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And then suddenly I realised, all of them were on twitter - I have an informal way to get hold of them at any time.
On my bike, down the path and over the usual bridge. Under another bridge and saw three Police Officers standing on my left, patrol car parked. I had no idea what was going on.
At the bottom on the hill where the path splits, caught sight of three more Police Officers and a carefree horse out for a stroll.
I was asked politely to find an alternative route as two members of the public and the officers were coaxing the pony into a harness.
I waited, spent the time looking up a pdf on my phone where I thought I may have the landowners phone number. I did not.
Next up, pony breaks free, takes a sharp exit into the trees and makes a fast walk for it - with humans in chase.
An elderly gentleman also arrives at the path, is asked politely to use another path and snaps back with some clever remark (which implies he. knows best). There is no need, in my view, an officer should be spoken to like that. That officer was putting the chap’s safety first and was doing the right thing.
The silly thing, how the same chap walked up the incline, where at this point the pony had taken a rest near a hedge, kind of a dead end. Anyone knows better to walk at the back of a horse - just looking for trouble.
.. story breaks for a few links
.. story breaks for a few links
Follow these officers on Twitter..
Essex Police main account
Interested is being a Special Constable with Essex Police, then visit the website.
Advanced and in a delicate manoeuvre, the lady member of the public carefully placed a bridal over the pony’s head. That was a heart string moment for me. Any animal lover will know what I mean when you care for a stranger.
In this case, one of two a ponies that have been left in a field all winter, their mane matted in rotting thistles and their coat never groomed.
Horse hooves are back on tarmac and a small procession leads off for a few hundred metres towards the University bridge and back through the hole in the fence.
On Chatting to an officer, I find out they have been on the task of rounding up both ponies for two hours. And for me at least, I’ve counted nine officers.
I head off to town and return forty minutes later to find find three officers and two other police staff repairing the fence. They are snapping branches off trees and rearranging barbed wire.
I have another chat,find out they are awaiting some of that blue and white police tape to reinforce the fence.
I return early the next morning - ponies seem pretty happy grazing in the field. Where the Police Line Do Not Cross tape is still in place. All is good.
That is until an hour later when an inconsiderate dog walker, with a real grimace on his face and flanked by two big dogs come a bounding straight through the same spot in the fence. I’d not seen him before.
the fence and the plastic tape looked worse for wear. Let’s hope the ponies don’t get a whiff of a new opportunity for another walkabout..
And then I suddenly realised, all of those Officers were on twitter - We, as members of the public have an informal way to get hold of them at any time- and thanks them.
In my view, this is so important. For a police service to be social, sharing what they do and be accessible.
This story in many ways is about visible policing, about community and about the preservation of life - humans and horses (as there are a few busy roads nearby).
This story was very easy to write and very easy to share in public. Which is unlike how I have a few other stories that cannot be shared (ones that involve crime, firearms, NPAS and police dogs).
It’s also a story about the value of the Special Constable. And how a morning shift can take an unexpected turn while burning up hours until the evening.
I wish I could read stories like this in the News, but sadly that day has gone - they chase headlines and clicks.
They will not cover, ‘two horses leave a field, they return later on - nothing else happened really’.
Twitter Moment
Two Ponies go for a Walk..
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