NEWS


KEEPING IT IN THE FAMILY T


‘Tubby’s’ descendant follows him into uniform


he three-times great-grandson of Leicestershire’s most famous policeman, PC John ‘Tubby’


Stephens, has followed in his Victorian ancestor’s footsteps. PC Dan Challis, 24, took his oath in November after working in IT, and will walk the same streets as his legendary relative. He said: “I wanted a career change and always had policing in the back of my head as something I wanted to do. When my mum told me more about our ancestry after applying to the force, I couldn’t believe he was such a well- known face.


“My great-great-great grandfather was part of Leicestershire Police for 22 years following his stint in Cape Verde fighting in the Anglo-Zulu War in 1879. He received a campaign medal for his service, and I was proud to hold it while being sworn into duty.” John William


Stephens was known as ‘PC Tubby’ because, at 25 stone, he was reputed to be the heaviest serving police officer in history. He didn’t let his considerable size slow him down, however, and was a well- known character in Leicester city centre. A minor


PC Dan Challis, right, and ‘PC Tubby’, below


Victorian celebrity, PC Tubby featured on postcards and in newspapers. Tourists even came to the city to seek him out so they could boast to friends they had met Britain’s biggest policeman. When he died, thousands of people lined the streets of Leicester for his funeral. Chief Constable Simon Cole said: “PC Tubby Stephens certainly made his mark within Leicestershire Police history. People knew him from far and wide for his community spirit and cheerful personality, undeniably the qualities we see in our officers on the streets today. “In 2017, we ensured his grave was marked through funding from the Leicestershire Police


Federation Trust after hearing PC Tubby Stephens had


been buried at Welford Road Cemetery in an unmarked grave. At the time, we were unable to trace his family, so are now thrilled to welcome Dan and have Tubby’s policing legacy live on.” PC Tubby’s legacy also continues in the form of a limited edition ale made by brewers Everards of Leicestershire. For every pint sold, 5p is donated to Care of Police Survivors (COPS). Since the launch of the ale in 2017, the beer has raised £1,800 to help support the families of police officers and staff who have lost their lives on duty. Dan knows he has big shoes


to fill in more ways than one, though he also hopes to add his own spin to the family tradition. “I’m the first in our family since him to join Leicestershire Police so I hope I live up to the bar he’s set. However, I don’t want to adopt his size!”


Get in the ‘real world’


PFEW’s National Chair responded to calls for a ban on Taser being used against under 18s by telling critics to understand policing “in the real world”. John Apter said: “This is a


highly emotive issue. However, police ofcers have to police in the


28 | POLICE | FEBRUARY 2021


real world and that can be a violent and hostile place. The harsh reality is some ‘children’ are dangerous individuals, and we’ve seen this time and time again.” The Chair was reacting to calls


by Unicef UK for the Government to


outlaw the use of Taser and spit and bite guards on minors. The group also argued that the equipment was used disproportionately against BAME (black, Asian and minority ethnic) children in England. Taser was used in 23,000


incidents in the year to March 2019 but crucially it was not discharged in 85 per cent of incidents.


Mr Apter added: “While I


completely understand that for some Taser is contentious, it has proven itself on numerous occasions to save lives of both police ofcers and members of the public. I feel so strongly that Taser is an essential piece of equipment which police ofcers should have access to, if they want to.”


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