

Be careful out there.

Protect your loved ones.

Trust nobody outside your actual friends.

The storm is nearly here.