I’m a fortunate man I’m a husband to an extraordinary wife I’m a dad to three
extraordinary wife I’m a dad to three
extraordinary wife I’m a dad to three beautiful girls and for the last 25
beautiful girls and for the last 25
beautiful girls and for the last 25 years it’s been my extraordinary
years it’s been my extraordinary
years it’s been my extraordinary privilege to serve as an officer in the
privilege to serve as an officer in the
privilege to serve as an officer in the Metropolitan Police here in London this
Metropolitan Police here in London this
Metropolitan Police here in London this city that is my home I joined the Met in
city that is my home I joined the Met in
city that is my home I joined the Met in September 1992 this is me a training
September 1992 this is me a training
September 1992 this is me a training school back then and in the time since
school back then and in the time since
school back then and in the time since then
then
then policing arguably has changed in all
policing arguably has changed in all
policing arguably has changed in all sorts of ways certainly since the Met
sorts of ways certainly since the Met
sorts of ways certainly since the Met was founded in 1829 but then of course
was founded in 1829 but then of course
was founded in 1829 but then of course the world has changed and society has
the world has changed and society has
the world has changed and society has changed and the communities that we live
changed and the communities that we live
changed and the communities that we live and work in have changed technology has
and work in have changed technology has
and work in have changed technology has changed crime has changed each of these
changed crime has changed each of these
changed crime has changed each of these things is still happening and arguably a
things is still happening and arguably a
things is still happening and arguably a gathering speed but when it comes to
gathering speed but when it comes to
gathering speed but when it comes to policing and when it comes to the things
policing and when it comes to the things
policing and when it comes to the things that really matter I’m not sure that
that really matter I’m not sure that
that really matter I’m not sure that anything has really changed at all the
anything has really changed at all the
anything has really changed at all the job is still to save lives to find the
job is still to save lives to find the
job is still to save lives to find the lost to comfort the brokenhearted to
lost to comfort the brokenhearted to
lost to comfort the brokenhearted to defend the vulnerable and to confront
defend the vulnerable and to confront
defend the vulnerable and to confront the dangerous sometimes even to risk it
the dangerous sometimes even to risk it
the dangerous sometimes even to risk it all whilst I’m here talking to you there
all whilst I’m here talking to you there
all whilst I’m here talking to you there are men and women in blue out there
are men and women in blue out there
are men and women in blue out there prepared to step into harm’s way in
prepared to step into harm’s way in
prepared to step into harm’s way in defense of complete strangers they
defense of complete strangers they
defense of complete strangers they always have been to me and always will
always have been to me and always will
always have been to me and always will be the everyday heroes and heroines who
be the everyday heroes and heroines who
be the everyday heroes and heroines who police our streets and today I’d like to
police our streets and today I’d like to
police our streets and today I’d like to offer you an insight into their working
offer you an insight into their working
offer you an insight into their working lives in the form of a short lesson in
lives in the form of a short lesson in
lives in the form of a short lesson in forensic science
forensic science
forensic science in particular I’d like to introduce you
in particular I’d like to introduce you
in particular I’d like to introduce you to la cartes principal it’s most
to la cartes principal it’s most
to la cartes principal it’s most definitely an idea worth sharing Edmond
definitely an idea worth sharing Edmond
definitely an idea worth sharing Edmond Locard was a French forensic scientist
Locard was a French forensic scientist
Locard was a French forensic scientist born in the nineteenth century who gave
born in the nineteenth century who gave
born in the nineteenth century who gave his name to an idea that remains
his name to an idea that remains
his name to an idea that remains fundamental to the way in which we
fundamental to the way in which we
fundamental to the way in which we investigate crime in the 21st century la
investigate crime in the 21st century la
investigate crime in the 21st century la cartes principle says very simply that
cartes principle says very simply that
cartes principle says very simply that every contact leaves a trace every time
every contact leaves a trace every time
every contact leaves a trace every time two objects come into contact with one
two objects come into contact with one
two objects come into contact with one another an exchange happens picture the
another an exchange happens picture the
another an exchange happens picture the following scene if you will a family
following scene if you will a family
following scene if you will a family home in a quiet residential street a
home in a quiet residential street a
home in a quiet residential street a thief
thief
thief climbs over the back garden fence
climbs over the back garden fence
climbs over the back garden fence leaving footprints in the flowerbed he
leaving footprints in the flowerbed he
leaving footprints in the flowerbed he breaks a ground-floor window cutting
breaks a ground-floor window cutting
breaks a ground-floor window cutting himself as he does so leaving drops of
