NEWS
STATION CAT ‘PC OSCAR’ IS SOCIAL MEDIA SENSATION
P
olice dogs, police horses and now a police cat! Meet Oscar, who has enlisted with West Yorkshire Police
and become a social media sensation. Two years ago, officers at Holmfirth
police station discovered the black and white cat huddling for warmth at their back door. They started feeding him and before long Oscar clawed his way into the team as a permanent member. PC Karen Giwisser has been
running Oscar’s Twitter account (@stationmoggy) to share details of life around the station. The tweets have been a huge success with nearly 10,000 followers including from as far away as Australia. “Oscar is more popular than our regular account,” says Karen. “He’s done interviews with magazines and the local news. We have school visits and they think Oscar
PC Dan Challis, right, and ‘PC Tubby’, below
is amazing. He shows a different side to policing and one that people don’t normally think of.” Oscar lives in the station drying room and can usually be found prowling about the locker room. The staff pay for his upkeep, but he pulls his weight by keeping the mouse population down. His title as ‘welfare ‘paw’fficer’
isn’t for show either. Oscar plays a valuable role in helping Karen and her colleagues to wind down after stressful jobs. “Having him around really helps when you’ve been to some bad calls – we’ve had some really awful ones lately and just seeing him and having a bit of a play or a cuddle can help divert your mind from the things you’ve seen. “All stations should have a cat if they’re allowed. I can’t recommend it enough.”
Cameron’s Coasters spread mental health message
Police Federation branches are backing a coaster initiative highlighting the need to talk about mental health. Launched in memory of 21-year-old Cameron Grant, who took his own life after suffering from depression, Cameron’s Coasters raise awareness of mental health and are aimed at young people. Cameron’s aunt, Fran
George, a former West Midlands Police officer who retired in June 2018, helped launch the initiative four years ago. It is now set to see its millionth coaster produced, with Federation branches
34 | POLICE | APRIL 2021
helping circulate the coasters and, more recently, business cards around forces. “It’s fantastic to see so
many Federations getting behind the campaign,” said Fran (there are around 25 branches involved). “We miss Cameron immensely but remain focussed on helping others in his memory. Our aim through the coasters and business cards, is to encourage others who are struggling just like Cameron was to reach out and ask for help.”
Cameron, who died in November 2014, had been suffering in silence for more
than seven years with his family, friends and everyone around him unaware of how he was feeling. He was studying geology at Royal Holloway, University of London and had planned to do a master’s degree. “There is a taboo around
speaking about mental health, but we are working hard to break that. There is no shame in seeking help for any illness, physical or mental,” added Fran. Cameron’s parents,
Carol and Evan, set up the Cameron Grant Memorial Trust in memory of their son, to raise awareness of suicide and mental health issues. They designed the coasters and business cards. The coasters read
“Feeling low? Don’t bottle it up” while the business cards have the message
“There is always someone you can talk to.” They also highlight contact details of organisations that may be able to help. The family hope to get
more branches on board and to reach out to new recruits starting their policing careers. You can order a coaster or business cards at www.
camgrant.org.uk or by email to
frances@camgrant.org.uk
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