local paper lives on the Harchester Hill Estate. So the break-ins on the estate are all over the front page this week.’ She spoke with reserved anger. ‘Now there’s been a second fatality. We need to step up the pressure. I’ve requested more uniform to help with the door to door, and additional clerical staff to cover the phones. We can expect more calls.’ She brandished a newspaper above her head. ‘You’ve all seen this? This morning’s Harchester Herald.’
LOCAL GANG MURDER TWICE
On Thursday night a woman was murdered in her own home on the Harchester Hill Estate by a gang of burglars who are terrorising the area.
RESIDENTS PROTECT THEMSELVES
Police are advising residents to increase their home security. Detective Inspector Leslie Bennett said: ‘We are advising residents to take common sense precautions to protect their property. We are following several lines of enquiry which we expect to lead to arrests very soon.’
GANG TRIGGER GAS EXPLOSION
A local resident died in a blaze at his home in Harchester Hill in the early hours of Saturday morning.
EXPLOSION
The fire was caused by a gas explosion. The area around the fire was evacuated until late yesterday afternoon, but has now been declared safe.
BURGLARS
A police spokesman has confirmed that a gang of burglars broke into the house during the night. Police suspect they were responsible for leaving the gas on. Was this, as seems likely, the same gang that killed Evelyn Green? Detective Inspector Leslie Bennett said: ‘We are asking members of the public to help us identify the members of this dangerous gang. Any information, however small, may be vital to our investigation so please come forward if you can help.’
SAFETY MEASURES
‘We want to reassure the public that gas poses a danger only when it leaks over a period of several hours,’ a spokesman for the Fire Investigation Team said. ‘Under normal circumstances, the domestic gas supply is perfectly safe. But this tragic event emphasises the need for care within the home. Gas must be properly switched off when not in use. A suspected leak should be reported immediately.’
The DCI glared round the room, but she spoke quietly. ‘The local paper is agitating for an arrest but, as we all know, these investigations take time. I’m confident you’re being vigilant and thorough. But we have to be seen to be doing everything possible to reach a quick result. Until this case is over, all leave is cancelled. We can anticipate interesting headlines in next week’s paper.’ She tossed an irate glance in Bennett’s direction. Out of the corner of her eye Geraldine could see the top of the old detective’s lowered white head. All this action on his patch was unfortunate timing for him, just as he was winding down for retirement.
‘Who cares, what the papers say?’ Polly asked.
The DCI frowned. ‘It’s a question of public confidence,’ she answered, surprisingly gently. ‘Our best source of information is going to be the people who know these villains, the people who live with them. They don’t exist in a vacuum. The less confidence the public have in us, the less likely they are to come forward. So far we haven’t been able to find out who they are. They’re building a reputation as invincible among their associates, their neighbours, their family members. People around them may well be scared of them, or regard them as heroes.’ She paused. ‘We can’t afford to be dismissed as impotent. We need to flip that around. Once it seems inevitable they’re going to be caught, there’s less incentive for those around them to conceal theiridentity. That’s the message we need to send out. And the local paper isn’t helping.’
‘Why don’t we get the paper on our side?’ another young constable asked. ‘At least tell them what to say, even if they don’t agree.’
Kathryn Gordon frowned again. ‘Because despite what some of the media suggest, we don’t live in a police state, and we do
LOCAL GANG MURDER TWICE
On Thursday night a woman was murdered in her own home on the Harchester Hill Estate by a gang of burglars who are terrorising the area.
RESIDENTS PROTECT THEMSELVES
Police are advising residents to increase their home security. Detective Inspector Leslie Bennett said: ‘We are advising residents to take common sense precautions to protect their property. We are following several lines of enquiry which we expect to lead to arrests very soon.’
GANG TRIGGER GAS EXPLOSION
A local resident died in a blaze at his home in Harchester Hill in the early hours of Saturday morning.
EXPLOSION
The fire was caused by a gas explosion. The area around the fire was evacuated until late yesterday afternoon, but has now been declared safe.
BURGLARS
A police spokesman has confirmed that a gang of burglars broke into the house during the night. Police suspect they were responsible for leaving the gas on. Was this, as seems likely, the same gang that killed Evelyn Green? Detective Inspector Leslie Bennett said: ‘We are asking members of the public to help us identify the members of this dangerous gang. Any information, however small, may be vital to our investigation so please come forward if you can help.’
SAFETY MEASURES
‘We want to reassure the public that gas poses a danger only when it leaks over a period of several hours,’ a spokesman for the Fire Investigation Team said. ‘Under normal circumstances, the domestic gas supply is perfectly safe. But this tragic event emphasises the need for care within the home. Gas must be properly switched off when not in use. A suspected leak should be reported immediately.’
The DCI glared round the room, but she spoke quietly. ‘The local paper is agitating for an arrest but, as we all know, these investigations take time. I’m confident you’re being vigilant and thorough. But we have to be seen to be doing everything possible to reach a quick result. Until this case is over, all leave is cancelled. We can anticipate interesting headlines in next week’s paper.’ She tossed an irate glance in Bennett’s direction. Out of the corner of her eye Geraldine could see the top of the old detective’s lowered white head. All this action on his patch was unfortunate timing for him, just as he was winding down for retirement.
‘Who cares, what the papers say?’ Polly asked.
The DCI frowned. ‘It’s a question of public confidence,’ she answered, surprisingly gently. ‘Our best source of information is going to be the people who know these villains, the people who live with them. They don’t exist in a vacuum. The less confidence the public have in us, the less likely they are to come forward. So far we haven’t been able to find out who they are. They’re building a reputation as invincible among their associates, their neighbours, their family members. People around them may well be scared of them, or regard them as heroes.’ She paused. ‘We can’t afford to be dismissed as impotent. We need to flip that around. Once it seems inevitable they’re going to be caught, there’s less incentive for those around them to conceal theiridentity. That’s the message we need to send out. And the local paper isn’t helping.’
‘Why don’t we get the paper on our side?’ another young constable asked. ‘At least tell them what to say, even if they don’t agree.’
Kathryn Gordon frowned again. ‘Because despite what some of the media suggest, we don’t live in a police state, and we do
Similar Books