himself as he does so leaving drops of
himself as he does so leaving drops of blood on the sill as he climbs through
blood on the sill as he climbs through
blood on the sill as he climbs through he catches his clothing leaving fibers
he catches his clothing leaving fibers
he catches his clothing leaving fibers on the edges of the glass and once
on the edges of the glass and once
on the edges of the glass and once inside he leaves his fingerprints over
inside he leaves his fingerprints over
inside he leaves his fingerprints over all of the surfaces finally as he tries
all of the surfaces finally as he tries
all of the surfaces finally as he tries to make his escape the registration
to make his escape the registration
to make his escape the registration plate from his car is captured by his in
plate from his car is captured by his in
plate from his car is captured by his in hidden CCTV camera okay so he’s not the
hidden CCTV camera okay so he’s not the
hidden CCTV camera okay so he’s not the brightest of thieves
but I hope his small story offers just a
but I hope his small story offers just a small insight into the genius that is
small insight into the genius that is
small insight into the genius that is lockhart the police do their job well
lockhart the police do their job well
lockhart the police do their job well and they get to the scene quickly they
and they get to the scene quickly they
and they get to the scene quickly they find the footprints and the blood they
find the footprints and the blood they
find the footprints and the blood they recover the fibers and the fingerprints
recover the fibers and the fingerprints
recover the fibers and the fingerprints evidence of the suspect left at the
evidence of the suspect left at the
evidence of the suspect left at the scene and they catch up with him quickly
scene and they catch up with him quickly
scene and they catch up with him quickly enough to find mud from the flowerbed on
enough to find mud from the flowerbed on
enough to find mud from the flowerbed on the bottom of his shoes and microscopic
the bottom of his shoes and microscopic
the bottom of his shoes and microscopic fragments of glass all over his clothing
fragments of glass all over his clothing
fragments of glass all over his clothing and because they’re having a
and because they’re having a
and because they’re having a particularly good day in because it’s my
particularly good day in because it’s my
particularly good day in because it’s my story they even find everything that
story they even find everything that
story they even find everything that he’s stolen in the back of his car
he’s stolen in the back of his car
he’s stolen in the back of his car evidence from the scene carried by him
evidence from the scene carried by him
evidence from the scene carried by him it’s a powerful principle that explains
it’s a powerful principle that explains
it’s a powerful principle that explains how a great many crimes get solved
how a great many crimes get solved
how a great many crimes get solved traces of the scene carried by the
traces of the scene carried by the
traces of the scene carried by the suspect traces on from the suspect left
suspect traces on from the suspect left
suspect traces on from the suspect left at the scene because every contact
at the scene because every contact
at the scene because every contact leaves a trace but if you think about it
leaves a trace but if you think about it
leaves a trace but if you think about it a little more it seems to me that la
a little more it seems to me that la
a little more it seems to me that la cartes principle has an application that
cartes principle has an application that
cartes principle has an application that goes beyond simply the investigation of
goes beyond simply the investigation of
goes beyond simply the investigation of crime it has an application for every
crime it has an application for every
crime it has an application for every kind of human relationship and
kind of human relationship and
kind of human relationship and interaction every time two people come
interaction every time two people come
interaction every time two people come into contact with one another an
into contact with one another an
into contact with one another an exchange takes place whether between
exchange takes place whether between
exchange takes place whether between lifelong friends or passing strangers we
lifelong friends or passing strangers we
lifelong friends or passing strangers we encourage we ignore we hold out a hand
encourage we ignore we hold out a hand
encourage we ignore we hold out a hand or we withdraw it we walk toward so we
or we withdraw it we walk toward so we
or we withdraw it we walk toward so we walk away with less or we curse we love
walk away with less or we curse we love
walk away with less or we curse we love what we hate and every single contact
what we hate and every single contact
what we hate and every single contact leaves a trace the way that we treat and
leaves a trace the way that we treat and
leaves a trace the way that we treat and regard one another matters it really
regard one another matters it really
regard one another matters it really matters and in an increasingly uncertain
matters and in an increasingly uncertain
matters and in an increasingly uncertain and often frightening world it might
and often frightening world it might
and often frightening world it might even be the thing that matters most of
even be the thing that matters most of
even be the thing that matters most of all the painful privilege of policing is
all the painful privilege of policing is
all the painful privilege of policing is to see all of life in all its fractured
to see all of life in all its fractured
to see all of life in all its fractured pieces broken hearts and broken homes
