It Makes a Change
| Date | 01 October 1968 |
| Author | J. F. C. Harvey |
| DOI | 10.1177/0032258X6804101004 |
| Published date | 01 October 1968 |
| Subject Matter | Article |
J.
F.
C.
H A R V E
Y,
M.A.
Assistant Master at Haileybury and Imperial Service College
and Special Sergeant in the Hertfordshire Constabulary
IT
MAKES
AfJDANGE
Schoolmasters, we are told, drift into ruts with greater ease than
other breeds of men. There are always the Peter Pans of the pro-
fession, but the narrow confines of institutional life tend to make
many a man prematurely middle-aged. Fear of becoming a typically
narrow-minded schoolmaster was one of the reasons that prompted
me to apply to join the special constabulary in Hertfordshire four
years ago. It was a decision that I never once regretted. It has brought
me into contact with many people whom I would never have met in
my ordinary everyday work, and I have made a great number of
friends within the Service. I would also like to think that my contri-
bution to the community as a schoolmaster has increased as a result
of my wider experience.
After my initial training I spent most of my duties patrolling the
High Street at Ware. It was a revelation to discover some of the
incidents that could occur in a seemingly quiet place like Ware.
After about six months I was allowed to venture out as motor patrol
observer as the incident cars were nearly always running light.
Since that time I have regularly performed duty as observer for two
eight hour shifts each week. I naturally learnt a great deal from the
regular
drivers-not
always quite what the training lectures had
told
me-and
I was fortunate enough to be accepted by them as a
friend and colleague. I am sure that a great deal of the friction that
exists between regulars and specials could be avoided if the training
of the specials was more rigorous. Specials should also realize that
their views on police work are not normally welcomed unless sought.
Policemen
don't
tell builders how to build houses. (They merely
complain at the end product!) The raw know-all is a menace in any
society. The drivers became quite surprised that a 24 year old
schoolmaster at one of those weird public schools was not entirely
imbecile when outside the class-room. I kept very quiet about my
M.A. in criminal law at Cambridge!
The usual horse-shows, weddings of the local nobility, Armistice
Day services and school sports were all part of my duties. After
promotion I was responsible for my section (all six of them) and we
managed to win a Police Duty Competition at H.Q. The ranks and
duties of senior officers in the Specials always seem somewhat
anomalous. A regular
p.e.
is senior, and must be, to any special
whatever his rank when it comes to practical police work.
October 1968 463
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