Acclaimed ‘Night Jack’ blogger could be Lancashire officer (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Acclaimed ‘Night Jack’ blogger could be Lancashire officer

1:05pm Thursday 28th May 2009 in News By Sally Henfield

LANCASHIRE Constabulary is investigating whether an award-winning blog about life on the front line of policing is written by one of its officers.

The Night Jack blog has gained an array of followers with its gritty take on day-to-day life as a bobby.

Last month it won prestigious literary award the Orwell Prize, despite the writer’s identity being kept a secret.

During a 13-month period the blog gave advice to the public, while also posting about dealing with criminals, life on the beat, courts and bureaucracy.

Award judges said: “The insight into the everyday life of the police that Jack Night’s wonderful blog offered was – everybody felt – something which only a blog could deliver, and he delivered it brilliantly.

“It took you to the heart of what a policeman has to do – by the first blogpost you were hooked, and could not wait to click on to the next one.”

Now, following claims the blog was written by a Lancashire officer, county police chiefs have launched an investigation.

A spokesman said: “At this moment in time, we have no firm evidence that a Lancashire police officer is the Night Jack blogger.

“However, an investigation will now be launched into the claims and if an officer is found to have breached the standards of professional behaviour, then clearly appropriate action will be taken.

"It would therefore be wrong for us to comment any further at this stage.”