Inside Gangland Glasgow

The Troubles

Firearms & Bomb Calls

Rookie Cop Joining Up (... 1st time round)

Strathclyde Police Letter of Appointment

Original Semper Vigilo cap badge for Strathclyde Police.

Original Police Cap Badge

Author's original Strathclyde Police Recreation Assoc. (SPRS) Membership Card on signing a to a salary subscription on joining.

SPRA Membership Card

Author's Certificate of Service on first resignation from Strathclyde Police on appointment to the Royal Hong Kong Police in July 1984.

Resignation - Police Certificate of Service

Monday 20 September 1976

"On entering the unassuming shop front at 522 Sauchiehall Street that housed Strathclyde’s recruiting office, there was no turning back. Almost immediately, a marathon of form-filling commenced that effectively reduced, by a sizeable proportion, the gross annual salary of two thousand, four hundred pounds. The deductions were to fund a pension, Police Federation and Recreation Association memberships."

Glasgow's East End

Small child plays in a rubbish-strewn tenement back court of 1970's Glasgow, an iconic image by Nick Hedges

Glasgow Tenement Back Court, 1970's - [Image: Nick Hedges]

1970's Glasgow depicted the deprivation suffered by its tenement inhabitants, and a city on the cusp of a rebuilding phase that would continue over the coming decades. The young who played in its streets and back courts would grow up thinking nothing of the prevalence of uniformed policemen and women walking amongst them. Conspicuous in their badged caps, traditional black serge tunics, pressed trousers, bulled boots, whistle and chain, only a few would ever feel the click of their handcuffs and less so the strike of a wooden baton. The refurbished tenements remain but it's only the ghosts of those mid-twentieth century keepers of the then Queen's peace that pound the modern day beat.

The Five Appointments & Divisional Numerals

The Five Appointments of a 1970's Police Constable, baton, handcuffs, whistle & chain, warrant card and official notebook, along with divisional numerals.

POLICE BATON, HIATT HANDUFFS, WHISTLE & CHAIN, WARRANT CARD, NOTEBOOK & NUMERALS

"A tangible manifestation of the Office of Constable came with a visit to the uniform and equipment stores in Albion Street. Once again lined up, we occupied one end of a huge wooden counter, on the other side of which stood a mirror-image line-up of brown-coated staff ready for the mass distribution exercise. With the musty feel of an old US Western store, the high shelves were stacked with uniform clothing and cardboard boxes containing a long list of items."

Leather warrant card holder with coloured metal Semper Vigilo badge on a flap used by a plain clothes officer wearing a business suit.

Warrant Card Holder (old)

Contemporary Semper Vigilo cap badge used by all eight (legacy) Scottish Police forces and Police Scotland.

Scotttish Police 'Semper Vigilo' Cap Badge

Updated leather waarant card holder with flap Semper Vigilo badge updated by Strathclyde Police.

Warrant card Holder (new)

'Oxford Street'

Force Training Centre (FTC), Glasgow

"The temporary training venue was then at Stewart Street, which for those of us residing at Oxford Street created a challenge to walk through the city centre in full uniform and in full view of an unsuspecting public. Venturing out in uniform for the first time was the living nightmare of finding yourself naked on a street with nowhere to hide."

'E' Division Stations & 'F' Division Barracks

Tobago Street Police Station

'E' Division (aka 'The East') Divisional HQ

"I observed the two-man crew who had been called back to ‘E’ Divisional HQ to ferry me to Shettleston, my first station that served E(B) subdivision. Leaving the relatively safe bosom of the divisional HQ yard behind, we drove out onto Tobago Street and into the heart of Bridgeton - pronounced Brig’ton, should you ever have the need to avoid it. It felt like I was being transported from the relative safety of some Wild West Cavalry Fort to one of its smaller, lesser-protected and manned outposts in a hostile land. This was not the Wild West of the 1870s but the equally notorious Glasgow East End of the 1970s."

(Photo: 'Lost Glasgow' on Facebook)

Shettleston Police Station

E(B) Sub-division. 32, Chester Street, Glasgow G33.

