What was your call sign on Road Wars?

TV31

What’s your nickname?

Lester

 

Why did you become a police officer?

I was bored in my 9-5 job and wanted to do something a bit more challenging.

What’s your favourite part of the job?

Arresting people who think they can do what every other law abiding person would never dream of.

 

What was your favourite Road Wars moment that had you in?

I’ve been lucky to work with some excellent Police officers and be involved in some fantastic jobs it’s very hard to single one out but I think the Cannabis factory was a once in a career find and I was dizzy for two days afterwards (perhaps I should have washed my jumper).

What was your favourite Road Wars moment of another officer’s?

I love the drunk idiot in Slough who’s on tag and pees in the holding area - what a tube!!

 

What was it like being followed by a camera crew?

You kind of get used to it after a while and forget they are with you (hence my awful Tourette's Syndrome). However it does antagonise some people and you can end up looking out for the camera crew as well as yourself which can be a bit of a pain.

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

Don’t know, now I’m doing it there really isn’t anything else I fancy. Perhaps working in the sport and leisure industry in some capacity.

Which of the cars did you like driving the best? (thinking Omegas vs. Vectras etc!)

Vectras are quicker on the pick up and around town and we always used to moan about the Omegas when we had them but I’ve got a bit of a soft spot for them - they are like driving a big cushion on wheels. Omegas probably handled a bit better and both seemed to fare well if you crashed them (and believe me I have crashed both but thankfully that didn’t make the programme)

Tell us an interesting fact about yourself that not many people know (that’s printable!!)

I wear a skin coloured skull cap so that I’m not recognisable off duty and really I have a large mop of ginger hair!!! I also collect navel fluff if anyone wants to send any in.

And - a few bonus questions to celebrate the site's first anniversary...

How did you actually get involved in Road Wars? Is it something you are told will happen when you join the Proactive Unit or do you get a choice?

Kinda get a choice but generally its 'here's a cameraman don’t break him' type of arrangement. Those who objected didn’t have to take one out and there's still a couple of crews who refuse point blank to be filmed.

 

How often do you get asked for an autograph and do people still recognise you from Road Wars?

Recognised every day - autograph or photo couple of times a month.

 

If you want to come back into the Proactive Unit after your tenure has finished, how long do you have to wait before you are eligible to get back on the unit?

1 year but only if a vacancy comes up. Conrad was kind of a special case: he has been on the team the whole time amd he went onto the ANPR interceptors team on the Tango Victor motorbikes - but they were all taken away on Health and Safety grounds and all the bikers got moved back onto the proactive teams, so the like of Griff, Flipper and Conrad all got onto the Tango Victor cars

 

OK, daft questions ahead now: If you could be any super hero from a comic, who would you be and why?

Mr Invisible. I don’t want to be flipping recognised anymore - the novelty's worn off!!!!

 

If someone were to make a film about your life, what would it be called and who would you want playing you?

They already did - its called Jekyll and Hyde. And it would be played by some old bald fat bloke.

 

If you could have any pet at all (alive or extinct) what would you have and why?

Dodo-cos no-one else would have one

 

Marmite – Love it or Hate it?

Love it even if it is really bum jam.

Digestives or Hobnobs?

Either - just as long as they've got chocolate on.

 

And finally……what’s been the best thing about having been on Road Wars?

Plenty of positive comments from people. It's not often we get any praise; everyone wants to knock the Police.

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