Port of Tilbury-Police Constable

[Techie1 + 2,024]

Ch Supt John Sutherland's book 'Blue' also outlines author's struggle with depression.

Ch Supt John Sutherland with his book 'Blue' (image courtesy of Martis Media)

Police officers from around the country attended the London launch of Blue: A Memoir this week - a new book outlining the highs and lows of being a British Bobby.

The book by Ch Supt John Sutherland – Twitter’s @policecommander – focusses on the positive work of his Met Police colleagues during a 25-year career but also on how policing can take its toll, including its difficult to read pages on John suffering from depression.

The strapline for the book is “Keeping the Peace and Falling to Pieces.”

Speaking at the event, John said the idea for the book came from the imbalance of predominantly negative reporting about policing in the media.

He said: “For the past 25 years, I have had the privilege of doing a job I love – alongside people I truly admire.

“In its way, this book is a love letter to each one of them: my family, my city and the women and men of the police force.

“Blue tells some of their stories – some of our stories – and in doing so, tries to provide some balance to the wider story being told about policing in this country.

“But it is also a very personal story of the toll that life and policing can take. Four years ago, whilst serving as the Borough Commander for Southwark in South London, I broke. I’m still mending.”

The book features large chunks on John’s rise through the ranks, his time as a hostage negotiator, as a borough commander and has a real focus on the scourge of knife crime in the capital.

Both the speech and book resonated well with the audience in attendance at the launch in London – which also included a number of John’s friends and family.

Also there were the Kinsella family. Ben Kinsella was killed in a stabbing incident in Islington in 2008 – and John has remained in touch with them.

Blue: A Memoir is available to buy from today (Thursday 25 May). 

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[ScotLass + 638]

I've started reading this (well actually started listening to the audiobook/reading it) and it's very good so far, nicely written.


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[Sherlock 117]

I'm looking forward to reading this. As a side thought, and purely out of curiosity, what are the legality loopholes he's had to go through to be able to publish all of this? Is Data Protection and Official Secrets an issue?

I've read a few other books by ex officers and have often wondered.


-Sherlock

[Policey_Man + 765]

17 hours ago, Sherlock said:

I'm looking forward to reading this. As a side thought, and purely out of curiosity, what are the legality loopholes he's had to go through to be able to publish all of this? Is Data Protection and Official Secrets an issue?

I've read a few other books by ex officers and have often wondered.

-Sherlock

Usually you would have to submit it to the organisation that you work(ed) for for their approval of the content. That usually takes quite a while I believe. Then you have to argue about any changes, then re-submit and so on...

Unless of course, you're going to write under an anonymous name, such as "PC Surname"....

Edited May 26, 2017 by Policey_Man