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PC David Pilling |
Robocop died of heroin overdose in apartment
Four times fatal dose found in PC Pilling’s body • Colleagues’ shock at findings • Coroner rules out foul play or intent to self-harm
AN all-action police officer known as “Robocop” for his tenacious attitude towards arresting drug dealers in Holborn and Covent Garden fell victim to heroin himself and died from an overdose.
Drugs charities have now warned that the death of PC David Pilling, 47, should serve as a red alert that it is not just stereotypical ‘street junkies’ who can succumb to serious substance misuse.
Experts told the New Journal how class A drugs have been bought and used by people from all walks of life with highly-qualified professionals from the worlds of medicine, law and indeed the police hiding secret personal use.
In the case of PC Pilling, senior colleagues insisted this week there were no signs that he was using heroin or any other drug when he came to work and that it had not affected his performance on Camden’s streets.
On the contrary, he was regarded by Camden police’s most senior policeman, Chief Superintendent Dominic Clout, as a “highly dedicated offer”.
It is not known whether PC Pilling had ever been called up by the Metropolitan Police’s random drug testing teams.
The cause of his death was revealed for the first time at an inquest at St Pancras Coroner’s Court on Thursday as a verdict of “misadventure” was recorded by coroner Dr Andrew Reid
PC Pilling is thought to have injected himself with four times the amount of heroin normally associated with fatalities.
Police colleagues found him dead at his flat in Windsor House in Cumberland Market near Regent’s Park at the end of March after being alarmed that he had not turned up for work.
Claudia Rubin, of the drugs charity Release, which runs the Nice People Take Drugs awareness campaign, said: “There are thousands of others like PC Pilling out there today. People who are coming to unnecessary harm because society passes moral judgment on their drug use and fails to care for their well-being.”
Martin Barnes, the chief executive of Drugscope, said: “While there are clear links between drug addiction and social factors such as poverty and unemployment, problem drug use does affect people from all backgrounds and across all professions and social classes.
“It is important that anyone who develops a drug dependency or problem with drugs has access to quality drug treatment and support, regardless of their background, to help get their life back on track.”
The circumstances of PC Pilling’s sudden death have proved even more shocking to his colleagues because he was known as such a boisterous critic of drug use and had dedicated much of his work while based at Holborn police station to unpicking the heroin and crack cocaine trade around Tottenham Court Road and Holborn.
In the aftermath of his death, friends and fellow officers were quick to use Facebook to share stories of his bravery and commitment.
One comment typical of the warm appreciation held by his colleagues read: “He virtually destroyed the drugs market around Denmark Street all by himself and dedicated his time to terrifying those involved in it.”
Friends and fellow officers are most fond of the action-film tale of PC Pilling chasing a dealer on his motorbike down steps at the subway at Tottenham Court Road Tube station – part of the reason why he was known by the nickname “Robocop”. He was known to arrest people while off-duty or on his way home for work.
But this week, the tone of comments on other websites and blogs has changed and conspiracy theorists have suggested more investigation is needed.
In one far-fetched suggestion, a poster on a news site compared his death to characters in the French Connection and its sequel, which saw actor Gene Hackman’s play hardened detective Popeye Doyle who dealers try to eliminate by getting him hooked on addictive drugs.
Senior officers at Camden police insisted PC Pilling’s death had been thoroughly investigated and told the inquest that there was no suspicion of foul play. The Directorate of Professional Standards were informed of the case but are not taking any further action – effectively an indicator that it does not think drug use is rife among Camden officers.
Islington Police reviewed the work of Camden officers who investigated PC Pilling’s death and raised no concerns.
It was repeated several times at the inquest that there was no evidence of anybody forcing their way into his flat or attacking or restraining the officer.
Instead, Camden’s top officers insist PC Pilling’s death was a tragedy which reflected how substance misuse can affect all of society.
The inquest heard how officers found paraphernalia including an uncapped syringe and sterile wipes at PC Pilling’s flat, as well as traces of heroin.
His home computer contained records of internet research about preparing and injecting heroin and the potential risks of getting addicted, the inquest heard. PC Pilling had visited the government commissioned Talk To Frank website, which offers advice about the dangers of drugs and the availability of treatment.
Detective Inspector Paul Clack said: “David was an active and committed officer, popular among his colleagues. He was involved in many drugs arrests and was declared as being anti-drugs.”
He added: “All across society there are people who fall victims to drugs. David is a tragic victim of that. The Met Police has a strict line towards substance misuse but is also supportive of staff with particular problems. In this case, there were no signs that David had a problem. We have not been able to identify where the drugs come from.”
DI Clack gave evidence for 20 minutes during the hearing, attended by several friends and police officers from Holborn Police Station.
