BEHIND THE BADGE | Former Police Interceptor Ben Pearson

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[@davidwright-p9v]

I was told in july 2023 my lung cancer is terminal and months to live, i bottle it up, wake up in middle of night wide awake for 3 or 4 hours, lay in bed when i wake up for an hour or two, my heads ready to explode but i won`t talk to anyone, watching you today has made me see i need help. All the best Ben.

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We wish you all the best.

[@csnelling4]

God bless you sir

[@markrunnalls7215]

Jesus H Christ .. Absolutely unreal ..what an account ,and for you Phil for highlighting such stories ..😮😮😮 What a man thanks Ben for sharing your story..

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Thanks for watching!

[@grumpytrucker2015]

What an interview, that tugged every emotion. Wish him nothing but happiness.

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Thank you for sharing your thoughts👍🏻

[@Ruggers75]

Another great interview and guest. Listening to Ben talk about some of the real crap that he and his colleagues deal with day in day out, you have no comprehension of what that it must be like. I don’t know what can be done about the erosion of respect for the Police and the wider emergency services. Listening to his story would go along way to making right-minded people think again. We ll done Phil.

[@johnnunn8688]

The cops could start by dealing with crime, rather than arresting people for offending paedophiles.

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Thanks for tuning in!

[@louisdisbury9759]

I'm both a keen Motorcyclist and Driver our traffic cops are probably the most highly trained in the World and I have a great deal of respect for them, Two highly trained Professionals sitting down and talking about things that most people never think about, Keep talking about it Ben things will get better and to Phil life takes us down some strange paths Phil but watching you interview this guy looks like you have found youre vocation.

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Heartfelt thanks for watching.

[@ianmasters8344]

What another interesting interview Big Phil and Ben. We clearly do not understand what a Roads Policing officer has to contend with and the toll it takes on them over time.

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Thanks for watching, hopefully sharing the stories raises awareness!

[@gavinchia5841]

Learned a lot listening to this interview. I can't imagine what Traffic Police and Emergency Response have to deal with. I've only had to deal with at fatal accident once and it took a long time to get over it (sort of) They have to deal with it day in and day out. God Bless you all.

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Thank you for watching!

[@johnnunn8688]

Thanks, Ben, you’re a good man.

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Thanks for watching!

[@lucythemoggy1970]

ben is an amazing guy! I follow him on his channel.

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Thanks for watching!

[@csnelling4]

Brilliant Phill and Ben respect police personnel like Ben 👏👏👏👏👏🤗🍺🍺🍺🍺

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Thank you for watching!

[@warrenmaunsell8521]

Massive respect to Ben, that was a true and honest podcast and a eye opener, I wish you all the best for your recovery

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Thanks for watching!

[@stuartdenty3163]

Good on you Ben 👍

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Thanks for watching!

[@arunlangley6597]

Top bloke, another great show

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Thanks for watching!

[@gingerbobful]

Brilliant debrief. I've seen a few things in my 50 years on the Planet being in the army for 9 years and life in general. I don't think I could cope to long doing that job for long , them boys see a lot most weeks. 😢

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Thanks for watching!

[@markbradford4569]

A Cracking insight and listen.

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Thanks for watching!

[@andrewmaher2580]

great interview

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Thanks for watching!

[@MisterAndrewBuckley]

Fcuk, that was an intense watch, I can only imagine the damage this sort of experience does to people Showing these sorts of insights is important and should be talked about

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Thanks for watching!

[@RAF1998-l3c]

I’ve been following Ben and Phil for a while. I was a paramedic for 20 years, went on to be a hart paramedic, I bottled everything up, and one day it hit me full force, I get Ben 100%, one day for me and one call sent me over the edge. I felt disappointed with myself, I looked at every other colleague and thought they’re coping but I wasn’t, I went out of control of my life. I’m now okay and have treatment and medication . But I was finished at work on health reasons. I felt a complete disappointment to me and my family. Thankfullly I came out okay but many don’t.

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Thank you for sharing your story 👏🏻

[@DaLilVivi96]

Ben in my eyes, because you have had the incredible strength to be able to want to do better after each struggle, proves that you're actually triple the man I'd say 💖 don't ever drag yourself down. Most people would never be able to do one of the worlds toughest jobs as tou have done and come out even stronger in fact. I seriously believe that there is no other ex cop that can blow away and help others as you are doing. Please keep up your inspirational words because even if it helps one person, it is so worth it. 😇 stay safe Ben and your army of supporters are right here behind you all the way. Like many other hero cops out there, i want to thank you for your service and sheer bravery. I cannot even fathom how difficult it must of been on a daily basis. Not enough people are greatful for genuinely great cops out there. 👍 godbless you and your family big Ben.

[@ForceMediaHQ]

Thank you for sharing!

[@littlepuzzle-m3b]

oh well!!! i can't speed maths like racheal riley!!! you say tomatoe i say tomatoe!!! let's call the whole thing off!!!

[@CP-sy9cd]

I agree Phil - coppers should have unarmed combat training.

