A WISH for April Jones

One of the reasons that the BBC series ‘Life on Mars’ was so popular, is that it so radically deviated away from the modern way of policing in the 21^st century!

For those not familiar with the show, (and to be honest, I have watched very little of it, although I CAN see its appeal), it tells the story of a modern day Manchester cop being transported back to 1973, a time when corruption and police brutality were regular stock in trade methods of securing convictions.

Now, there ARE those that might assert that such outrageous and unacceptable methods are still pursued by various Constabularies around the Country, but in general, the Police and their Modus Operandi is strictly controlled by the Police & Criminal Evidence Act 1984, along with its innumerable updates, Statutes and other legislation that governs how they can and can’t behave whilst investigating crime.

Which, ostensibly, is a necessary and essential best practice for a humane, judicial and democratic society.

EXCEPT...................

I can’t help wishing that some of the crimes being investigated today aren’t being DONE so utilising some of those ‘rogueish’, barbaric methods of days gone by.

I am, essentially, a libertarian and I have frequently been quick to lambast what I perceive to be appalling policing, such as the death of Ian Tomlinson or the undisciplined lines of police cordons arbitrarily lashing out at protestors.

BUT, I am also prone to write, proffering PRAISE where I believe it to be due. And I DO believe it to be never more due than it is in Dyfed-Powys, in Wales.

For it is there that Police, together with TEN specialist teams and volunteers, have spent the past days searching high and low amongst the Welsh countryside in the most appalling of weather conditions and under the most severe PRESSURE, in an effort to find missing five-year old girl, April Jones.

As I write this, Mark Bridger, a local man known well to the family of the missing girl, has spent five days in custody, being questioned, before finally being charged with the little girl’s abduction and murder, in addition to attempting to pervert the course of justice.

Consequently, because of sub-judice issues, I obviously have to take some care with what I write.

However, I AM willing to ‘suggest’ a few observations and interpretations as to how I feel the case has, thus far, transpired:-

We already know that April was, allegedly, seen getting into a vehicle, belonging  to Bridger. We already know that the police apprehended him very quickly; the day after the girl was reported missing.

We can only make educated guesses as to what might have happened subsequent to that arrest and the charges being made five days later. 

Unquestionably, he would have had legal representation throughout the whole interrogation process, as is his right. ANY solicitor worth his salt would vehemently recommend that his client make ‘NO COMMENT’ responses to any question that might possibly incriminate him.

It is also NOT unreasonable to deduce that whatever answers or information Bridger DID give to the police during his questioning may have been subterfuge, fabrication or just downright lies, given that he is also being charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice.

Whatever he did or didn’t say, was obviously of very little help to the inquiry because the police have spent every waking hour since the girl was reported missing LOOKING for her, alongside very many volunteers who worked tirelessly helping with the search.

After four days into the search, the volunteers were stood down and the search was continued using only specialised teams and groups employing a variety of unique methods.

It is almost certainly one of these teams, probably specialist DOGS trained to detect cadaverine, that have led police to conclude that April is dead.

As I write this, the police and the specialist teams, mountain rescuers, cavers, divers and dog handlers are STILL continuing with their search, along with helicopters and patrol boats.

MANY of those searchers are doing so without pay, expenses or remuneration of any kind, especially the mount ain rescue teams.

Such an emotive and emotionally charged display of dedication and unending spirit, determined to bring some closure, solace and peace to a family and community whose heartache and pain does not bear thinking about.

For which I personally have the utmost and irrevocable admiration for each and every one involved.

And YET..........

Despite my obvious belief in, and support of, the necessary judicial process; I can’t help thinking, almost HOPING and wishing, that some ruthless, thuggish maverick COP......

... were to have TWISTED the suspects arm, firmly behind his back, slamming his head into the interrogation table in the process, forcing him to tell the truth.

Maybe that way, we would know. The whole truth. Without the multi-million pound exercise, the innumerable man-hours, searches, vehicles, dogs, helicopters, boats, mountain rescuers, divers, crews and volunteers.

In all probability it would NOT have saved the little girl. 

But it WOULD have saved her parents and family from such tortuous, sustained anguish, pain and indescribable heartache. 

And for THAT fact alone, I make no apology for wishing that police brutality were alive and well in the admirable and stoic hearts of the men and women of North-West Wales.

Goodnight, godbless, April,  wherever you may be.