What was your call sign on RW?

I was TV33 based out of Taplow from 2000-2002. I think I kept breaking my crewmates. I started with Rob Wilson, then Jamie Gilson and ended with Derek Ingram.

What’s your nickname?

Lumpy- due to a lump on my head which my parents tell me is because my brain is too big and trying to escape.

Why did you become a police officer?

I won’t insult you with the standard interview reply. The truth is it was bred into me, My grandfather was a Hearbeat style bobby and I spent most of my school holidays as a child riding round in his Mini Clubman police van. It was almost expected I would follow him.

What’s your favourite part of the job?

Catching liars out. Nothing quite beats the moment when they realise they have been had after 10 minutes of rope being let out to hang themselves with.

What was your favourite RW moment that you were in?

There are lots for different reasons. The Orion pursuit on the M4 in the rain – pure adrenalin. The 15 year old girl driving in Slough ‘am I going to get in trouble’ – Are people really that dim? And best of all those who got more angry while I am got calmer.

What was your favourite RW moment of another officer’s?

When Tony Griffiths got reversed into on the bike. I would have loved to have seen the teeth marks on the saddle after that.

What was it like being followed by a camera crew?

It was a new concept when Steve Warr started to film by himself with a camcorder, he didn’t even have a buyer. Because of this I had complete trust in him and what he would edit if needed. It became very normal after a short time and I almost forgot they were there.

If you weren’t a police officer, what do you think you would be doing?

I would probably still be in the building game. This would be better in the summer going to work in shorts and a t shirt not woollen trousers and a Kevlar vest.

Which of the cars did you like driving the best?

The original TV33 was a beast, a 3.0 Omega. It served us well and had the engine and every panel replaced, except the roof! The current 2.8 Vecra is faster but not quite as stable.

Tell us an interesting fact about yourself that not many people know:

I have been called many things but I don’t recall interesting being one of them! I appeared on a Seaside rescue programme from the other angle- the victim. Thanks to Jamie hitting me on the head with a cricket bat! My wife would have helped me but was busy taking pictures if the young lifeguards.

Interviewed 13 August 2007