Rotating Bosoms
Lizzie was a large lady standing at about 5’ 10” (178 cm) tall and quite stout, she was amiable enough whether as a shoplifter or a prostitute, when it suited her. She was never difficult to deal with and if you were fair with her she was quite amenable.
Some bright spark in the pink cloud (Police Headquarters) factory had decided that civilian volunteers should visit the police cells without warning to make sure that people locked up were not being beaten, tortured and hidden away from the public eye.
Cell Visitors
Towards the end of the second watch one winter evening, I guess it must have been about 8:30 pm. A small group of these cell visitors arrived as I was busy with another person. They enquired of the charge office sergeant to visit the cells and speak with any prisoners. Big Lizzie was in one cell having been arrested for prostitution, she was snoozing while waiting to be charged and released on bail or go to court.
The visitors, one quite elderly male and three upright elderly ladies asked to speak to Lizzie away from the cell. Having been told they were checking on her welfare she agreed to see them.
In the charge office, Lizzie stood there, larger than life, and compared to the visitors she was a good deal bigger.
While being asked by one elderly lady, “Are you being treated properly, my dear?”, someone else said; “Any complaints my love?”
Lizzie didn’t answer them she stared; then she lifted her top and swung her naked breasts around in circles saying; “Well what do you think of ‘them’ then?” That was her answer to nosey do-gooders.
The shock was more than they could stand, they quickly turned away and left. I don’t know whether they got over that sight. Certainly, I never saw many cell visitors after that.
Lizzie collapsed.
Lizzie would try almost anything on a young police officer male or female, she wasn’t difficult but what I would describe as business-like. She broke the law and we had of necessity to administer the law, that was it.
She was arrested for shoplifting and the raw young police officer decided to place Lizzie in handcuffs all official-like. So many times we didn’t use handcuffs because it wasn’t necessary, especially with regulars.
Lizzie decided to throw a wobbler (as we called it). Taken to the car for transporting to the lock-up she decided to collapse on the floor rather than go in the car in cuffs. She didn’t say anything or make a fuss, she just carried out an award-winning performance
Lying on the floor Lizzie would not respond to any stimulus, being shaken, having the lobes of her ears pinched, she lay as still as death itself.
The Ambulance was sent for, she was examined and picked up, with the help of us stronger Bobbies and placed on the ambulance gurney. As Lizzie was being loaded into the vehicle she opened her eyes wide and gave me a big wink and promptly lay still again.
The arresting officer had to go to the hospital and remain with Lizzie until all manner of tests had been carried out and she was declared fit enough for detention. The young officer was at work for 8 hours and several hours longer with the hospital and more to process her prisoner. Lizzie’s offhand comment to the new constable sometime afterwards; “That’ll teach you to cuff me!”
Detective Sergeant Wizzy Briefcase
The vice squad was led by an older Sergeant from the CID. He was promoted away from the station and a really keen newly promoted Sergeant was given the post. He wanted to make his mark and decided that he could build a case for ‘his’ unit cracking a vice gang. Sadly, he roped Lizzie in and was going to make her a key part of his enquiry. Lizzie. Shoplifted with no one, nor was she a part of a team or gang as a ‘brass!”
Having been arrested one evening Lizzie was retained in custody to answer a ‘failure to appear’ Court Warrant.
The following morning, the detective sergeant wanted to interview Lizzie to see if he could get other names for prostitutes or handlers (Pimps). He took her to an interview room and after speaking for over 20 minutes and getting nowhere Lizzie wanted to pee. This sergeant wanted to pressure her into giving him some kind of incriminating details. Thinking that she would find the pressure of a full bladder some kind of an inducement, he made an excuse to leave her alone in the interview room while went to make “further enquiries”.
Lizzie must pee in any case!
Lizzie, alone in the interview room bursting for a pee saw the sergeant, hand stitched bright, shiny, tan-coloured all-new leather briefcase. She quickly went to pee in it and closed the clasp.
The interview was soon ended without success because the DS was due in court on another matter so, with his new, posh briefcase containing his court papers and a surprise, off he went. The case had to be adjourned after soggy papers were discovered.
I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall in the courtroom when the DS pulled open his briefcase and delved into it only to find all of his papers covered in Lizzie’s pee.
Lizzie made a complaint.
Lizzie complained to the desk sergeant about not being allowed to use the toilet during the interview, as it wasn’t recorded in the register that she had been interviewed. So a complaint was lodged, and events unfolded, it soon became clear what had happened.
His court case had to be adjourned, and the magistrate made a ‘recommendation’. DS was later questioned about leaving papers alone in a room with a defendant, the ad hoc interview of a prisoner waiting to go to court, and not allowing a prisoner access to basic facilities.
‘Detective Sergeant Wizzy’ and his briefcase were very quickly transferred to another station and department after a severe reprimand. His reputation, of course, preceded him regarding his wissing, wet court papers.