When i was young if we were up to no good coppers would come down hard on us, even to the point of giving a few of my mates a beating in an old disused rail car..........they said, ''off to the police station or a clip round the ear ?''
My mates chose clip round the ear that was punches to the face and stomach.........sounds harsh doesn't it, but when i look back at the things we did, petty arson , petrol bombs, offensive weapons, attack holiday makers every summer,extreme vandlism,tieing durex to the coppers cars in the station car park, causing trouble in other towns the odd stabbing, and general nuisance.
They eventually put a curfew on us all and i decided to leave the group as most had started to serve time for violence, usually against coppers, trying to out dare each other.
When i look back now i'm glad the police were tough and i wish they still were, i had a healthy fear of the police that took a long time to fade. I now respect them. My life and a few other mates may have turned for the worst otherwise.
Out of about 15 of us about 9 started to spend time in prison again and again. I find it hard to believe some of the dumb and dangerous things that went on............i have every respect for the police now, knowing how their hands are tied and how they are taunted. Yes some of them are bullies and join for the power, they all look too short to me these days !