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The Brave Blue Line (Hardback)

100 Years of Metropolitan Police Gallantry

P&S History > True Crime World History > UK & Ireland > England > London

By Dick Kirby
Imprint: Wharncliffe True Crime
Pages: 208
Illustrations: 16pp B & W plates
ISBN: 9781848846524
Published: 9th November 2011

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In their daily battle against a remorseless tide of crime, officers of London's Metropolitan Police routinely risk their lives protecting society.

Veteran detective and crime author Dick Kirby has brought together a superb collection of inspiring stories of police gallantry over the last hundred years.

All four officers to be honoured with the George Cross, the highest civilian award have their stories told including Jim Beaton who saved Princess Anne from kidnap in The Mall.

Three women officers have been awarded the George Medal, two for decoy work, the third for a heroic rooftop rescue.

The book concludes with the astonishing story of a retired detective who tackled armed robbers at the cost of his eye. He may have left the Met behind him but not his courage.

Every page of this gripping book is full of excitement and courage of the highest order.

Tales of blood, guts, courage

American Police Beat Magazine

‘Through a series of gripping individual stories, the author highlights the incredible courage often shown by officers on the front line. It is the author’s moral passion that helps to make this such a compelling book. He also has an easy style and dry turn of phrase ... There is a wealth of marvellous period detail in the descriptions, conjuring up images of a vanished world ...

Daily Express - Leo McKistry

The Brave Blue Line by Dick Kirby is the latest in his line of slick, fast-moving true crime stories. His tales of police valour are all documented, verifiable and best of all, told by a man who has ‘been there and done that’, himself. Add to that his black humour, which is the common language of all long-serving CID officers, makes this book a great read and it really invites a TV producer to pick it up.

Maurice Customer Review

The attention to detail to all aspects is first-class.  This book is a must for anyone interested in the award of decorations.

Vic - Customer Review

In our opinion, this is simply the best book about police gallantry ever written and arguably the best book about any sort about gallantry awards. It comes with our highest possible recommendation.

History by the Yard

Get a copy of The Brave Blue Line and then urge friends and acquaintances to do the same. It’s a well-written, well-presented book that really does deserve the widest-possible audience

POLICE MEMORABILIA COLLECTORS CLUB

Dick tells inspirational tales of police bravery.

Ilford recorder

Dick Kirby’s wonderfully evocative volume of Metropolitan history ... beautifully illustrated, this would make an impressive gift for any historical true crime fan.

Tangled Web

The Brave Blue Line pulls together nearly two dozen inspiring stories.

East Anglian Daily Times

Once again, Dick Kirby has written a most interesting and readable book and together with his style of writing means that when you pick it up, you just don’t want to put it down. He must surely be the most prolific writer of non-fiction police books in this country

Mike Customer Review

I found this latest book, the best yet. The book is factual, I know of – and worked on – several of the cases mentioned. Well done, a really good book written by a really good detective – appreciated by a detective. Keep up the splendid work.

Neil, Customer Review
 Dick Kirby

About Dick Kirby

Dick Kirby was born in the East End of London and joined the Metropolitan Police in 1967. Half of his twenty-six years’ service was spent with Scotland Yard’s Serious Crime Squad and the Flying Squad.
Kirby contributes to newspapers and magazines on a regular basis, as well as appearing on television and radio. The Guv’nors, The Sweeney, Scotland Yard’s Ghost Squad, Brave Blue Line, Death on the Beat, Scourge of Soho, Scotland Yard’s Flying Squad, London’s Gangs at War, Scotland Yard’s Gangbuster, The Mayfair Mafia, Scotland Yard’s Murder Squad, Racetrack Gangs, IRA Terror on Britain’s Streets, Scotland Yard’s Casebook of Serious Crime, The Brighton Police Scandal and Missing Presumed Murdered are all published under the Wharncliffe True Crime imprint and he has further other published works to his credit. On retirement he lives near Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. Kirby can be visited at his website: www.dickkirby.com.

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