Tests showed PC Pilling was likely to have taken opiate drugs in the past but only in the three or four months leading up to his death and Dr Reid said there was “no evidence that he was dependent or addicted to opiate drugs.”
Born in Lancashire, brought up in Canada, the 47 year-old loved outdoor pursuits and organised walking holidays across Britain’s beauty spots. He also raised money at sporty fundraisers for the London Air Ambulance. Planning his future, some friends thought he was preparing to do an Open University degree at the time of his death. Relatives in Canada did not respond to emails from the New Journal.
PC Stuart Allen told the inquest he was “up and down but when he was up and happy he was fun to work with”.
At the time of PC Pilling’s death, Scotland Yard released only scant details about the circumstances as speculation grew at Holborn police station in Lamb’s Conduit Street.
Dr Reid said that there was no evidence to suggest that PC Pilling had been deliberately trying to harm or kill himself when he took the drugs.
DI Clack said after the inquest that the sensitivity of the case made it a “difficult investigation” and added that many former colleagues were still in shock.
“They had no idea that David had taken these drugs, there just wasn’t any sign. Police are ordinary people like everybody else. They can face the same problems. I think people sometimes forget that,” he added.
What the inquest established
? PC Pilling died from suspected heroin use.
? He had used opiate drugs in the past, but only in the three or four months prior to his death.
? He was not addicted or dependent on drugs at the time of his death.
? There was no evidence to suggest he intended to harm himself.
What the inquest did not establish
? Who was the last person to see PC Pilling alive?
? Where did PC Pilling obtain class A drugs?
? Who gave or sold drugs to PC Pilling?
? Was PC Pilling ever tested under the Met’s random drugs testing programmes?
‘Nice people take drugs, and need our help’
COMMENT by CLAUDIA RUBIN
THE tragic death of PC Pilling reminds us that drug use takes place amongst all communities, professions, cultures and groups.
From soldiers and police officers, lawyers and stockbrokers, to students, teachers and the unemployed, there will be those whose drug use will be relatively harmless and others who will find that their drug use leads to dark and sometimes fatal consequences.
Should any of these individuals be judged on moral grounds? Is it in theirs, or society’s interest to condemn them, punish them and deem them bad or weak?
This case reinforces the view that we continue to get it badly wrong and that our current approach fails to prevent even the most included and respected members of society from accessing the support they need. By all accounts PC Pilling was very good at his job. His impact on the drug scene in north London is celebrated and his popularity among colleagues clear.
Yet none of his associates had any idea that he had been using heroin and that he was no doubt in some personal turmoil.
It is more important than ever to de-stigmatise drug use and drug users, not to encourage more people to take drugs, but to enable a situation where those that do know where to turn for advice when needed, and are given the support they require from family, friends and employers.
A fear of losing the respect of his colleagues and a job that he loved no doubt prevented PC Pilling from asking for help. There are thousands of others like him out there today; people who are coming to unnecessary harm because society passes moral judgment on their drug use and fails to care for their well-being.
Nice people take drugs, and it is up to all of us to do our best to prevent the worst from happening to those that do.
‘David was one of the greats – in and out of uniform’
PC Pilling’s colleagues have posted their memories of ‘Robocop’ on the social networking website Facebook
• “He once chased a druggie type on the bike and then druggie thought that he had outwitted him by running down the Centre Point underpass. Said druggie type was very surprised when Dave rode his bike down the steps into the underpass and caught said druggie type.”
• ”Dave you certainly were and always will be a legend. A true friend to all and one of the greatest cops in Camden. You were a credit to the uniform you wore mate.”
• “The word ‘legend’ was invented for him and he'll be a great loss on both a personal and professional level.”
• ”You made us laugh and always made sure we were always looked after. We always felt safer knowing you were out there with us in Holborn.”
• “ ‘Mounty’ you were a good bloke in uniform and a great friend out of it.”
• ”They say there are no characters left in the job. Well, it's true to say that there is certainly one less now. His unwavering pursuit of ‘scumbags’ was legendary, both on, and occasionally, off duty.”
• “We had hours of fun chasing the druggies around Parker Street – trouble was that when we went around in plain clothes it was a waste of time because all the bad ‘uns bloody knew him, and had probably already felt the force of the Robocop. I very much doubt there will ever be another copper that can strike as much fear into the Camden drug fraternity as Dave did.”
• ”Doubt that any one bloke will have made such an impact on a drugs market! But Dave was also a very humane and courteous guy, and always went the extra mile when dealing with people in every other aspect of his work.”
• “They made the film Robocop but little did they know that Camden had it's own super hero when it came to fighting crime There should be something in Holborn named after him.” |
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