Harold joined the police force in the late 1940's, aged 22 and here informs us how he was unfairly dismissed.

I had on two occasions fallen foul of the authorities, for no particular reason, and I do not know how it started, recalls Harold Taylor.

There was an occasion when on night duty. A discussion started in the canteen regarding one of the constables who was allegedly running around with a woman other than his wife.

I do not know that I got involved, I certainly was not aware of this man's private life. I only overheard the conversation by virtue of being on canteen duty.

Shortly afterwards when on day duty I was in the cloakroom, when I was approached by this constable and he started an argument about discussing his affairs in the canteen. I did not really know what he was getting at.

Apparently another man had given my name as one of those present. He got rather worked up about it, but had to cease when an Inspector walked in. He must have overheard some of the conversation and known something of the circumstances.

Not long afterwards I was invited to the Superintendent's office, and asked to disclose all I knew about this constable's affairs. Not knowing anything, I told him so and as far as I was concerned, there the matter rested.

Later on when on patrol in the Goring area, I was met by the Patrol Sergeant, a man who was not greatly liked. He accompanied me for a far greater period than was usual, and we arrived at the beach, where almost immediately he pointed out to me a bicycle and asked me if it was a particular constables'.

Although I did recognise it, I pleaded ignorance as to what his cycle was like. This would have been the same constable who had passed on the information that got me erroneously involved in the previous affair.

It was generally acknowledged that he was in fact mucking around, and that his marriage was unsatisfactory in some way. I did not intend to get involved, and I had never seen him with anyone else, although I was often aware of his cycle lying about in areas where he could be carrying on a liaison.

These two incidents could in some way I suppose have prejudiced me, when some circumstances led to me being investigated to cover up an incompetence of the CID. I do not know how much, or if Masonic influence was involved in this witch-hunt.

The circumstances were very ordinary in the outset, but a few unfortunate instances got me involved in an innocent affair that turned sour.

The occasion was Goodwood week races. I was on night duty in the town. In fact there were only four patrol officers to cover the whole town.

Just before I went into supper I had come across a girl, or young woman in the Brighton Road, and on questioning her I obtained her name, and the fact that she had no fixed abode, having arrived to take up work.

She had also mentioned something about having been spoken to by the CID. I also found that she had already been in contact with Harry, who had suggested somewhere she could sleep for the night till she got a job the next day and then lodgings.

After supper, I had to take over the front office for the rest of the night. Whilst there and casually thumbing through the Police Gazettes, I came across this girl's name as a person who was wanted for interview. I tried to contact Harry on all of his points but failed.

When I finished my watch I managed to hand over a few minutes early, and cycled to Harry's last point, but he was not there, nor at his home which was nearby. I did wonder whether he had made contact with this girl, as he had expressed the opinion that she might be of easy virtue.

I decided not to do anything about it in case I dropped him into trouble.

The following day was change of duty day and I came on afternoon duty. That afternoon I went to the CID office and asked the Sergeant about this girl, but did not think to mention the fact that she was subject of one of the circulars.

They told me that she had been brought in with a fellow who was arrested, but they had no business with her. As with all these cases I presumed that they knew all about her and did not further any questions, as no doubt they had included her name in the check at Information Room.

I forget now whether it was that night or the next, that when I was on duty seeing the Connaught show out, this girl came along again, and made herself known to me.

During the conversation it came up that I performed the same duty each evening, to which she said she would see me again. However, it was some time later that I saw her. It must have been the next turn of night duty.

In the meantime things took their normal course. One of these was that whilst on patrol I had become accustomed to going to a certain Nursing Home for a cup of tea early mornings, sometimes during the evening and occasionally during the night.

One day the proprietor, a local Councillor, asked me if I knew of anyone looking for work, as they could not get staff for their homes. They had at least two others on the other side of town.

I stated that I did not know of anyone, but recently had come across a person who was looking for work, but I could not vouch for her honesty, as I knew she had been contacted by the police on some matter which I did not know about.

I was asked that if I came in contact with her again, would I pass her on.

It must have been the next time I was on nights that this girl again came and spoke to me and said she would see me Saturday night.

Usually on Saturday nights whilst performing this duty one was accompanied by a policewoman, so previous to going out I went to check if there would be one on duty that night so that I could point her out as one I thought worthy of checking on.

It so happened that there was not a WPC on duty that night, and the girl did not turn up.

