The Coppers' Lot

What an eye opener. My respect for the police service now runs deeper and I don’t think I could take enough hats off to these folks. We only tend to see the Bobby on the Beat, the front they put on to the world but we aren’t privy to what goes on behind closed doors or within the personal demons that plague the coppers lives. This book gave them a voice.

It was a heavy hitting and heavy read, but in incredibly important ways. I don’t think anyone should struggle silently and with the majority of the public unaware (definitely me) for how hard life can be and the often relentless and (not always necessary…) struggles the police are faced with, this book was great.

My heart honestly goes out and I’m so glad I’ve read this book. The next officer strutting the street, I will have a new found respect for. You don’t always know what goes on behind the scenes, and with suicide amongst the police a constant struggle, you can almost understand why after reading this. I know these are just a handful of select stories showing some of the awful treatments of officers but still that it exists and the lack of support was just mind blowing.

It was an incredible insight and written superbly. It does come with trigger warnings though, for alcoholism, suicidal thoughts & suicide, self harm, upsetting treatment and the difficult cases that were shared throughout the book, so make sure you’re in the right frame of mind or strong enough to absorb some of these extremely well written and hard shared stories.

It’s not a read I regret and one that I think is incredibly important, in providing your own time and understanding to these officers who have given us so much in providing their time in keeping the world a little safer for us all.

The Coppers’ Lot

Firstly, I would like to thank Net Galley for providing me with a free copy in exchange for my honest review. As always, it is very much appreciated.

The first thing that hit me when reading this book was the lack of mental health support that is provided as a member of the police force, it is appalling. The stigma around mental health and PTSD also plays a huge roll in this book, I for one am a huge advocate for the need for more mental health awareness in the workplace and this book proves my point exactly. Although reading about the UK police while living in Australia, I don’t doubt that these are issues faced by police and emergency services members all around the globe.

I really enjoyed this book, though heartbreaking it was equally heartwarming, though appalling it was equally fascinating.

This book is heavily detailed but it needs to be, I found myself relived when I read a quote from a former police officer because it meant that they left the job with their life but at the same time, leaving their job with their life didn’t necessarily mean that they were unscathed but rather wracked with nightmares and trauma for the rest of their lives.

The conclusion outlined the difficulties the police force face with cutbacks and a lack of wage rises, I think politicians and decision makers would benefit for a long hard look at themselves and a read of this book because it begs the question ‘Who is protecting those that put their life on the line and choose to protect us?’


*As always, this review and others can be found on Instagram at @turningpagesmm’

It is not often I complete a review so quickly after reading this book.

It is heavy, detailed and an uncompromising descriptions of various policemen and policewomen who undertake their jobs in very tough circumstances. Various chapters feature one or two officers and how they deal with mainly violent criminals. The whole book makes me very SAD.

Apart from the reduction of budgets, I am always wary that throwing money at policing means more managers?

I also need to know who comes up with such lenient court sentences - some mentioned in the book are frankly scandalous?

Great book and mandatory reading for politicians as a minimum.

Thanks to Net Galley and Matador for the chance to read and review.

An eye-opening look at policing in the UK and what some officers endure regularly on the job. Some tragic stories from police officers that are heartbreaking. I've always enjoyed reading about law enforcement stories from Great Britain but this is another side to it. Lack of support, lousy pay, and low numbers are only part of the problem.

"The Copper's Lot" by Rob Hindley offers a riveting and insightful look into the daily life of a police officer in modern Britain. The book is packed with incredible true stories that take readers on a rollercoaster ride through the highs and lows of policing.

Hindley's writing is engaging, descriptive, and powerful, giving readers a front-row seat to the action and emotions of police officers on the job. He doesn't shy away from the gritty realities of the job, but also highlights the moments of compassion, bravery, and teamwork that make policing such a rewarding profession.

What sets "The Copper's Lot" apart is its honest and authentic portrayal of policing. Hindley doesn't sugarcoat the challenges or the mistakes that officers make, but also celebrates the triumphs and the impact that they have on the community.

Overall, "The Copper's Lot" is a must-read for anyone interested in law enforcement, or those simply looking for a gripping and inspiring read. Hindley's writing is top-notch, and his stories will leave readers with a deep appreciation for the work that police officers do to keep our communities safe.

