Despite leaving the Police Service over 5 years ago, many of my real friends are still in the job and I catch up with them regularly for beers and curry.  Although this weekend was rice only for me as ma tummy is still awfy sore.

The Service is a regimented, disciplined life, where rules and regulations dictate most of the day.  For example, attending for a muster briefing, signing out CS spray, executing warrants, complying with Procurator Fiscal directions and being where one should be when one is detailed to be there..... However, there is an entrepreneurial side to policing - Discretion. 

Officers used to be able to use their discretion when dealing with road traffic offences or deciding whether to lock someone up for a breach of the peace or place him in a friend's charge - to get him up the road safely. This ability to make decisions and use one's judgement assisted, it could be argued, in sorting the cream for promotion.  It can also be argued that it was beneficial for members of the public.  Why 'do' a pregnant mum for a brake light bulb that is not working, when one can let her know, counsel her and advise her on the easiest way to get it fixed locally.

Government interference and a fixation on statistics has depleated the capacity of officers to make 'human' decisions and exercise their discretion.  As I was leaving the Service, I would ask my shift at the de-brief for their individual stats on things like intelligence reports submitted, road traffic tickets issued or licensed premises visited.  Never,  give me an example of how you used your skill and judgment today to save the taxpayer money, assist a member of the public in providing a solution to a problem or showed leadership to resolve a heated situation, that did not require an arrest.

As I sat with the guys, who range from Constable to Superintendent, I was struck by the ideas they had for business within their own business of policing and for their approaching retirement years.  What they lacked was the ability to commercialise them. 

One idea that I thought would be a real cracker and very funny was a Jerry Springer type comedy musical based on an East End of Glasgow police station custody suite on a Rangers/Celtic matchday - set in the 1980's.  The custody suite  or 'charge bar' as it was known then, really was an eye opener.  One saw every human emotion, extreme violence and teamwork to make it all work.  'Old Firm' matchdays were particulary special!!  The banter, situations that arose and things we had to do were funny, dangerous and placed all who worked there and were presented there in a high risk environment.

Putting all this into a comedy musical and letting the public 'experience' it, I think would be really entertaining.....and entrepreneurial.