OPEN DAY
Open Day is where the doors to the local Police Station are thrown open to the General Public to have a poke about the building. All areas except those classified as containing sensitive material are available for a good nose around, including the Custody Suite and the CID offices. While CID is just lots of In trays and computer terminals Custody is exciting for most people as it is a strange world to behold if you haven't been in there before as either a cop, an official visitor or an unwilling guest
The public get to see all this, the Breathalyser, the DNA kits, the LiveScan machine, the old fashioned ink method for taking fingerprints and the cells for drunks (the mattress is on the floor so they can't roll off the bed) and for Minors (a separate wing).
The car park is open (with appropriate supervision) for people to have a sit in a Police car, fiddle with the controls and giggle as the demonstrating officer activates the siren (very briefly) and the blue lights.
The event was heavily advertised in the local press, the internal briefings, on the local radio stations and via posters outside the Nick. Also word of mouth from cops and PCSOs. This was a chance to let the Public see exactly what their local Bobbies got up to and how they worked. A glorious, friendly, well-intentioned bit of positive press for the local Area and the Force in general as they strove to bring themselves closer to their Local Community and its residents.
Sounds like a wonderful idea.
Ahem...!
Due to the "confrontational" nature of an active Custody Suite it was not possible to have people traipsing about in it if there were Bodies in the Bin. The risk assessment stated that due to Health and Safety the public absolutely could NOT enter the cell area unless it was not in use.
So the Chief Super' sent out a missive stating that, the day before the Open Day, arrestees would only be admitted to the Nick up to midnight and only then for offences that would not result in the Suspect having to stay overnight (i.e. Bailable, PNDable or Cautionable naughtiness). Anyone detained for more serious bad behaviour or ne'er do wells caught after 12am were to be taken to the Custody Suite in the neighbouring Area's Designated Station.
At 11.45pm on the Night duty before the Open Day me and Sonja were having a scoff in the Refs room when a Panic Alarm was triggered. As we all dropped our kebabs and chips on the table and the TV volume was muted the following could be heard over a background hullabaloo:
"It's pandemonium here...we're at the Duck and Anvil pub in Turnbar Street...need backup NOW!"
(Panting and gasping from the officer, plus what sounds like a violent struggle with glass breaking and loud shouting).
More to follow in Stab Proof Scarecrows by Lance Manley from Troubador Publishers.