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Thanks for sharing

[@coffeeguy6673]

I joined the Met Police in 1990 and we did get some unarmed defense training, arm locks, holds, that kind of thing. Don't know if they do it now.

[@petermanning1864]

Ben your a top bloke.

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Thanks for watching!

[@user-pj2jf8mm2w]

Oh dear oh dear, i do sympathize, but ive had thirty years of this, in the end you have to apply your own strategy in dealing with the things that slap you in the face, what happens when those in the job ( the ones who should be helping ) stick the knife in?

[@wrightwoodwork]

A couple of years ago after getting wiped out by a car turning right across path coming in the opposite direction. I had come down a fast descent on the bike around 40mph wth a couple of cars following. No issues all good they gave me space on the corners so i could use all the road then on the straights I had let the cars behind know i was happy to be passed which they didn't. I then come into a 30 at a touch over maybe 31 . Then the road slightly raises up . I then sprinted to hold the speed road clear. I then eased up for a roundabout to 15mph . I was then coming into the high street and was at 23 i had seen the car approaching in the opposite direction slow down no concerns. Then with myself 2 seconds off the junction the driver just went. At the time im thinking where do i go. First thought slam on the brakes im stopping in front of the car broken legs . Next option swerve right onto the opposite lane. Only problem a car following. I then thought that I didn't fancy my chances in a head on. At this point im staring into the side windows. At this point im expeting to go through the windows. Miraculously i didn't. I had closed my eyes and bang car hit . Didnt know where thrown up in the air and over and laying on the road. When i opened my eyes the drivers of the 2 cars following are stood over thinking thank fuck . I sat up and a bus driver come upto me and goes i have all the information on camera i will back you up take a photo of the bus and we'll give the police the evidence. The driver took 10 minutes to come and see me . They where as white as ghost going im so sorry i didn't see you. Im think of saying no shit sherlock. I didn't and replied you are so lucky i was walking wirh not a scratch or broken bone. No ideas how i couldn't lift my arm but hadn't broken it. The driver then almost walked in front of a car . A customer from the pub took him over to his family and i went to look at the damage on the car id hit it with my left hand at the rear passenger door handle and my body on the last quater. A doctor from the hospiral turned up that was off work but on call so have a radio of any incident like an rta with a motorbike or cyclist or a heart attack they can get there to provide assistance. As i was possibly concust the last thing i wanted to do was be on near the road so went to sit down on the seats at the pub. Whilst sitting down the driver and witness had been discussing thier version of events putting myself at fault. Making out i couldn't see the car was already turning as i come round a 2 degree bend . Not like a 90 degree bend then fair. They told the police they had watched me coming down the hill and watched the car coming in the opposite direction direction to the police. Truthfully they had looked up seen the car accross the road and me trying to swerve round ii. I personally with the drivers following me had said i had no where to go and they said i cant believe he has just went this ain't going to end good. A few weeks later the police phoned to say the driver is to be charged. I honestly thought i didnt matter as i was a cyclist. Few months later the officer phoned to ask how i was getting on as someone had told them i had being struggling and kept thinking what could i have done. They asked if i had been on the bike on the road since and was i comfortable being i traffic. I told them i was a little nervous but it isn't a bike problem as i had even been nervous driving when cars turned right accross my path. So i had to build my confidence on the road again. I then asked if daylights would have helped , not really as it was clear plus i was in a bright orange top.As the cars behind me had daytime lights i beleive the driver had seen the cars but failed to see me. The officer had seen the video and explained there was no way with my positioning and clothing they could not have seen me. Obviously they hadn't. I told the officer i believed they had car park mind on so basically looking for a space in a car park but forget people are still driving about . So a little switched off. I then explained my thought process before the crash and asked under your honest opinion what could i have done differently from the point of myself taking avoiding action and the car turning was 3 seconds. The officers answer was probably the best answer to get over it and without thinking it was quite frankly nothing. At that point i realised it was time to let go. After that i was able to sleep . I personally will always be grateful to that officer as she had taken the time to discuss to discuss things with me and made sure i was coping mentally. I obviously dont know if its something all police do or was it simply kindness of her heart which im grateful for. I also told i felt no anger towards the driver its not like the set off to hit me . Obviously the driver has to live with it but out of what possibly could have went wrong the best result happened. Minus getting hit. In a way it was a counselling session which maybe i needed but didn't realise but the officer knew i did.

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Thank you for sharing your story.

[@thelanehunterdevon1664]

Why is a 2 year old on a bike next to a lorry? Gutted for you. What a situation to witness.

[@johnnunn8688]

Would the rugby player in prison for murder, be Tom Carney?

[@davidshattock9522]

So next time you get pulled over

[@SamYorkshireman]

Great podcast! What an awesome brave guy, I was labelled as an idiot too 😂 I never new I was dyslexic until I worked for a bank, I don’t think we ever get fully better. Although there is a basic understanding about adhd or mental health it’s still not fully there it’s too deep and sophisticated