[joglynne]

My Mum was a Special Constable some odd 40 years ago. She was only 4ft 11ins but wouldn't take any lip off anyone. I was mortified when I heard that she had frog marched one of the local 'hard boys' into the public toilets and washed his mouth out with soap after he had been swearing at her.

He sort my Father and I out at her funeral to tell us that her actions that day had helped turn his life around and that he could well have ended up in prison.

If she had tried to do that to-day she would have lost her job and been facing charges and that would only be if she survived the confrontation.