In this week’s UWE Bristol Policing Blog, we are delighted to feature a special Q&A with Les King, retired police officer, probation officer, university lecturer, and now two-time author. Les’s latest book, How to Strangle a Jelly, brings together a lifetime of experience and insight into the professional and human skill of communication.
Having had the privilege of working with Les earlier in my policing career, I saw first-hand how his natural style of communication could put people at ease, even in the most challenging situations.
In this blog, Les shares the story behind the book’s unusual title, reflects on the role of communication in modern policing and education, and offers practical wisdom for those both new to the job and decades in.
Les, congratulations on the release of How to Strangle a Jelly! For those unfamiliar with the title, could you tell us where the inspiration for the book, and where its unique name came from?
During a police promotion board for sergeant, one of the tests was to see if you could stand and talk for 3 minutes completely off the cuff on a subject they chose. My subject was ‘How to Strangle a Jelly,’ hence inspiration for the title of the book. I passed the test but not the promotion board!
You’ve had a remarkable 50-year career across policing, probation and University lecturing. Looking back, what first drew you to a career in public service, and how did communication play a role in that journey?
I was brought up in the country and spent a lot of time in the local pub. I learnt from a young age how to talk to people and the art of repartee. I developed a natural confidence in dealing with adults and knew I could use these talents in the police as well as earn a steady wage.
In How to Strangle a Jelly, you reflect on everything from courtroom drama to delivering wedding speeches. Were there any stories or moments you found particularly difficult, or especially rewarding to write about?
I enjoyed recounting everything in the book. However, one difficult bit was the example of talking to a group of parents who had all suffered the bereavement of losing a baby, who spoke about their poor experience of how the police dealt with it insensitively. It brought back my own experience of dealing with a cot death on a New Year’s Day. A tragic experience I shall never forget.
One of the standout themes of the book is the emotional range of communication—how it can console, persuade, entertain, and protect. Have your views on the importance of communication changed over the years, or have they simply deepened?
My opinion over the years has deepened as to the importance of communications, both written but especially verbal. In my opinion, the best cops and best detectives are first and foremost the best communicators in talking to people, putting them at their ease, obtaining information and then translating it into evidence.
I particularly enjoyed your reflections on briefing and leadership, especially the lesson from your sergeants’ course. How do you think briefing and command communication have changed in modern policing?
I say in the book, ‘You don’t have to be a leader to be a good communicator, but to be a good leader, you must be a good communicator.’
That has always been true. However, the world of 24/7 online and dynamic digital recording and communications has now made communicating even more challenging for everyone than relying purely upon the old methods of personal face to face briefings.
You also share tools and models in the book, especially in the chapters on investigative interviewing and professional standards. What prompted you to include those more structured techniques alongside your personal stories?
I am a pragmatist by nature and thrive on a bit ad-libbing and ad hoc wit and repartee. However, more complex problems require more sophisticated methods to resolve, and I believe implicitly in tried and tested theoretical models, especially when it comes to formal interviewing, counselling or de-briefing, because they work, so use them like a crutch!
You end the book with a moment of reflection on what makes a great communicator. If you had to distil that into one piece of advice for someone starting out on one of our policing programmes today, what would it be?
Use empathy and treat everyone with respect, even those who do not show respect to you.
You have now written two books. What motivated you to start writing, and how has your approach evolved between the first and this latest publication?
I started writing my first book Cornflakes with Whisky (my autobiography of policing) after taking a degree and just wanted freedom to write without referencing! I write as I speak, from the heart and both books are written in this style so no differences really.
Having taught at university level, you clearly care deeply about how we engage learners. What’s your take on the current state of communication in teaching—especially in professional policing education?
Policing is a practical, hands-on job but requires great skills, knowledge and technical ability. As such it will always require a teaching approach that reflects both strong academic research and learning combined with the ability to translate this into policing practice from those who have “walked the talk” and done the job. I believe this model exists in most policing programmes. Long may it last!
Finally, if you could revisit one moment in your career, not to change it, but to experience it again, what would it be and why?
The camaraderie, the craic and the humour in policing – I miss it dreadfully; hence, I need to write about it!
Cornflakes with Whisky and How to Strangle a Jelly by Les King. Available from Amazon
Editorial Comment
Les’s point about the challenges of digital communication was picked up on by one of the editorial team. They had read about the recent launch of the Skills 4 Living initiative in Greater Manchester, designed to help Gen Z students develop soft skills like empathy and effective communication. Backed by UNESCO partner Higher Health, Mayor Andy Burnham, and local universities, the programme supports young people to enhance workplace interactions and tackle mental health challenges such as anxiety and social isolation. While Gen Z are confident online, experts note many still find face-to-face communication difficult. You can read more here
Editorial Team
Paul Williamson (Editor-in-Chief); Claudia McCready (Lecturer); Claire Bowers (Senior Lecturer); Eve Smietanko (Joint Programme Leader & Senior Lecturer) and Ian Lowe (Senior Lecturer).
If you would like to be a guest blogger, please contact Police.Blog@uwe.ac.uk
