A whole lot of nothing

If you're in the job and reading this you'll know there are periods where nothing seems to happen and you end up scratching around for work. Sometimes you end up with something a bit strange.

This day was a bit like that. It started off fine - school kicking out time is not always the best time to come on duty - but there was the barrage of "group of 50 school kids fighting - unknown if weapons are involved" and off toddle the double crewed unit to see a lot of school kids hanging around chatting and typing "asnt..." on the box. It can be quite fun though screaming around on blues & twos and not having to lift a pen at the end of it. However someone had other plans.

Another easy job - "can someone assist a revenue inspector ascertaining details of a passenger" easy peasy. On arrival however it turns out this man had used 2 counterfeit travelcards worth £45 each (very well produced on the college computer) to get on the bus. Now we had two options - a) confirm details and let the transport company prosecute or b) nick the bloke for fraud

Now many would have chosen option a) and the pen would have remained full of ink. However I saw an opportunity to use the newly implememented fraud act for the first time and chose option b). He was arrested for "possessing articles to commit fraud" and taken to the nick. What followed was quite interesting

- Conducted a s18 because we thought we may be able to find computer and printing equipment used for making these cards

- Man was then interviewed by the handover team (well I'm not gonna do it am I?) and cautioned by the time I finished the Crime Report and notes

- Man got a proper caution from the new guvnor - not a "sign here and say you're sorry" but a right earbashing :)

- And my favourite point - from time of arrest to completing all this - 6hrs which also meant I got off on time having topped my figures up :)

However it wasn't all good. Turns out you need to check the cooking instructions of a Fray Bento's pie before you take the lid off - its much easier