A retired detective has written an arresting true crime book telling the stories of police officers and incidents in Lanarkshire spanning nearly two centuries.
George Barnsley has collected nearly a decade of research – compiled in his role as chair of Lanarkshire police historical society – into the new volume, to be published next month.
The incidents recounted include the murders on duty of two officers, Constable George Taylor and DS William Ross Hunt; and society members are now campaigning alongside MSPs for both to receive bravery awards.
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Airdrie resident George had originally researched aspects of local police history to share with the society’s members and for their regular displays, open days and talks to other organisations.
During lockdown, he began publishing the articles in its newly-created Facebook group – and as well as being well received by its growing membership of more than 800, it led to his unexpectedly becoming an author.
His book, The Lanarkshire Police Chronicles, outlines the incidents investigated, bravery shown and changing conditions experienced by the area’s officers from 1800 right up until the 1980s, in the earliest days of his own career.
George said: “I just started the social media page to maintain interest during Covid when we couldn’t do displays; it wasn’t something I had considered before and writing a book wasn’t something I was thinking about.
“I’d been doing research since 2013, more for personal interest and to generate information on historical cases and built up quite a catalogue of articles; my wife encouraged me and another member put me in touch with a book publisher.
“Some cases had come to our attention through the society and others through doing research and looking back at old newspapers to pick up bits and pieces – you start digging and trying to build a picture and then find things you didn’t know about which had been lost in the mists of time.”
His discoveries of new cases featuring in the book include a suspicious death on a train in Coatbridge nearly a century ago and the shooting of a police officer in Bothwell in 1920.
Members of the historical society have also been leading a campaign to honour the two fallen officers, who were killed on duty but have never received a bravery award – and have gained support across the Scottish Parliament and Police Scotland.
PC Taylor was murdered in one of Scotland’s most notorious cases, the 1976 rampage at and escape from Carstairs state hospital by Robert Mone and Thomas McCulloch; while DS Hunt was fatally stabbed in Larkhall in 1983 by a group including a suspect he was attempting to question about an attempted murder.
As well as seeking long-overdue recognition for the two officers, the Lanarkshire society is also calling for the introduction of a gallantry award for all emergency service workers who die on duty, similar to the Elizabeth Cross for those in the military.
Their campaigns have been taken up by Graham Simpson, the Central Scotland MSP, who submitted a successful motion and led a debate at Holyrood on the subject – gaining cross-party agreement, including from justice minister Keith Brown.
He stated officially: “The Scottish Government supports the call for consideration of posthumous awards for emergency workers who lose their lives while on duty serving the public.”
George welcomed the support of politicians, Police Scotland and the police federation in pursuing the issue with the UK government, and said: “It would just be the pinnacle to achieve this and for all those who’ve been killed on duty to get the recognition they deserve.”
Having begun his police career as a cadet in 1978, George then joined N Division covering Airdrie and Coatbridge two years later.
After 18 years he moved into CID with a series of promoted detective postings in Glasgow, latterly moving on to the Scottish police training centre at Tulliallan as a chief inspector and later superintendent, before retiring from the force in 2010.
George said of The Lanarkshire Police Chronicles: “There’s a real sense of achievement to see it published and to see a book with my name on the cover.”
It can be pre-ordered online from publisher Ringwood, and will be officially launched at a special event at Drumpellier golf club in Coatbridge next month.
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