A Forward Looking Chief

Having read Paul Robb's obituary of our late Chief Constable, Desmond O'Brien, in the latest edition of the the BTPHG Newsletter I was struck by just what an innovator he was. This also came over in the excellent eulogy given at his funeral by Peter Holden . With this in mind I dug out of the archives the Force's first mission statement that was introduced under his leadership in the early 1990s (see image). It was a thoroughly modern document. It has stood the test of time. Its emphasis on ethical policing and on the needs of the victim are as important today as they were 25 years ago. I recall him lecturing us about the idea of 'treating each call as if it came from a member of your family'. He warned against it becoming a 'mere slogan' and reminded us that such strap lines would only have meaning if police officers believed in them.

His contribution to the policing of the railways of Great Britain amounts to an important chapter in our history.

BTP Mission Statement: Mid 1990s: BTPHG Collection

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