Derrick Bird

I was on duty when the incident was ongoing and there were a fair few armed officer watching Sky News in the nick waiting for further updates. The media seemed to hold the police accountable very quickly even before it was known that Mr Bird had taken his own life.

What the media can't seem to deal with is that he was a NORMAL bloke. Well, as normal as the next man and he happened to be a firearms holder. He wasn't a psycho mentalist in his spare time and didn't ear living creatures as per the Crossbow Killer chap - there's no story. As to why he had a breakdown, it doesn't really matter does it? He lost it and in his rage picked up a couple of weapons and decided to do the unthinkable.

As far as for the police response I can't see any other force reacting differently, or for that matter any quicker. In the more remote parts of the county I work in I could see a madman having a good twenty minutes before police arrived - and that's with the suspect remaining where he is!! With a moving target and no ANPR it must have been a nightmare you literally are waiting for the public to inform you and react accordingly, in other words waiting for another shooting and trying to get there before they leave.

A horrid and tragic tale and certainly one that no-one could have predicted. Our thoughts should be with the families of the victims and not looking for a public funded scapegoat as to Derrick's actions.