New Times,
New Thinking.

  1. Politics
15 January 2010

Toboganning policemen are YouTube stars

Oxfordshire police find innovative use for riot shields

By Samira Shackle

The Brtish have a very odd relationship with the snow. It’s childish glee one second, and “weather chaos” the next. By now, you’re probably sick of the sight of snow — or at least the relentless media coverage of it (the extent of which you can see here, in the Chartist’s diagram for The Staggers).

But it’s nice to see that some of our officers (who don’t have much of a reputation for being fun-loving, carefree types) didn’t lose their excitement, even after nearly a fortnight of EXTREME WEATHER CONDITIONS, and used, of all things, a riot shield as a makeshift tobogan to slide down a giant hill in Oxfordshire.

Superintendent Andrew Murray, Oxford City commander with Thames Valley Police (obviously trying to strike the right balance between serious and not-too-serious) said:

The snow has a habit of bringing out the child in all of us. I have spoken to the officers concerned and reminded them in no uncertain terms that tobogganing on duty, on police equipment and at taxpayers’ expense is a very bad idea should they wish to progress under my command.

Judging from their squeals, I don’t think they were too concerned.

Subscribe to The New Statesman today from only £8.99 per month

 

Follow the New Statesman team on Twitter.

Content from our partners
Chelsea Valentine Q&A: “Embrace the learning process and develop your skills”
Apprenticeships: the road to prosperity
Apprenticeships are an impactful pathway to employment