as you all know the mayor of London warned that more police cuts were planned .

so if anything good comes out of last night , perhaps this plan of cutting more police can be reviewed? this poignant post was on facebook


On the 9th of June 2008 i got the telephone call all Police officers wives dread. My husband PC 6022 Ian Terry had been killed on Duty. He was 32 years old. I was 31 and our children were 4 and 2. Our life was changed irrepairably from that moment.

Ian was in the highest division on the Firearms unit of Greater Manchester Police. He was so proud to hold this position. On the day he died he was training for a covert opperation to force an armed strike on vehicles containing the most dangerous criminals and terrorists on our streets.

The way he died isnt really on my mind today .... but here's what is. Ian was our Hero. He was a big man, both in stature and personality. Everyone loved him. Id challenge you to find a person who had a bad word to say about him. He was also caring and sensitive, so much so that when he was on section he was usually the one who would get sent to the homes of people who had died/been killed to give their families the awful news. I know he hated that job but he did it and i know he would have done it right.

Ian loved his job. He worked long hours for poor pay. He missed christmasses, birthdays, Social events, school shows and nativities. He saw some horrible sights during his time in the force. So upsetting sometimes he couldnt even talk about them with me....The amount of times he came home to a dried up tea in the microwave because a job had come on just as he was due to clock off...but hand on heart i never once heard him complain. He joined the Police force to help people.

The way this country is at the moment, the police force are our protectors. They are all we have. So next time you want to have a moan because theres a group of kids causing a disturbance on your street and theres no police to be seen, or you get pulled over for a driving offence (which you were probably guilty of). Have a little think about what these guys are up against. The Police cuts have made it a practically impossible job for them. They are doing the best they can with the resources they have. Often they are out patrolling alone, with little back up if needed. But they are still there doing the job. For us, the public. They are putting their lives on the line every single day to keep us safe. We may be safer living in a small town like Burnley but many officers like Ian who wanted to specialise will be working in the cities where these horrendous attacks are getting more and more frequent. Most of them will have families waiting at home, willing them to come home safe after every shift, spare a thought for them too. When you marry a Police Officer you too take on that life and its not an easy one.

Over the last few months its becoming more and more apparent what a dangerous job it is. We are losing these brave officers on a regular basis. I know some famous people are tweeting and encouraging people to support our Police Officers i know most people already do, but from a personal perspective.....if you see an officer in the street, give him/her a smile. Take your child over to say hello maybe. Most officers will be happy to talk to them about their job. Most will have children of their own who they've hardly seen for days due to their shifts. It might just make that officers day to know that people give a s***. They are human just like us, they are also living this nighmare with us and the uncertainty of where the next tradgedy might occur, and believe me there's nobody worrying more than their wives/husbands and partners every time they leave their front door. Some may say "well they chose the job", and yes thats true, but would you want to do it?? We'd have been well and truly buggered without them over these last few weeks.
It takes a brave and selfless person to join our modern day Police Force in my eyes. Love our British Police. You are so lucky to have them. ❤