Someone on PH, me, is going to be world famous.
Discussion
I’m going to be on TV.
A couple of years ago I was interviewed by a small, independent TV production company. They suggested they were doing an historical bit on police corruption through the years. I experienced the corruption of the 1970s/early 80s in the City of London Police and I was threatened by the bent ones, forcing me to run away. I’ve got over it, but there’s still that taste. The request for the interview came through when one of my old colleagues mentioned that it still haunted him, and it seemed to be a chance to balance matters.
I did a 5-hour stint. It was something like a court appearance. It didn’t always go the way I wanted, a bit like a court appearance, but then I expected that. At the end I felt a bit, only a bit, cathartic. It was over.
It nearly was over and the production company ‘merged’ with a bigger one I was told, and the promised date of broadcast on Ch5 came and went. I was then told it would be broadcast on Ch4, a move upward, but there was no date, and for over a year there was nothing. I’d all but forgotten it.
It’s now in the listings. BBC2 no less, as part of the support for the Line of Duty new series. Bent Coppers: Crossing the Line. I reckon I’m the king-pin, the whole series of three programmes being wrapped around my experiences and interview. I’m in episode 3; blink and you might miss me. They couldn’t have done it without me. Obviously, as they’d have a few minutes’ gap.
It starts on Wednesday (not quite the most highly viewed day of the week) 14 April with episodes a week apart, the final one, the best one obviously, on the 28th.
I hope it is balanced. There was a small cadre of bent officers, probably less than half a dozen, who focused on corrupting others and I hope this comes out, together with the straight ones not knowing whom they could run to, with the bent lawyers, coroners, and, I was told, at least one judge, all taking back-handers. I had little problem knowing where to run, and the fact I ran away was the bit that hurt, although I felt I had no choice. They threatened my kids.
All stalkers welcomed. It’s something we famous people just have to put up with.
A couple of years ago I was interviewed by a small, independent TV production company. They suggested they were doing an historical bit on police corruption through the years. I experienced the corruption of the 1970s/early 80s in the City of London Police and I was threatened by the bent ones, forcing me to run away. I’ve got over it, but there’s still that taste. The request for the interview came through when one of my old colleagues mentioned that it still haunted him, and it seemed to be a chance to balance matters.
I did a 5-hour stint. It was something like a court appearance. It didn’t always go the way I wanted, a bit like a court appearance, but then I expected that. At the end I felt a bit, only a bit, cathartic. It was over.
It nearly was over and the production company ‘merged’ with a bigger one I was told, and the promised date of broadcast on Ch5 came and went. I was then told it would be broadcast on Ch4, a move upward, but there was no date, and for over a year there was nothing. I’d all but forgotten it.
It’s now in the listings. BBC2 no less, as part of the support for the Line of Duty new series. Bent Coppers: Crossing the Line. I reckon I’m the king-pin, the whole series of three programmes being wrapped around my experiences and interview. I’m in episode 3; blink and you might miss me. They couldn’t have done it without me. Obviously, as they’d have a few minutes’ gap.
It starts on Wednesday (not quite the most highly viewed day of the week) 14 April with episodes a week apart, the final one, the best one obviously, on the 28th.
I hope it is balanced. There was a small cadre of bent officers, probably less than half a dozen, who focused on corrupting others and I hope this comes out, together with the straight ones not knowing whom they could run to, with the bent lawyers, coroners, and, I was told, at least one judge, all taking back-handers. I had little problem knowing where to run, and the fact I ran away was the bit that hurt, although I felt I had no choice. They threatened my kids.
All stalkers welcomed. It’s something we famous people just have to put up with.
Stick Legs said:
Good for you!
Sorry to hear about the experience but at least this is cathartic and validates it.
Thanks. It's only taken 40 years.Sorry to hear about the experience but at least this is cathartic and validates it.
If you watch it, and who wouldn't want to, let me know what you think. I'll be biased of course. I hope you will remember I'm a PHer before writing your critique.
Just to make it clear, I don't expect to be in it for more than two or three minutes. The producer emailed me a few days ago, saying some nice things about my interview and the thought that crossed my mind was that it was, more or less, an apology for me being only a footnote. A Dear John letter.
It was an interesting experience and one that I'm glad to have done. However, the purpose of the programme - it was orginally meant to be a one-off, hour long less advert breaks, film - was purely historical, but now it's more as an advert for the TV series. I did a little bit on the production side of Lovejoy for one episode and it was entrancing. I think film making is the only job that I probably would have enjoyed, and found as fulfilling, as police work.
It was an interesting experience and one that I'm glad to have done. However, the purpose of the programme - it was orginally meant to be a one-off, hour long less advert breaks, film - was purely historical, but now it's more as an advert for the TV series. I did a little bit on the production side of Lovejoy for one episode and it was entrancing. I think film making is the only job that I probably would have enjoyed, and found as fulfilling, as police work.
Mr Pointy said:
Derek, were any of those who threatened you ever brought to justice or did they all get away with & retire?
The purpose of Countryman and the subsequent policy was to rid the police force of the bent ones. To an extent, it did so. Punishment was not seen as a primary target. I don't want to criticise the enquiry, but they weren't that effective, making quite a few basic errors. Only one middle ranker got punished, and he was rather obvious. It irritated no end of course, and some officers were very bitter, having been put under more pressure than me. The DC who threatened me approached me around two days after my first Countryman interview, which was totally confidential and secure, and told me one of my answers, word perfect. That was a shock. I'd trusted them, and gave a couple of names, neither of whom were punished, and only one for forced to retire.
The most senior person involved, ACPO level, was mentioned in a court case where a member of the gang was questioned by someone supposedly wanting their services. The gang member, when the name of this senior officer was mentioned, said not to worry as "350 [pounds] is enough. He's the biggest unhung villain" but later the guy retracted his statement. Like you do. The assumption was that he, or his family, were threatened. So the chap continued in post until his death.
The gang were clever. If they'd dedicated themselves to solving crime, we could have reduced the rate considerably. They covered their tracks by the simple expedient of mutually assured destruction. They knew things about them that would have meant that their lives would have been ruined if they'd spoken out. Not an excuse of course, just an observation.
I might not have agreed with the method, but I have to admit it has resulted in a force where a firm within a firm is now all but impossible. So perhaps they knew better.
The bloke who threatened me owns a converted farm in the Home Counties.
His team organised three robberies in an around London, in one of which a man was deliberately killed.
All revealed in my book of course, which is why I was approached.
Wills2 said:
Looks good, shame about the dubbed sirens.
Sounds interesting Derek, I’ll give it a watch. Must have been scary being threatened by people that you should have been able to rely on to have your back, good for you for making an effort to call them out aswell. Where can we find your book? I’d be interested in reading about it in more detail. Must be hard for you knowing that people have got away with their actions, especially the death you mentioned.
Drive it fix it repeat said:
Sounds interesting Derek, I’ll give it a watch. Must have been scary being threatened by people that you should have been able to rely on to have your back, good for you for making an effort to call them out aswell. Where can we find your book? I’d be interested in reading about it in more detail. Must be hard for you knowing that people have got away with their actions, especially the death you mentioned.
My website is in my personal details page. But I'm certain the Mods won't mind me saying that the book is entitled Both Sides of the Force, and is well reviewed on Kindle. Gassing Station | TV, Film, Streaming & Radio | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff