Hi.  I'm planning on creating a UK police drama, set in the north of England if possible, and have asked my local force if I could visit the specific unit I intend writing about for a better idea of how it operates.  I only got as far as the Press Office who have not been helpful at all.

But anyway, I will keep trying as I believe in the idea, the more I think about it,.  Anyone on here have experience with getting help with material from the police, US or UK?

No one knows me on here yet, and I know you all even LESS of course, but the idea is at a very early stage so if anyone wants to think of collaboration, please don't be shy in PMing me, I will keep it in confidence as I'm keeping the idea close to my own chest too for now.  Hope that doesn't sound too 'mysterious', it isn't intended to!.  

Quoted from One Northern Soul Hi.  I'm planning on creating a UK police drama, set in the north of England if possible, and have asked my local force if I could visit the specific unit I intend writing about for a better idea of how it operates.  I only got as far as the Press Office who have not been helpful at all.

I have a friend who's a cop at a local municipality. I've been on two "ride alongs" with him. Don't know the rules in the UK, but here, from that I gather, The cops are obligated to honor requests like this.

They were pretty boring tho, couple of speeding tickets and a chase through a Wal-mart for a shop-lifter - we never caught him or her.

James

Hi J -

Really?  Cops in your area have to take ridealongs on request?  Hate to think what would happen here, if we asked to ride in a Bronx cop car...  :)

Hey ONS,

My best friend has been with the Ohio State Patrol for about ten years now and he's always glad to help me with any police scenarios I ask him about.  I've never asked him to go on any ride alongs.  And I'm not positive on this, but I think they're obligated to do ridealongs with those who are in class for law enforcement.  I think any other requests is their own decision whether they want to or not.  Don't quote me on that, though.

I also have an ex-girlfriend (who I'm still on good terms with) who's on the force here in Youngstown.  She's been a big help with some legalities.

What the hell, two very close friends who are cops and I still get in trouble for shit?  That ain't right.  :-)

- Mark

It's a liability problem for most departments...


Phil

Thanks all, very interesting replies.

It's not a ride along' that I'd like, it's more looking at the workings of a specific department which deals with a specific 'underground' sample' of English society, who are mainly young men.   I suppose easy comparison can be made with The Wire and the special unit involved in that, though this is in England and not as serious an organized crimie set-up as in The Wire.

I asked the Press Office of our local county force and they said it was highly unlikely they would even take my request further as they did not want to be seen as promoting crime, the guy also asked 'what positives were in it for the police force?' which I just thought was rather dim and shitty of him - as if he was ignoring the millions of police dramas, films, documentaries already made.  

Oh rc117, I think you must be doing your s*** too obviously then :lol:

You're better off striking up a conversation with a cop out on the beat (obviously not in the middle of an arrest), unless you call and say you're from the BBC you'll probably be ignored.

Yeah in the U.S every citizen is entitled to at least one ride-long in their life, it's the strangest law there is.