She did approach me again, however, when on day duty. During the conversation, it transpired that she was still looking for work, so I gave her the address of this local Councillor.

The next time I went to the Nursing Home I heard that this girl was working for them. She was working on the other side of town and they were very pleased with her. There the matter rested for several weeks till one day I was on afternoon duty.

The Councillor came to me as he was passing, and said, 'Did you know they had arrested Kathy.' I replied that I did not, and he informed me that some money had gone missing from a patient's locker.

They had called in the police, and the girl had been found to be on a wanted list, but they had not charged her with the missing money.

Around this time I had been quite unwell, regularly visiting my doctor and receiving medication that had proved not to be doing me any benefit. I was certainly down, but I would not go as far as to say I was depressed.

Around the time of the arrest, the Superintendent was away on sick leave. Whether this had any effect upon the whole circumstances I do not know, but one thing, I was not approached in any way.

In consequence I thought the whole affair had blown over. After he had returned, however, the local Councillor came to me one day and told me that the CID had been to his house and taken a statement from his wife to the effect that she had employed this person on my recommendation.

I pointed out that that was incorrect. He later approached me and told me that his wife had retracted the statement she had made to the CID.

During the next period of night duty, I had occasion to visit the CID offices, and whilst there decided to see if I could find anything about the case against me. Looking in the Inspector's mail basket I saw the file, which only really had the statement from the Councillor's wife.

There was no admission from the girl that I was in any way instrumental in her acquiring the job, in fact only a brief acknowledgement that we had met. So I felt quite safe.

When the Superintendent returned to work however, I was brought before him to answer the charge that by recommending this person for work, 'my conduct was likely to bring discredit to the Police'. This I of course denied, and insisted that I had not recommended this person.

On being further questioned I admitted to knowing of her presence, and that she had been circulated as having been wanted for interview. Also to the fact that I had questioned Det. Sgt. Matthews about the girl and been told that she had been seen at the time of Calver's arrest, and released.

Here I made my mistake, and it might have been the result of the unknown illness I was suffering from. I did not realise my mistake until a dream about 18 months later.

Of course Matthews was interviewed and denied the circumstances, but at that time I did not realise I had made a mistake. Neither did I know that until I had mentioned it CID was still not aware that this girl had been on circulation for about two months.

This really put them in a hole and they had to cover up their incompetence. For Dai, the local CID chief could never be a party to his department's inefficiency. I had already caused several lots of bad feeling between Dai and myself over various things.

The outcome of the previous interview was that in addition to the charges already made were added, 'falsehood' and 'failing to report a matter I should have reported', which was an outcome of the previous offence.

During the time all this was going on, I was still suffering the symptoms of whatever illness it was, I had. The doctor had got so concerned he decided to take a blood test. In the meantime, powers that be decided that I should be proceeded against.

I have felt ever since, that not only was this a face saving operation, but also something a little deeper, which I shall call the 'Brotherhood' influence. The affair seemed to be brushed over by Chief Inspector Sharp, in charge whilst the Super. was sick.

Dai was obviously emphatic that it should go ahead, and caused it to be resumed.

There was also another influence and that was the Deputy Chief Constable, whose name continually cropped up as pressing for this case to be brought.

The only way I could have offended this man was by being who I was, and that almost went back to before the war. It had indirect connotations through his wife, who was the sister to a girl who had been the girlfriend and fiancée of a certain Det. Sgt., who was thrown over in favour of my half sister. I know it rankled with this girl for many years afterwards.

By the time all facilities for action to take place were ready, my doctor had put me on the sick list.

When I received notice of the hearing, I did wonder whether any of my trouble was in fact caused by an anxiety state, so when asked if I was prepared to attend the hearing whilst on sick leave I stated that I would do so.

There were several unusual things took place following my last. One of these was that I had resumed my beat directly afterwards and shortly after doing so was met at a conference point by my Section Sgt. who was considered to be a 'union' orientated man.

He said straight away, ' I understand from the Superintendent that you might like to speak to me.' I said, 'I suppose he has told you what about.', which he affirmed, which was totally out of order.

I told him that it was my intention to use a Deputy Commander from the Met's for my defence and had already consulted him on his willingness. I was encouraged not to let the incident go outside the force, so eventually elected to use him for my defence.

However, as it later transpired, I think it was clear that he was in fact sitting on the fence with both legs in their court.

Another very odd incident took place. I had become friendly with a Welshman, who incidentally came from the same area as the Det. Insp.