pieces broken hearts and broken homes
pieces broken hearts and broken homes broken lives and broken bones police
broken lives and broken bones police
broken lives and broken bones police officers so often find themselves in the
officers so often find themselves in the
officers so often find themselves in the hurting places going where most couldn’t
hurting places going where most couldn’t
hurting places going where most couldn’t doing what most wouldn’t but it comes at
doing what most wouldn’t but it comes at
doing what most wouldn’t but it comes at a cost that’s a picture of me after a
a cost that’s a picture of me after a
a cost that’s a picture of me after a particularly painful night at work but
particularly painful night at work but
particularly painful night at work but here’s the thing I’ve worked with
here’s the thing I’ve worked with
here’s the thing I’ve worked with officers who’ve been injured much more
officers who’ve been injured much more
officers who’ve been injured much more seriously than me I’ve worked with
seriously than me I’ve worked with
seriously than me I’ve worked with officers who confronted gunman and
officers who confronted gunman and
officers who confronted gunman and disarmed those wielding knives I’ve
disarmed those wielding knives I’ve
disarmed those wielding knives I’ve worked with officers who’ve walked into
worked with officers who’ve walked into
worked with officers who’ve walked into the midst of unimaginable horrors the
the midst of unimaginable horrors the
the midst of unimaginable horrors the scenes of crimes and car crashes and
scenes of crimes and car crashes and
scenes of crimes and car crashes and every place in between I’ve worked with
every place in between I’ve worked with
every place in between I’ve worked with officers who have been first on scene
officers who have been first on scene
officers who have been first on scene following terrorist atrocities and have
following terrorist atrocities and have
following terrorist atrocities and have seen things in those places that defy
seen things in those places that defy
seen things in those places that defy comprehension I’ve seen things and done
comprehension I’ve seen things and done
comprehension I’ve seen things and done things myself that I wouldn’t wish on my
things myself that I wouldn’t wish on my
things myself that I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy
worst enemy
worst enemy now I don’t see any of these things to
now I don’t see any of these things to
now I don’t see any of these things to impress or to alarm I say them simply
impress or to alarm I say them simply
impress or to alarm I say them simply because they’re true and it would be
because they’re true and it would be
because they’re true and it would be impossible to do this job for any length
impossible to do this job for any length
impossible to do this job for any length of time and to remain unaffected by it
perhaps I could tell you a little of my
perhaps I could tell you a little of my own story to do that I need to go back
own story to do that I need to go back
own story to do that I need to go back to April 2013 at the time I had the
to April 2013 at the time I had the
to April 2013 at the time I had the privilege of being the police commander
privilege of being the police commander
privilege of being the police commander for the borough of southwark in South
for the borough of southwark in South
for the borough of southwark in South London I was responsible there for about
London I was responsible there for about
London I was responsible there for about a thousand officers and staff and we
a thousand officers and staff and we
a thousand officers and staff and we collectively had a residential and
collectively had a residential and
collectively had a residential and business community of hundred
business community of hundred
business community of hundred mm to protect it had some of the highest
mm to protect it had some of the highest
mm to protect it had some of the highest levels of serious crime
levels of serious crime
levels of serious crime anywhere in Britain almost every kind of
anywhere in Britain almost every kind of
anywhere in Britain almost every kind of chaos almost everyday it was the best
chaos almost everyday it was the best
chaos almost everyday it was the best and the most fulfilling job that I’ve
and the most fulfilling job that I’ve
and the most fulfilling job that I’ve ever had but it was also the most
ever had but it was also the most
ever had but it was also the most challenging and the demand of most
challenging and the demand of most
challenging and the demand of most demanding six months into my time there
demanding six months into my time there
demanding six months into my time there I broke it began with a deepening sense
I broke it began with a deepening sense
I broke it began with a deepening sense of overwhelming exhaustion of the kind
of overwhelming exhaustion of the kind
of overwhelming exhaustion of the kind that I just couldn’t shake off it
that I just couldn’t shake off it
that I just couldn’t shake off it developed into a malevolent form of
developed into a malevolent form of
developed into a malevolent form of anxiety that would wake me in the middle
anxiety that would wake me in the middle
anxiety that would wake me in the middle of the night but leave me with no
of the night but leave me with no
of the night but leave me with no understanding of the reasons why and
understanding of the reasons why and
understanding of the reasons why and eventually came the depression now
eventually came the depression now
eventually came the depression now depression is not the same as sadness in
depression is not the same as sadness in
depression is not the same as sadness in fact sadness is to depression as a
fact sadness is to depression as a