"Unceremoniously dropped off in Chester Street, I found Shettleston Office to be a transformed two-storey stone house with an extension and a yard comprising four vehicle spaces and an outbuilding used as a Muster Hall. Entering through the yard side-entrance, I encountered the Charge Bar area with a detention room to the left and the cell corridor to the right."

(Image: Glasgow Police Museum)

Shettleston Beat officer John ('Father') Bradley and Group (shift) 2's father figure.

"Half a Step Behind"

PC ('Father') John Bradley, 29 Beat (Parkhead)

"Reaching the start of 29 Beat at Westmuir Street, John’s first instruction to me was to adopt a position ‘one half step behind’ as we walked towards Parkhead Cross. He went on to explain that, as a probationer, I was looking but almost certainly not seeing. An experienced officer used a wider field of vision, seeing what was out of place, unusual or looming up ahead. This was the radar-like skill that patrolling officers were expected to learn and deploy at all times."

(Image: unknown-credit to owner)

Cambuslang Police Station

'F' Division (aka 'The South'). 20 Mansion Street, Cambuslang.

"On examining the accommodation notebook, it offered two extremes: rooms to rent from elderly spinsters or ‘The Barracks’, former fire brigade quarters at Cambuslang Police Office in neighbouring ‘F’ Division."

(Image: Joe McIver)

Basic Course Nov 1976 Scottish Police College, Tulliallan Castle, Kincardine, Fife

Tulliallan Castle, centrepiece of the Scottish Police College main training location and current day Police Scotland HQ.

Probationer Basic Training cadre photo of November 1976 in which the author is missing due to court attendance in Glasgow.

Scottish Police Probationer Constables Basic Course November 1976, with College Staff.

Conspicuous by my absence, I didn't appear on day one due to attending Court in Glasgow.

(Image: SPC)

Dormitory B names of male officers on the November 1976 Basic Training course.

The Premier Dorm

Dormitory C names of male officers on the November 1976 Basic Training course.

The Irregulars

Author with six probationer colleaagues at SPC Tulliallan.

Tulliallan Basic Course Cops 1976-1977

Author on day of passing out from Basic Training Course in early 1977.

19 Year-Old Cop - 1977

Three probationer colleagues in dormitory C at SPC Tulliallan.

Police College Dormitory 'B' Dwellers

Mostly indistinguishable in unform, Only Fife Constabulary had optional rural policing headgear.

Author with five probationer colleagues in the grounds of SPC Tulliallan.

Learning to stand still and marching classes sorted.

Passing out parade of basic training cadre on SPC Tulliallan parade square, 1977.

Police College Basic Course Passing Out Parade, 1977

Author's dormitory C bed space at SPC Tulliallan 1976.

Ready for Inspection

Author with probationer colleagues off duty in Dormitory C SPC Tulliallan.

Dorm Jamming

Dorm socialising

Author with probationer colleagues in the SPC Tulliallan junior lounge bar.

Junior Squad Lounge

A further (Advanced) course at SPC Tulliallan the following year and then the downward slope to complete two years probation heralded the much-awaited arrival of a two-week driving course in Summer 1978.

Starthclyde Police Divisional Numeral ('E' Division)

Standard police divisional 'Panda' car in light blue white white doors.

Traditional Police 'Panda' car

(Image: Creative Commons - Craig Murphy)

Baillieston Police Station

"Previously a ‘county’ station, Baillieston had no cells, and the shift sergeant was the boss who, in turn, was supervised remotely by the Shettleston Inspector. Initial thoughts that Baillieston would be quiet were soon dispelled. It was here that my mobile patrol duties commenced on Panda Golf as ‘E’242."

(Image: Creative Commons - Robert Murray)

'Windscreen Willie'

"The scene, I was told, was like something from a horror film. I alone had apparently emptied a pint or more of blood over the roof, bonnet and passenger-side of the vehicle, and also its interior due to the smashed windscreen. Despite the relatively slow speed of both vehicles, the compounding effect had caused us both to collide with the windscreen, whereby shards of glass penetrated both of my neighbour’s eyes. Ultimately, he would lose one eye, with glass remaining in the other, and would undergo several operations. I got off lighter ... and was duly re-christened, ‘Windscreen Willie’. My neighbour recovered and became a successful and highly skilled SOCO. The only positive consequences were firstly, the collision-scene photographs of the blood-covered Ford Escort being shown as a warning to new GP Driving Course students and; secondly, seatbelts becoming mandatory in Strathclyde Police vehicles, four years before UK legislation caught up. You’re welcome."