My thanks to NetGalley and Matador publishing for a copy of “ The Coppers lot”; for an honest review.

I must admit from the title I’d originally thought this might be lighter read than it was.Instead it was an in-depth,thought provoking , and hard hitting book to read .I think at times when the police are getting headlines about corruption and problems within the force, it’s important to know just how many decent and brave officers are working on our behalf
Well worth a read

The Copper’s Lot is a relentlessly downbeat examination of the traumas and indignities suffered by line police in the UK. It jumps from PTSD cases, to death and injury in the line of duty, to misogyny and bullying, to victimization by senior officers and civilian oversight authorities. While the author states that policing is rewarding, it doesn’t appear to be. I found some of the acceptance of the various interviewees’ assertions a bit credulous; negative assertions are taken at face value and there is no attempt at balance. I had hoped for a book like James McClure’s Cop World or Spike Island, but felt like I got a polemic against the institution of British policing. Leavening the negative with some upbeat - or even neutral - accounts would have been more effective. Thanks to NetGalley and Picador for making an ARC available.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.
Police have a very tough job and I highly respect those who choose this as their career. This book really shows how a lot of police aren't supported mentally, as repeated exposure to trauma can really take a toll on everyone's mind and body. Even though this is based in the UK, there are similarities in the US police force.
This is an important book to read and shows that there needs to be a lot more help for mental health and reduction of the stigma of needing professional support.

A fairly short and quick read although that does not equate to ‘easy read’
The best way to describe this book is it has chapters based on a specific Police Officers experiences, basically what happened to them ( including an Officers experience of a London Terrorism atrocity to Nationwide known cases of the Officer being killed in the line of duty ) and in essence is horrific to read, more so as you are introduced to them via a short biography of their life up until they joined the Force and why they had joined and what they wanted to achieve, the alternate chapters then look at the main cause of concern from that Officers story and how basically the Police are let down on many if not all employment rights especially focusing on the lack of mental health resources and also the sheer workload these Officers do
It does not shy away from the Officers who bring shame to the Force and their colleagues and admits things go badly wrong sometimes but the main thing I came away with from the book is that this is a thankless job, riddled with pitfalls and danger and that there is much to do to help and retain after training and when things do go wrong help the Officers
Fascinating, compelling, sad and eye opening

A a criminal defence solicitor I am always on the other side of this and so it was really insightful to read and understand the life of a police office. A very interesting read.

Gripping and filled with detail

This is an extremely powerful book by Rob Hindley and is an excellent in-depth review of real-life experiences faced by Police Officers in the UK. The book tells of the challenges that police officers endure daily as they try to protect us from the inhumanity that some people are capable off with extraordinarily little or no remorse for their victims or their families.

Police have a very tough job and I highly respect those who choose this as their career, but you will read some tragic stories from police officers that are heart-breaking as they are subjected daily to truly shocking crimes and are repeatedly exposed to trauma daily.

This book provides an authentic and eye-opening account discussing the lack of support that the police get for mental health issues due to what some officers endure regularly on the job. The book really shows how a lot of police are not supported mentally, and it is proven that repeated exposure to trauma can really take a toll on both their mind and body. The failure to support the police and the lack of sympathy shown by some supervising officers is disgusting.

I have always really enjoyed reading books about law enforcement stories from Great Britain and the bravery of the Police in their duties often goes unreported or appreciated by the public across the country. Sadly, this book is the side the public do not hear, and I was shocked to read each story as it unfolded and how little help and understanding there is for the people who have sacrificed so much whilst protecting and serving their communities.  Believe me, this book will not disappoint if you are a fan of true crime. Thanks to NetGalley and to the publishers of this book for giving me a free advance copy of the book to preview and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

If you’re expecting a light easy read and a quick glance at an officers service…. this isn’t the book for you.
What you get here is a gritty, eye opening walk through his experiences. It’s raw, honest and well written.

This is a profoundly disturbing look at policing in the UK today. Looking in detail at just a handful of cases the author provides a vivid picture of dedicated men and women worn down by the demands of the job. Individual officers find themselves in life threatening ordeals again and again, dealing with drugs, alcohol, arson, abuse, and murder, and violence is never far away.
Turn on any news channel, at any time of day, and one sees the eruptions of violence across our troubled world but this book still shocked and appalled me with glimpses of the terrifying level of crime in the UK. The individual stories in this book are told with compassion and integrity and deserve a wide readership.

