Police World Edition 4, 2013

IPA News

Hosts for a Day As a result of an appeal for assistance from the London Reception Officer, a meeting was arranged between a visiting member from Section Spain, David Gutierrez Sanchez, and Section UK member Roy Tyzack. Roy, along with other members and friends from the IPA and 10 Region gave up their time in the spirit of friendship and offered to meet David. David, a Madrid Metropolitan police officer, is currently on a leave of absence and has been in the UK since February, working as a voluntary care worker in Essex. He met up with retired Metropolitan police and Essex police officer, Roy Tyzack, who took him on a tour to the Metropolitan police sports club at Chigwell, Essex. David, who patrols the southern outskirts of Madrid and has been in the force for 13 years, told Roy that he loves his job but had no thoughts of joining until his brother, also a serving officer, talked him into giving it a try. He added that it seems that

0-0 , But We Didn’t Care

Back in early 1997 I read in the 'contact column' of Police World magazine that a Swedish police officer, by the name of Lars Rafstedt, wanted to make contact with an English policeman who was also a Jaguar enthusiast. I wrote back to him and informed him that I did own a Jaguar Sovereign. I explained that the Sovereign was my boyhood dream car, but I was not really a jaguar enthusiast. He replied and we corresponded by letter for a couple of months. Lars had informed me that he loved the English football league, and was a Leicester City supporter. So a friendly rivalry developed as I was a Nottingham Forest supporter. Leicester City got to the League cup final that year which was due to be played on Sunday 6 April. We got tickets for the game and he came over to England, and stayed at my home for the weekend. It was an active weekend as there was a dinner dance, a party, and quiz night prearranged. Lars was invited to attend all functions.

many of the problems of modern day policing in the UK seem to be echoed in Spain. He explained the difference between the local police, the national question he explained that the local police only wear their 'Matador' style hats for ceremonial purposes these days or occasionally police and the traffic police. In answer to a

Roy Tyzack, David el Guti and Colin Pridige

in village locations. The two discussed the advances in technology and David pointed out the differences between the two countries. For example, in Spain although interviews are tape recorded

From left to right are Lena Rafstedt, Ricard Rafstedt, Jackie Amess, Richard Amess, Carina Rafstedt, and Lars Rafstedt

A friendship was formed from the moment I met him at Stansted airport. I was asked several times by my friends over the weekend 'How long had I known Lars?' - as we were having such a brilliant time. When I said we had only just met, they were surprised He went back to Sweden, after a hectic weekend, having had a real taste of some English IPA hospitality. A weekend neither of us have forgotten. The football result now seems irrelevant as it finished a dull 0 - 0 draw, but that did not detract from our enjoyment. Since then we have both visited each other. When Lars comes to England we normally get tickets for a football match and try to arrange for when Leicester play Forest. The score is never of any importance. Lars now resides in the beautiful little town of Ystaad. My wife and I were invited over to stay in December 2012 and stayed with Lars and his wife Carina. The town had its Christmas decorations up and it was snowing - a perfect setting for the festive time of year. Lars has been a great friend and long may it continue, all thanks to the IPA. Richard Amess , Kent branch

David meeting a Metropolitan police dog handler

they have not yet had cameras installed in interview rooms. He was fascinated to hear, from Roy, about the disclosure procedures in UK and the importance of note books, logs etc. and said that in Spain, the officers note book is just for his use for making rough notes and does not have to be shown or revealed to anyone else. The pair were joined by the manager of the Chigwell Sports club, Colin Pridige, who served alongside Roy through the 1970's. Colin explained to David that when he first joined the force in 1973, he was posted on 'C.O. Patrol'. Which meant patrolling the outside of New Scotland Yard (Commissioner's Office) on security duty. He told how this would be in 'shirt sleeve order', carrying nothing more than a wooden truncheon for protection. Colin added that he returned recently from a meeting and saw the current 'C.O. Patrol' officer in 'Hi Viz' jacket, stab vest, telescopic baton, gas spray and a machine gun... how times have changed! David, who is also studying international politics via a distance learning course with a view to specialising in international policing in the future, was introduced to other serving officers and was presented with a number of souvenir gifts. He said how much he had enjoyed his stay in the UK and would be returning to Spain in July with very fond memories of the people that he had met. He was grateful for the kindness that he had been shown and thanked the IPA for facilitating the meeting with Roy and the other officers.

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