This book explores the issues of football-related violence, past and present, on the railway, as well as incidents in stadiums and city-centres during the 2015/16 seasons and at the Euro Games. It includes a number of personal recollections from retired police officers as well as some proposals for change and an academic view-point. Critically the book features a section on sectarianism and racial abuse within the sport – a very topical subject currently. Whilst observers of the game will quite accurately allude to the fact that things are not as bad as the 1970s and 80s it is worth pointing out that football still suffers from problems inflicted on decent lovers of the ‘beautiful game’ by a significant minority. A couple of extracts on racial incidents are included in the post the first of which was in 2007.

Yesterday this book celebrated its 26th review – twenty five of which are five-star reviews. The remaining one comes within the category of what are often described as ‘spoiler’ reviews where someone deliberately puts a negative review on Amazon UK in order to discourage potential readers from looking at it. They are very easy to complete and very hard to get taken off Amazon’s system. We have experienced this on a few occasions before but as writers the only choice really is to develop a ‘thicker skin’ and hope that people see them for what they are.

‘The Night The Owl Cried – A Taste Of Cyprus’ is a true-life story, plus history, culture, places and food between 1965 and 1983 and one hundred images. It will bring back memories for those who have already visited Cyprus and provide a real insight for those thinking of holidaying there or even making it their home. Above all else it is a family story and one of love and hope which shines through even in moments of crisis. https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1549649485/ Feel the warmth of the sunshine as the story unfolds!

A historical crime fiction book which covers the period between 1943 and 2004. The book is set in Birmingham and elsewhere and weaves together factual incidents as well as music and culture into a story involving serious crime and corruption. The book currently has fifty-five very positive reviews and is a big read in both size and story-lines as it spans several decades and other continents. With more deaths than you have fingers this is not a book for those exploring ‘happy endings’ and ‘feel good factors’ but if you want a story that will leave you guessing right up to the end this one will suit you well. Some very powerful characters who have also started to make appearances in other books by the co-authors they are both victims and perpetrators and its not always clear which. One aspect of the book is the use of the titles of songs in each chapter for the year in which the story is set. For those who love music this will drag you back in time. Recently pitched as a potential film script a number of reviewers have recognised some of the ‘Peaky Blinders’ parallels. This was the first fiction book that Mike Layton and Steve Burrows worked on together – they ‘own’ the main characters and identify with some aspects of their personalities – but fortunately not all! By the end of the year they are hoping that this book will form part of a four book set. Most of all this book puts Birmingham at the heart of the story-line. As both authors are ‘Brummies’ it just had to be!

It was a pleasure to support Brewin Publishers yesterday at Touchwood Centre in Solihull for their ‘meet the author’ event. Great to be able to discuss ‘Top Secret Worcestershire’ and other projects with the public and of

course to meet ‘Mr Brummie’ himself – the iconic Carl Chinn.

The last in this latest series. The written content for the latest book is now three-quarters finished and contains some great recollections from retired officers. We are still looking for a few more covering the West Midlands Police and the period 1974 to 1999 – have you got a story that you have always had in your head that could now go into print in a book that will support a very worthy cause. Today’s appeal is a bit of a ‘mixed bag’ so we are looking for memories of the West Midlands Black Police Association being set up in 1997, the Mounted Branch before it was abolished in the late 90s, Underwater Search Unit, any members of Force netball,swimming,basketball, and cross country teams and last but not least some comment on ‘police bars’. Please respond on the post initially and we can sort out contact details – the memories can be as long or short as you like (The picture is just a favourite but signs off for this little series)

Just a few more posts for ‘Reporting For Duty’ to illustrate the areas of research we are interested in. The new book will cover the history of the West Midlands Police from 1974 to 1999. We are still looking for recollections from retired colleagues who have memories of policing during this period. These are just a few of the current chapter headings : ‘The rise of the National Front – 1976’, ‘The Ladywood Riots – 1977’, ‘The Battle of Digbeth –  1978’, ‘The Battle of Cronehills in West Bromwich – 1979’, ‘The Handsworth Riots – 1985’. (The picture features the then PC Derek Rowe in Newton Street, Birmingham, beside the last gas lamp in 1976. Courtesy of the Birmingham Post & Mail who have agreed to allow us to use it as a front cover.)

Mike Layton and Steve Burrows are currently researching a book called ‘Reporting For Duty’ which will chart the history of the West Midlands Police from 1974 to 1999. It will be a historical book but also include recollections from former officers as well as over 100 images. Several successful appeals have been made on the ‘Bostin Books’ website, and Facebook page, and the project has moved at a staggering speed. Within the book will also be listed the names of twenty-four West Midlands Police officers who died on duty, or on their way to commence duty between 1974 and 1999. (The list accords with that compiled for the Force Roll of Honour as found on a Google search for anyone who wants to check). We will be donating 50% of any future royalties from the book to the Police Arboretum Memorial Trust. If anyone has personal memories of any of the officers that they would like to share with us please get in touch and contact arrangements can be sorted out. (The pictures were taken recently in an area known as ‘The Beat’ at the National Memorial Arboretum where ‘fallen’ police officers are remembered – lest we forget)

Research into our latest book has gone at an astonishing speed with more than eighty images collected and recollections obtained or promised from over fifty retired officers in just two months. The book will cover the history of the West Midlands Police from 1974 to 1999 and will be a broad-ranging insight hopefully into as many departments and historical policing events as possible with an emphasis on ‘people’ with the service. In this post I am appealing for recollections and insight into the recruitment of Black and Minority Ethnic staff into WMP over that period. (the pictures shown are

circa 2000 following a visit by a senior Indian Police Officer to H2 OCU)

Today’s offering from our research for the new book ‘Reporting For Duty’ with accounts completed or promised from nearly fifty retired officers who were members of the West Midlands Police between 1974 and 1999 – ‘Between Wednesday 14th March 1984 and March 1985 the West Midlands Police provided officers on mutual aid to Cleveland, Derbyshire, Durham, Humberside, Leicestershire, North Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, South Yorkshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, and West Yorkshire Forces. More than 73,000 days were committed to the dispute during which ninety-two WMP officers were injured.’ Recollections would be welcomed. (photo courtesy of Paul Rainey)