Many people think their jobs were better “in the old days”. It is not just about workload and job security. It is about the replacement of autonomy and freedom by regulation and paperwork. That is true of doctors, academics, teachers, journalists and, probably, priests. It is especially true of police officers. Two series on Channel 4 have been illumin­ating. 24 Hours In Police Custody (17 November) has, over the last seven weeks, shown us Bedfordshire Police, based in Luton, dealing with a number of crimes in a sensitive community. Using the most advanced multi-camera techniques, it was revealing, funny and often tense, each programme being built around the 24 hours the police can hold a suspect without charge. Throughout, the police were on their best behaviour, even whe