Blog
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Special Constables
I’ve had a couple of friends asking me about my role as a Special Constable, so this may be of interest. Special Constables – A Quick History The Statute of Winchester (1285) was the first known legislation that created part-time Parish Constables (Sussex term: ‘Bozzlers’) from the local community to keep the law. In 1673…
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Reviews and Self-Promotion
I appreciate the time people take to write views of my books. Reviews are very important for writers, not just for vanity, but they help others gauge if it is a book they may want to read, and they help promote the book on Amazon. Entrepreneurs Self-publishing isn’t just about writing the story. Much of…
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Police Procedure In Fiction – As Seen on TV
Suspending Disbelief Writing crime fiction is a balancing act. We have to keep the reader gripped with fast-moving, gripping action keeping within a framework of believable police procedure. A large proportion of police work is dull in real life. For instance, we rarely see on TV the hours of ‘paperwork’ that need to be done…
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Police Terms Glossary
These are a few notes explaining police terms and abbreviations found in my books, often used by police officers. ABH Actual Bodily Harm. Assault causing a physical injury. ANPR – Automatic Number Plate Recognition. Either fixed or mobile cameras that pick up and record the number plates of passing vehicles and look them up on…
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Chichester Cathedral
Chichester Cathedral is an important setting in Chasing Shadows. Angelis takes himself here when he is troubled and often sees things here he cannot easily explain. Also, the cathedral is where he learns something about a significant event that turned his life around two years previously. Chichester Cathedral – over 900 Years of History The…
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Scenes in Chasing Shadows – Bosham
Bosham is a village on the south coast, a few miles west of Chichester. Locally we call it Old Bosham. The New Bosham (officially Broadbridge) is on the north side of the A259 roundabout. The Quay dates around Roman times, when it was, along with Fishbourne, an important local port. According to legend, the 11th-century…
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Scenes in Chasing Shadows – Brandy Hole Copse
One of my favourite dog walking places is Brandy Hole Copse, a local nature reserve off Brandy Hole Lane in Chichester. You can find it on Broyle Road when heading towards Funtington from Chichester, down Brandy Hole Lane. Chichester District Council own the copse, and it is a scheduled monument, meaning it is of particular…
