Page 25 - Police World Edition 4, 2013

IPA News
Police World Vol 58 No.4 2013 25
0-0, But We
Didn’t Care
Back in early 1997 I read in the 'contact column' of
Police World magazine that a Swedish police officer, by
the name of Lars Rafstedt, wanted to make contact with
an English policeman who was also a Jaguar enthusiast.
I wrote back to him and informed him that I did own a
Jaguar Sovereign. I explained that the Sovereign was my
boyhood dream car, but I was not really a jaguar enthusiast.
He replied and we corresponded by letter for a couple of
months.
Lars had informed me that he loved the English football
league, and was a Leicester City supporter. So a friendly
rivalry developed as I was a Nottingham Forest supporter.
Leicester City got to the League cup final that year which
was due to be played on Sunday 6 April. We got tickets for
the game and he came over to England, and stayed at my
home for the weekend. It was an active weekend as there
was a dinner dance, a party, and quiz night prearranged.
Lars was invited to attend all functions.
A friendship was formed from the moment I met him at
Stansted airport. I was asked several times by my friends
over the weekend 'How long had I known Lars?' - as we
were having such a brilliant time. When I said we had only
just met, they were surprised
He went back to Sweden, after a hectic weekend, having
had a real taste of some English IPA hospitality. A weekend
neither of us have forgotten. The football result now seems
irrelevant as it finished a dull 0 - 0 draw, but that did not
detract from our enjoyment.
Since then we have both visited each other. When Lars
comes to England we normally get tickets for a football
match and try to arrange for when Leicester play Forest.
The score is never of any importance.
Lars now resides in the beautiful little town of Ystaad. My
wife and I were invited over to stay in December 2012 and
stayed with Lars and his wife Carina. The town had its
Christmas decorations up and it was snowing - a perfect
setting for the festive time of year.
Lars has been a great friend and long may it continue, all
thanks to the IPA.
Richard Amess, Kent branch
Hosts for a Day
As a result of an appeal for assistance from the London Reception Officer, a
meeting was arranged between a visiting member from Section Spain, David
Gutierrez Sanchez, and Section UK member Roy Tyzack.
Roy, along with other members and friends from the IPA and 10 Region gave up
their time in the spirit of friendship and offered to meet David.
David, a Madrid Metropolitan police officer, is currently on a leave of absence and
has been in the UK since February, working as a voluntary care worker in Essex.
He met up with retired Metropolitan police and Essex police officer, Roy Tyzack, who
took him on a tour to the Metropolitan police sports club at Chigwell, Essex.
David, who patrols the southern outskirts of Madrid and has been in the force for 13
years, told Roy that he loves his job but had no thoughts of joining until his brother,
also a serving officer, talked him into giving it a try. He added that it seems that
many of the problems of
modern day policing in the
UK seem to be echoed in
Spain.
He explained the
difference between the
local police, the national
police and the traffic
police. In answer to a
question he explained that
the local police only wear
their 'Matador' style hats
for ceremonial purposes
these days or occasionally
in village
locations.
The two
discussed the
advances in
technology and
David pointed
out the
differences
between the two
countries. For
example, in
Spain although
interviews are
tape recorded
they have not yet had cameras installed in interview rooms. He was fascinated to
hear, from Roy, about the disclosure procedures in UK and the importance of note
books, logs etc. and said that in Spain, the officers note book is just for his use for
making rough notes and does not have to be shown or revealed to anyone else.
The pair were joined by the manager of the Chigwell Sports club, Colin Pridige, who
served alongside Roy through the 1970's. Colin explained to David that when he first
joined the force in 1973, he was posted on 'C.O. Patrol'. Which meant patrolling the
outside of New Scotland Yard (Commissioner's Office) on security duty. He told how
this would be in 'shirt sleeve order', carrying nothing more than a wooden truncheon
for protection. Colin added that he returned recently from a meeting and saw the
current 'C.O. Patrol' officer in 'Hi Viz' jacket, stab vest, telescopic baton, gas spray
and a machine gun... how times have changed!
David, who is also studying international politics via a distance learning course with
a view to specialising in international policing in the future, was introduced to other
serving officers and was presented with a number of souvenir gifts. He said how
much he had enjoyed his stay in the UK and would be returning to Spain in July with
very fond memories of the people that he had met. He was grateful for the kindness
that he had been shown and thanked the IPA for facilitating the meeting with Roy
and the other officers.
David meeting a Metropolitan police dog handler
Roy Tyzack, David el Guti and Colin Pridige
From left to right are Lena Rafstedt, Ricard Rafstedt,
Jackie Amess, Richard Amess, Carina Rafstedt,
and Lars Rafstedt