A Fair Cop Blog

I received an email last week from Neil Askew, a gentleman who has taken it upon himself to set up a support group on Facebook. Naturally I’m very humbled that anyone would give up their time to help me, and I promised Neil that I’d mention this on my blog in the hope that you’ll log onto Facebook, type ‘a fair cop’ in the search and add your name to the group. It would be even better if you could tell  all your Facebook friends as well.

I’d like to thank Neil for his time and thank you all in advance for helping in this potentially massive way.

I am currently researching my next book, The Dark Side, which will not only take a more detailed look at the police investigation into my case, but also at other aspects of our Criminal Justice System. Over the past 18 months or so, dozens of police officers have contacted me to give their experience of being investigated by Discipline and Complaints (PSD).  I would like to feature some of these cases in my book and learn more about the way they were treated by the investigating officers, their force, the judiciary and their peers. I’d also like to look at the evidence in their case and look at the punishments the courts give police officers in comparison to non-police and habitual offenders.

If you would like your case to be featured in my next book, please do get in touch preferably using the ‘contact the author’ section of my website. Anonymity will be guaranteed.

So far today I have received ten emails via my website. Last night the total number since the release of A Fair Cop was exactly 3,990. They have come from all corners of the globe – New Zealand, Australia, China, America, Canada and of course the United Kingdom. Every single one says something unique and different and makes me stop for a moment to think about the person who has given up some of his or her time to contact me.

They also have something very important in common; their contempt for the way I’ve been treated at the hands of West Yorkshire Police’s Discipline and Compaints Department (Professional Standards) and the judiciary in its handling of my case. I am yet to receive an email that does not support me and what I did at the hands of this violent thug who did what he did to me. I’d like to thank everyone who has supported me in my bid to clear my name and I’ll keep my blog updated with any news once I get it. I’m expecting contact from the Criminal Cases Review Commission in the next few months. I still believe that what happened to me is not representative of the English Criminal Justice System and I hope that one day my conviction will be quashed.

Whilst composing this post, my 4,001st email came in from a Corporal in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Edmonton, Alberta. Knowing that ‘what happened to you (me) would never happen here (Canada)’ is a source of comfort and helps me reason that even if our country has gone mad, at least the world hasn’t.

My next talk will be held at 7pm on Thursday 21st January 2010 at Birstall Library. I’ll be giving a full update on the status of my case and an outline of my next book, The Dark Side.

Tickets are available from the library and I’ll be signing books which will be on sale on the evening.

Following the success of a recent talk I did at Borders in Birstall, I have been asked to do another. The talk will be on Tuesday 24th November 2009 at 7pm at the Birstall store again.

I’ll be talking, reading and answering questions at this year’s Morley Literature Festival at Morley Town Hall on Sunday 18th October at 3.30pm. I did last year’s event the day after I received the first copy of my hardback. This year I’ll be talking about the success of my paperback, and I’ll also be giving the audience an update on my case. Here is this year’s programme.

I’ll be doing a talk in Starbucks at Borders in Birstall, West Yorkshire on Tuesday 15th September 2009. The event starts at 7.30pm and will be followed by a Q & A session. It would be great to see you there, but please call the store on 01924 474914 as places need to be reserved.

I’ll be sigining copies of my paperback at Borders in Birstall from 2pm on Sunday 2nd August 2009. I look forward to seeing you there and please feel free to bring your copy to the store if you’d like me to sign it.

I received the wonderful news from my publisher, Scott Pack, whilst away on holiday that my paperback has been purchased by Tesco. It will be found in 491 stores across the UK from early August. Contrary to the company’s catch-phrase, this is a big help in getting my story to the mass market. Thank you Tesco!

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