Thanks must first go to Netgalley, the publisher and Rob Hindley for the ARC of ‘The Coppers’ Lot’.

From someone who serves in team green, we see you team blue. A difficult but necessary read to gain important insight into policing & the people behind the uniform!

Would highly recommend it’s read by all before making judgements or comments.

This book was a totally engrossing read. I loved the layout and the brutal honesty of it.

I never knew that the mental health of officers in this country was so poorly regarded. When many of your workforce feel the need to consume alcohol to ease stress, that is actually frightening. I will forever now have a profound respect for the work that they do. It also saddened me that in the twenty first century that we treat our law enforcement so badly.

Then add to this that (with some personal experience) that pay is even an issue. It should be treated as a high paid, high risk job not how the writer has described, which is a low paid manual workers rate.

Well done for bringing it to the public and thank you.

The book got me and my partner into quite deep debates as to why so little has been done for the police force by consecutive governments over the years, and to the realization that this is just the sort of book that older children should also read in school as well as the general public.

thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for this riveting true account of cops' lives in England.. Excellent book of this type (factual accounts of the sometimes boring, sometimes unbearably gritty life of modern police officers. I knew about the bureaucracy inherent in the job, as I have seen it first-hand; it is what prompted me to become a PI, rather than fulfilling a deeply rooted desire to be a cop myself.

Well done book of a glimpse into the pressures and stress that can come with wearing a badge, as well of some of the honor and pride...

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

WOW!!! What can I say about this book??!! I really enjoyed The Coppers' Lot by Rob Hindley, it is such an eye opener.

It really made me think about what the Police do, day in and day out to protect us, but who actually protects them, definitely not their line management. I didn't know the stigma about mental health in the Police force as well - they should be ashamed of themselves.

Its not very often that books make me cry and frustrated, but this one definitely did - well done Rob for writing this so open and honestly.

A well-written book on work of the police officers - both men and women -in modern Britain.
Compelling and eye opening read.

Thank you to Rob Hindley, Matador and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Each chapter of this book details the life and experiences of different police personnel in their respective roles. It was an eye opening and scary read and not one I can say I enjoyed (I found it upsetting) although it was utterly gripping. I enjoy watching fly on the wall documentaries about the police but they must fluff it up for the tv because this book was hard hitting and not for the faint hearted.

I've no idea why I requested this book as I have first hand experience of this profession.

It's good though to know that there are people out there who want to read some of the things that the British Bobby deals with on a daily basis.

Hopefully, this will be difficult for some to read and they will then give us more of a break.
Highly recommended.

Read and reviewed in exchange for a free copy from NetGalley. I have mixed feelings about this book. It was a challenging and hard-hitting read, and very interesting. It really presented policing in a different way than many police memoirs do, and I think telling these stories is very important. However, certain attitudes presented by the author made me uncomfortable, and the graphic descriptions of self harm and suicide attempts felt a bit gratuitous. That said, it was a very worthwhile read.

A compelling read an eye opening look at the life of a copper in the uk.The book reveals the dark gritty tough side of this profession.Eye opening fascinating read.#netgalley #thecopperslot

This gives a no holes barred view of policing in the uk . I love the fact it uses real life case studies to highlight the truth. It gives a human element to what has always been a tough sensitive subject.
This really made me thing. It wasn't too long and not full of too many statistics.
Highly recommended

I always enjoy reading books from real life perspectives and have always had an interest in policing (I wanted to be a police officer throughout my childhood). I really liked reading the true stories from the perspective of the author and the book has a real human element to it that can sometimes be missing from books like this. I would recommend if true life experiences are of interest to you!

In a world where we seem to be bombarded by stories in the media about the dreadful actions of some on the police force, Rob Hindley gives us a look at the other side of the coin. He tells the true stories of a number of officers who have had dreadful experiences whilst on the job & the lack of support for the toll that has taken on their minds & bodies. It was a hard read & my heart went out to these dedicated people who have had to walk away from a job they brought so much to.

Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this thought provoking book.