“The Metropolitan Police Service is still, despite what people think, a working-class organisation and as such rejects totally the notion of an officer class. That is why every newly minted constable, regardless of their educational background, has to spend a two-year probationary period as an ordinary plod on the streets. This is because nothing builds character like being abused, spat at and vomited by members of the public.” PeopleThinkingYearsStillsTwoCharacterClassStreetsPeriodsMembersOrdinaryPoliceNotionEducationalBackgroundsDespiteRejectsTwo YearsOfficersWorking ClassOrganisationSpatsMetropolitanEducational Background Author:Ben Aaronovitch
“Conflict resolution,' said Nightingale. 'Is this what they teach at Hendon these days?' 'Yes, sir,' I said. 'But don't worry, they also teach us how to beat people with phone books and the ten best ways to plant evidence.” PeopleWaySaidBookTeachWorryTenConflictBeatsEvidencePlantPhonesBest WayThese DaysResolutionConflict ResolutionNightingales Book:Rivers of London Source: Rivers of London
“My Dad says that being a Londoner has nothing to do with where you're born. He says that there are people who get off a jumbo jet at Heathrow, go through immigration waving any kind of passport, hop on the tube and by the time the train's pulled into Piccadilly Circus they've become a Londoner.” PeopleKindBornDadTrainMy DadImmigrationHopsCircusJetTubesPassportsLondoners Author:Ben Aaronovitch
“If you just warn people, they often simply ignore you. But if you ask them a question, then they have to think about it. And once they start to think about the consequences, they almost always calm down. Unless they're drunk, of course. Or stoned. Or aged between fourteen and twenty-one. Or Glaswegian.” PeopleIfsThinkingCoursesAsksConsequenceTwentiesCalmDrunkTwenty OneFourteenCalm Down Author:Ben Aaronovitch
“If you ask any police officer what the worst part of the job is, they will always say breaking bad news to relatives, but this is not the truth. The worst part is staying in the room after you've broken the news, so that you're forced to be there when someone's life disintegrates around them. Some people say it doesn't bother them - such people are not to be trusted.” PeopleIfsJobsAsksRoomsWorstBrokenNewsPoliceBotherStayingOfficersTrustedBad NewsPolice Officer Book:Midnight Riot Source: Midnight Riot
“The clever people at CERN are smashing particles together in the hope that Doctor Who will turn up and tell them to stop” PeopleTogetherTurnsDoctorsCleverParticlesDoctor WhoSmashingCern Book:Moon Over Soho Source: Moon Over Soho