fact sadness is to depression as a puddle is to the Pacific it’s a thing of
puddle is to the Pacific it’s a thing of
puddle is to the Pacific it’s a thing of raw horror and blind terror a
raw horror and blind terror a
raw horror and blind terror a waterboarding of the mind and it smashed
waterboarding of the mind and it smashed
waterboarding of the mind and it smashed me to the ground I was off work for
me to the ground I was off work for
me to the ground I was off work for seven months more than four years later
seven months more than four years later
seven months more than four years later I’m still recovering and initially at
I’m still recovering and initially at
I’m still recovering and initially at least it robbed me stripped me of
least it robbed me stripped me of
least it robbed me stripped me of everything that I had ever had
everything that I had ever had
everything that I had ever had confidence in of my personal identity as
confidence in of my personal identity as
confidence in of my personal identity as a husband as a dad as a man I just felt
a husband as a dad as a man I just felt
a husband as a dad as a man I just felt like a failure it stripped me of my
like a failure it stripped me of my
like a failure it stripped me of my professional identity as a police
professional identity as a police
professional identity as a police officer as a borough commander as a
officer as a borough commander as a
officer as a borough commander as a hostage negotiator as the man in the
hostage negotiator as the man in the
hostage negotiator as the man in the arena in the space of a few short days I
arena in the space of a few short days I
arena in the space of a few short days I went from running a borough to barely
went from running a borough to barely
went from running a borough to barely being able to run a bath it was a crisis
being able to run a bath it was a crisis
being able to run a bath it was a crisis of everything
and as I lay at home slowly and quietly
and as I lay at home slowly and quietly recovering I try to work out what the
recovering I try to work out what the
recovering I try to work out what the hell had happened to me and in truth it
hell had happened to me and in truth it
hell had happened to me and in truth it was a collision a combination of things
was a collision a combination of things
was a collision a combination of things the first was just the simple wear and
the first was just the simple wear and
the first was just the simple wear and tear of a policing life shift working
tear of a policing life shift working
tear of a policing life shift working extended hours over prolonged periods of
extended hours over prolonged periods of
extended hours over prolonged periods of time but more than anything else the
time but more than anything else the
time but more than anything else the consequences of the repeated exposure to
consequences of the repeated exposure to
consequences of the repeated exposure to extreme trauma as a society I don’t
extreme trauma as a society I don’t
extreme trauma as a society I don’t think we’ve really properly begun to
think we’ve really properly begun to
think we’ve really properly begun to understand the impact on our police
understand the impact on our police
understand the impact on our police officers of the repeated exposure to
officers of the repeated exposure to
officers of the repeated exposure to extreme trauma but alongside that
extreme trauma but alongside that
extreme trauma but alongside that general wear and tear there are just
general wear and tear there are just
general wear and tear there are just particular faces and places each of my
particular faces and places each of my
particular faces and places each of my colleagues could tell you their own
colleagues could tell you their own
colleagues could tell you their own stories the scenes and the screams that
stories the scenes and the screams that
stories the scenes and the screams that sear themselves into your soul and
sear themselves into your soul and
sear themselves into your soul and remain then there were the expectations
remain then there were the expectations
remain then there were the expectations of the day job more and more and more
of the day job more and more and more
of the day job more and more and more being demanded with less and less and
being demanded with less and less and
being demanded with less and less and less to give all in an environment of
less to give all in an environment of
less to give all in an environment of seemingly relentless criticism from the
seemingly relentless criticism from the
seemingly relentless criticism from the media and from politicians in particular
media and from politicians in particular
media and from politicians in particular and then of course there are things that
and then of course there are things that
and then of course there are things that have nothing to do with policing but
have nothing to do with policing but
have nothing to do with policing but everything to do with me we all have our
everything to do with me we all have our
everything to do with me we all have our stories but it was the combination of
stories but it was the combination of
stories but it was the combination of these things that left me in pieces the
these things that left me in pieces the
these things that left me in pieces the good news though is that I’m a heck of a
good news though is that I’m a heck of a
good news though is that I’m a heck of a lot better than I was and I just like to
lot better than I was and I just like to
lot better than I was and I just like to leave you today with three practical
leave you today with three practical
leave you today with three practical thoughts and three personal thoughts how
thoughts and three personal thoughts how
thoughts and three personal thoughts how that’s been possible and it continues to
