Morley Literature Festival
Tuesday, 8 September 2009
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 am about half way through reading A Fair Cop which I saw by chance at our local Tesco store and I needed no prompting to buy it – now I can hardly put it down. It is a very good read but one which makes me angrier than I ever thought it was possible for me to be – angry about the disgraceful way this extremely dedicated police officer was treated by the British judicial system, and the unbelievable way the judge concerned conducted himself in Mick’s case – it was apalling, and now affirms even more my very strong belief that far more consideration is given to the interests of criminals in this country rather than to the victims, and certainly to all those brave police officers doing a very dangerous job protecting the rest of us. I know that it’s a job I wouldn’t have the courage to do. Furthermore, I am equally dismayed at the lack of support the hierarchy of the Police Service gave to Mick in this dreadful affair…shame on them and the judiciary. Good Luck for the future, Mick!
Posted by Sandy Selkirk | September 25, 2009 9:02 pmWhy are corrupt policeman going unpunished and uninvestigated? Bankhanders etc, bribery, masonic links. Apparantley a certain police station that was criticised during the stephen lawrence inquiry has gone back to its bad old ways. Who can investigate the police?
Posted by pcc | September 29, 2009 9:36 pmMick
I served at Arundel but left there just before you went to Ford.
Posted by Kim | October 8, 2009 9:52 amI read your book and I recall a colleague who was in a similar position to you but was found not guilty at court even though a colleague gave evidence against him. I feel that the police force’s heirarchy are narrow sighted in dealing with such cases. The CPS are today very variable in who they do a do not prosecute. I think that your lawyer and Barrister should have done a lot more than say that they judge doesn’t like them, they should have thoroughly interrigated the sergeant who gave evidence against you and my thoughts on the judge are unpublishable for sending a police officer to prison for common assault – a summary only offence!!!!
I do feel that you have learnt a lot about people in a short space of time and a conviction of any sort doesn’t necessarily make someone a bad person. I was very pleased to read about the way that prisoners are taking drugs and drink in prison. . you have confirmed for me what I thought I knew. Clearly the prison service doesn’t care so long as the officers are not disturbed from their cushy number it doesn’t matter. I wonder what their views are!
I wish you well with your career. I hope that you will move on from the feelings that you have when you see police cars etc. The officers are just doing their job. Hopefully the force and judiciary have learnt from your situation. I really want to see your conviction quashed and you are paid out a large sum of money for the pain you have been put through.
Hi ya Mick,
I really don’t know what to say having just read your book.
Posted by heather tannahill | October 11, 2009 6:07 pmI was born in Dewsbury in 1966 but grew up in Halifax, then joined Lincolnshire Police in 1988 at the age of 21 and was stationed at Boston. I have seen collegues go though the mill over various spruious allegations and i am never been so gutted at what ‘THE SYSTEM DID TO YOU’ I can not discicribe my revovolt I feel about what happenen to you. I felt so much emotion reading your book from the few bits of humour through to the thorough lack of trust and faithfulness from the so called ‘job’. You were let down to the ‘nth’ degree and those outside the ‘job’ do not have a clue what its like. Mick I send this to you as a mark of the uttermost repect and admiration. You are a rock. Also I’m putting this in my partners e-mail address. Lots of the bestest wishes Heather Tannahill PC 944 – Lincolnshire. Take care mate.
Having read your book I am filled with dismay about the way you were treated. It is something that should never have happened. The fact that you wanted to return to being a policeman proved to me what a thoroughly decent man you are. I look and think about the police force in a different way now, I think they do a grand job under some absolutely awful circumstances. I wish you every success now and always. May you never come across anything like you have been through ever again. I can’t begin to tell you how much of my respect you have. Well done for coming out of this nightmare as you have. Sincerely yours, Linda Robinson.
Posted by Linda Robinson | October 18, 2009 2:19 pmI have just finished reading “A Fair Cop” which I must add only took me 2 days,after also,accidently coming across it in my local tesco!lol.
Posted by SamanthaTowse | October 28, 2009 7:01 pmFirstly,I am appalled at the way you have been treated by all of those in authority,secondly,what an absolutely inspirational man you are,it may have taken time but you have come out the other side,well done. I wish you and Rachel a long and happy future together,you certainly deserve it.
Yours sincerely
Sam Towse
Hi there,
Posted by Wayman | November 17, 2009 12:33 pmwell, what can I say to a man who has truely shown what can be done to rectify a career, and a turnaround life that was almost prematurely ended, due to the so-called ‘Best judicial system in the world’. I cannot begin to think of how things must have felt for you at those deeply depressing and negative times when so many people around you, who you thought were there for you, and assumed would be on your side in dealing with the ridiculous charges that were brought against you. A colleague leant me your fantastic book, and said, “You have to read this, its unbelievable”. And she was right. Unbelievable for the way in which the judicial ‘Old boys club’ and Senior police officers ripped your world apart and then just forgot about you. They deserve to be investigated and sacked for lack of supervision and support, but then again, I’m sure their pensions will still be ok to collect. It is so unfair what happened to you, but like a previous blogger asks, Who investigates the police? Certainly nobody with any common sense or reason. I can’t believe how angry your book made me feel, for the injustices you have had to endure, but thankfully, you look like you are emerging even stronger in the things you are doing now and what you want to achieve in the future with some great people, both friends and family, around you.
I currently work in a prison and I know from what you describe as being so true and reflective as to what goes on with prisoners and what they get up to, that the public would really believe. Anyway, I just had to get this off my chest and show my (little!) bit of support for you and wish you and Rachel all the luck in the world for your future.