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

"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.

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.

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

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 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.

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.