that’s been possible and it continues to
that’s been possible and it continues to be possible first practically is to rest
be possible first practically is to rest
be possible first practically is to rest we live in a world and in a society that
we live in a world and in a society that
we live in a world and in a society that is moving far faster than is good for
is moving far faster than is good for
is moving far faster than is good for any of us
any of us
any of us I think it was Gandhi who said there’s
I think it was Gandhi who said there’s
I think it was Gandhi who said there’s more to life than increasing its speed
more to life than increasing its speed
more to life than increasing its speed but I’m not sure anyone was listening
but I’m not sure anyone was listening
but I’m not sure anyone was listening out of necessity these days I am having
out of necessity these days I am having
out of necessity these days I am having to slow down and to learn how to rest so
to slow down and to learn how to rest so
to slow down and to learn how to rest so that’s the first thing the second thing
that’s the first thing the second thing
that’s the first thing the second thing is medication one of the first things I
is medication one of the first things I
is medication one of the first things I did when I got up this morning was to
did when I got up this morning was to
did when I got up this morning was to take an antidepressant and there is
take an antidepressant and there is
take an antidepressant and there is absolutely no shame in the fact they
absolutely no shame in the fact they
absolutely no shame in the fact they don’t work for everybody but they work
don’t work for everybody but they work
don’t work for everybody but they work for me and for a lot of others besides
for me and for a lot of others besides
for me and for a lot of others besides and so I’ll take them for as long as I
and so I’ll take them for as long as I
and so I’ll take them for as long as I need to and thirdly counseling I see a
need to and thirdly counseling I see a
need to and thirdly counseling I see a wonderful counsellor I’ve seen her
wonderful counsellor I’ve seen her
wonderful counsellor I’ve seen her throughout the last four years and she
throughout the last four years and she
throughout the last four years and she helps me to untangle the mysteries of me
helps me to untangle the mysteries of me
helps me to untangle the mysteries of me and put myself back together again
and put myself back together again
and put myself back together again the reality is we all need someone to
the reality is we all need someone to
the reality is we all need someone to talk to sometimes so those are the three
talk to sometimes so those are the three
talk to sometimes so those are the three practical things and last of all three
practical things and last of all three
practical things and last of all three personal things the first of those is
personal things the first of those is
personal things the first of those is faith the religion that I’d grown up
faith the religion that I’d grown up
faith the religion that I’d grown up with failed me but a small fragment of
with failed me but a small fragment of
with failed me but a small fragment of faith remained I’ve begun to discover
faith remained I’ve begun to discover
faith remained I’ve begun to discover something of the mystery of grace the
something of the mystery of grace the
something of the mystery of grace the rumor that I’m loved beyond measure just
rumor that I’m loved beyond measure just
rumor that I’m loved beyond measure just as I am secondly friends both at work
as I am secondly friends both at work
as I am secondly friends both at work and at home who loved me and walked
and at home who loved me and walked
and at home who loved me and walked alongside me until I was able to walk on
alongside me until I was able to walk on
alongside me until I was able to walk on my own again and thirdly family
my own again and thirdly family
my own again and thirdly family particularly my three girls and my
particularly my three girls and my
particularly my three girls and my extraordinary wife is sitting over there
extraordinary wife is sitting over there
extraordinary wife is sitting over there she’s called bear and she was the harbor
she’s called bear and she was the harbor
she’s called bear and she was the harbor wall to whom I lashed my little boat and
wall to whom I lashed my little boat and
wall to whom I lashed my little boat and she stayed strong and true I suppose it
she stayed strong and true I suppose it
she stayed strong and true I suppose it really was love that saved me which is
really was love that saved me which is
really was love that saved me which is possibly not the first thing you’d
possibly not the first thing you’d
possibly not the first thing you’d expect to hear
expect to hear
expect to hear officer say but in this increasingly
officer say but in this increasingly
officer say but in this increasingly uncertain world what is it that we can
uncertain world what is it that we can
uncertain world what is it that we can have confidence in maybe love is all we
have confidence in maybe love is all we
have confidence in maybe love is all we need between friends and strangers
need between friends and strangers
need between friends and strangers between lovers and foes between
between lovers and foes between
between lovers and foes between neighborhoods and Nations the way that
neighborhoods and Nations the way that
neighborhoods and Nations the way that we regard and treat one another matters
we regard and treat one another matters
we regard and treat one another matters it really matters and every contact
it really matters and every contact
it really matters and every contact leaves a trace
”
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