Gerry Warren

Jerry Powell can recall crime stretching back 50 years, from grappling with Mods and Rockers to delivering justice as a magistrate. As he prepares to retire from the bench, he tells about his experience of both sides

were still driving pigs and cattle up the High Street to the market. It all sounds very different from today’s policing. It was and I was very lucky to have been in the job at that time and I look back on those days with great fondness and pleasure. Policemen were considered figures of authority and treated with respect by the public, which sadly is not

always the case now. How did your career develop? I rose though the ranks to be an inspector based at Canterbury, a chief inspector then a detective chief inspector at force headquarters. I was superintendent in charge of Herne Bay and Margate and then at headquarters when I retired aged 51, having been a policeman for nearly 35 years. But by then the job had changed massively and I was ready to go. But you must have some interesting experiences? I remember being a young bobby and being drafted over to Margate when it used to all kick off between the Mods and Rockers on the seafront. That was quite an experience but when you are young, you’re keen to be in the thick of it. On one occasion we made 70 arrests but only had four cells at Margate so it was pretty chaotic. I was also involved in policing the Kent miners’ strike, which was pretty hairy because emotions were running so high on the picket lines. But I did have some banter with the striking miners. They used to say ‘here comes John Cleese’ because I was tall with a moustache and they thought I ran in a funny way. What did you do when you left the police force? I’m a keen gardener and really enjoyed creating my garden at Shepherdswell, where we have lived for many years. I just had an idea that I wanted to be a garden designer so went off to the University of Kent to do a twoyear diploma in garden design and history. I thought I could indulge my hobby and make it a career. But it never came to anything and I only did a bit of design for a few friends. I was then asked if I wanted to help out when the Crown Court moved to Miltary Road and do one day a week as a court logger - recording proceedings. That went from one day to virtually full-time and, although it was interesting, I decided after a while that I wanted a change. That’s when I got the chance nine years ago to join the magistrates

‘I did have some banter with the striking miners. They used to say “here comes John Cleese” because I was tall with a moustache and they thought I ran in a funny way.’

bench. Policemen aren’t usually allowed to be magistrates but it was felt I’d been out of the job long enough. How has crime changed? I would say that up to 80% of it is now drink or drug-related - which I have seen so much of in my later role as a magistrate. I really would put the figure as high as that. But being a policeman and then a magistrate has given me a unique perspective. Before I was only every interested in feeling criminals’ collars and getting them arrested. Now I see their lives from the other side and how sentencing can try and turn their lives around. Now you will have more time, what are you planning? My wife Jenny and I have been lucky enough to have travelled all over the world and we will do some more of that. Our children and grandchildren are a priority and I still love gardening. I’m 70 now but was a very keen sportsman in my younger days, playing golf, cricket, badminton and table tennis for the police, but these days I mostly watch it, although I am teaching a grandson golf.

Jerry Powell in his beloved garden, above, and, inset, in his police days