From Panda Driver to 'Plainer'

"After a period at Baillieston, I transferred back to Shettleston as a shift plainer along with a new neighbour, Andy. Finally, the chance to work in plain clothes, grow my hair, and no white shirts to iron."

Court photographs of Author relating to a charge of serious police assault.

Glasgow Sheriff & Jury Court Photographs

Battle Scars & Blending In

"Being incognito was therefore an asset, so my newly acquired scars and missing teeth were perhaps my best, if only, asset" (Images: Strathclyde IB)

"New plain clothes neighbour John and I heard a woman’s screams rise above the general Tollcross Road hubbub ... I pulled the attacker away from the woman ... locked like two opposing front-row rugby players, I was now regretting my longer hair ... Another pair of legs came running into view towards me and a booted foot struck me squarely in the face ... after a chase and a call for assistance, the sound of klaxons heralded the arrival of the EM4 Sherpa van ... one male in custody for serious assault and resisting arrest ... the other was soon traced and also charged."

Six months later, both accused appeared at Lanarkshire House Sheriff & Jury Court, and in a 'Perry Mason' moment the PF, with a penchant for the theatrical, had me 'perform' in front of the jury. The pleading 'towels' of both accused were ceremoniously thrown into the well of the court as both defence counsel concluded their short-lived appearances with a surrendering ...

“Your honour, my client wishes to change his plea to one of guilty.”

4 years in, and a Transfer to ... 'Rent-a-Mob'

'V' Supprt Unit personnel carrier (12 seater) vehicle.

Strathclyde Police Support Unit Van

(Image: Donald H MacLeod)

Author's Police (Elementary) Promotion Exam certificate (aka ticket)

'V' Support Unit

"Receiving shoulder number ‘V’70, I was posted to Pollokshaws on Glasgow’s south side. An inspector and four sergeants led each of the five units, operating day and late shifts and covering several territorial divisions in twelve-seater Ford Transit vans."

V' Support Unit responsibilities included: Firearms, Bomb Calls, Search & Seal, Nuclear Load and other armed convoys, Ground and building searches, VIP protection, cordon duties and major events in support of territorial divisions and specialist departments. Regular fitness training was another welcome feature.

On first arrival, it appears that I had been observed parking my recently acquired, and reasonably shiny, blue Ford Capri when someone commented, “Here’s Flash.” Not the worst-ever sobriquet, but this one too would soon be replaced." Passing my Sergeant's exam (aka 'ticket') my name changed again - 'Willie One Ticket."

Strathclyde Police 'Guardian' magazine article by the author regarding flying training.

Strathclyde Police Guardia Magazine Article

PPL Training

Renfrew Flying Club was approached by the Police 'Guardian' magazine for an article, and being a PPL student club member, I was asked to write it. Within a day of publication the magazine photo appeared on the noticeboard with a caption, 'Flash climbs into his new hairdryer'.

(Image: Strathclyde Guardian)

17 February 1983 - Royal Visit to Easterhouse, Glasgow

1984 Press image of Lady Diana, Princess of Wales in Easterhouse alongside the author on security duty.

Author on Search & Seal duty at Easterhouse for visit of HRH Diana, Princess of Wales, with Glasgow Lord Provost

(Image: Mirrorpix)

"A mainstay of Unit work was the self-explanatory Search and Seal operation, where skills acquired from Saton VII training at a north of England RAF base alongside EOD teams were used to search venues for suspect devices or threats. Utilised ahead of high-profile events, these operations were mostly in response to royalty, political, VIP or other events requiring added security measures."

Becoming an AFO - Firearms Training

Authorised Firearms Officer (AFO) refesher training days meant sometimes winning the 'pot' of accumulated 'fines' for misdemeanors, once target scores were counted. I was then invited to join the Armed Intervention Detachment (AID Team) which increased training to weekly firearms training days. Then came the call to join 'H' Firearms Training as an instructor on attachment. (Images: Donald H MacLeod)