The wrong kind of publicity

Sad to say that this area is in the spotlight for the wrong reasons at the moment. A man has been arrested and charged with the murders of three women in Bradford, following the discovery of remains in a rucksack in the River Aire just outside Saltaire. In consequence, the whole area is teeming with police and parts of the river have been cordoned off whilst they conduct methodical underwater searches. There are police support officers stationed at every place where you can access the river bank - hence this police van parked on the Victoria Road bridge across the canal in Saltaire. (There is a path that links the canal towpath with the riverbank, just past the Mill.)

I got talking to the chap on duty by the canal gate. They have had officers there night and day for over a week... pity the poor guys who had to stand on the canal bank all night with nothing to do but watch the night. It's because the river is a 'crime scene'. The search shows little sign of abating - there was a large van labelled 'Specialist and Underwater Search Unit' in Saltaire last night.

On a lovely sunny day, it's hard to believe that evil can exist, just around the corner so to speak. But I am grateful for the meticulous way British police generally operate - I know they sometimes make mistakes under pressure, but on the whole they do a great job.