It might be more than coincidence, however, that they had their sons christened with the same Christian name, and the man was very anxious to get on. The Insp. was also proud of it.

On the day I was told they were going ahead with the discipline action I left the station and visited this man's house, which was on my beat.

I told him that I was having a little difficulty over a subject and asked him that if he heard about it, not to say anything. Now, so many years later I forget why that was. He agreed not to, but this is where the strange incident occurred.

He was on leave at the time, and as I talked to him over a cup of tea, the phone went and he was requested to go into the Police Station, for what matter, he did not know?

The strange outcome was that he was offered a transfer to Bognor Regis as Detective Constable and he was gone within the. He was called as a witness.

When it became common knowledge I was in trouble, two constables were overheard talking by Sergeant Gape, who had recently been promoted from Det. Con.

He in turn reported this conversation to the Det. Insp. who had these chaps as witnesses to the most ridiculous set of circumstances imaginable, which of course I did not know about till the hearing.

This was to effect that I had been seen talking to a woman in a bus queue, who was not my wife. The contention of the prosecution was to the effect that I was having an affair with the woman.

The circumstances that these constables were reporting on, was when my wife and I had been unable to get a baby sitter and we had both wanted to see a film that was on at the Rivoli Cinema. However, we decided to go independently on successive nights.

The night I went I did in fact stand in the booking office queue with the wife of a local Inspector Thomas.

In the cinema I did not sit with her nor from what I recall even close to her. When the show was over I caught a bus outside the cinema, and off hand I do not remember if she was in the bus queue or not, but I do remember the two constables walking down the road together, and speaking to them as they passed.

I was disgusted at the manner in which the hearing was held. It held no resemblance to that of an ordinary court case, as regulations said it should, and I was allowed almost no say or objection.

What annoyed me most of all was when I found out that they were not bringing the girl herself to give evidence. No wonder before we went in the Det. Superintendent Alan Hoare and Det. Chief Inspector Bill Lester said as they passed us, 'Do your best for him Jack, he's the best ambassador this force has got.'

I was sentenced to be dismissed and although allowed to go home in uniform, the next day they were round to collect it.

The following day I was called to the doctors surgery and told that the blood test showed I was suffering from Glandular Fever, and I was instructed that I must discontinue work for at least twelve weeks.

The doctor told me that one of the symptoms of the disease was that one was likely to do things totally out of character, and it sometimes caused temporary mental disorder.

Despite that, once I had received my 'sentence' I was in some ways a changed man, for the relief of the pressure of being a policeman removed untold weights from my shoulders.

As I have said, I consider that the whole hearing was unconventional and predetermined before the event. I did appeal against the findings, which were reduced, to 'Required to resign' by the then Home Secretary, which still made me unemployable by another force.

The Police Federation was only prepared to fight the case with the intention to discredit the Chief Constable, but not with a view to my reinstatement.

With this as their only aim I conducted the case myself to the Home Office. Although it was a sad wrench, in some ways I have not done too badly out of it. I might have done better of course had I remained in, but with a cloud hanging over me, it was never likely to be a brilliant career.

Following my leaving the police I was of course keen to find fresh employment, but was still on the sick list, which hampered me a lot, but some old friends came up trumps. I wrote away for jobs, but there was a recession and jobs were few.

I applied for the Rhodesian Copper Mines, but I think that was a non-starter because I was married. I applied to Trinity House, and had an interview and medical.

Paul Delauney came up trumps. He referred me to a friend, who was building a new factory in Brougham Road. I went to see him and although I had no specific skills he needed, he was willing to offer me the job of caretaker/gardener and general factotum once the factory opened.

Unfortunately he came along and told me that the factory opening date had been advanced 14 days, and could I start on Monday. I went to see my doctor who refused to sign me off the sick list.

During this period and for the next few years I was given considerable help by John B, who came to me concerning housing, but on each occasion, either I could not afford it, or I could not afford to put the houses in order.

When I came out of the Police, I was only on about £3 per week sick pay. I had received a lump sum, my pension contributions of £180 and I was considering cashing in my life endowment policy despite great loss, but it would yield about £100 towards subsequently providing a home for my family.

Eventually I came off the sick. It was post-dated for me to be eligible for work after Christmas. At that time I had no prospect of a job, and had heard nothing further from Trinity House. I therefore wrote to them and had a reply telling me to report for duty on 31st December.

Harold Taylor, West Sussex, 2001