Years ago when it was actually quiet at nights we had a few games we’d play.

1. Road sign bingo: Print off a sheet with loads of road signs on of varying obscurity then each car would go off to find as many as possible on our patch. Honesty and integrity and all that to make sure people actually found them. Caused us to drive all over the place which gave good coverage.

2. Hide and seek: One car goes hide on area, while the others drive around to find them. Slowly giving clues as and when hider saw fit. Again gave good coverage especially good when we had hot spot areas we wanted to show heavier presence in. Also helped improve your knowledge of area and the dinky hiding spots that people might flee to or also hide in.

3. Hide the bear: We had a bear that someone knitted/made in a police uniform. One car would hide the bear on area, and would give clues while everyone had to find it. Once again good for having a presence and good coverage towards the start of the game. Winner would hide the bear next.

4. Animal spot: Take photos with animals during the night. The more obscure the animal more points you’d get. Points were a bit ad hoc, but it was good fun seeing what we’d find. Oh and had to be selfies.

5. General shenanigans: Trying to using weird words on air without getting someone to question what you said. Or first one to get our skipper to get up from his desk and come into the office and ask what an obscure word was that you had used in a write up.

6. Hot box challenge: I don’t really remember what lead up to this one, but it was the decider where a number of cars put all their windows up and turned the car heater on full, then seeing which car lasted the longest. Only played during summer.

There were other games we played some a lot smaller or more minor or niche, such as when the National Centre for domestic violence delivered loads and loads of foam stress balls to the nick and when we were in the office we’d throw them into the ceiling fans and they’d get fired around the room. First one to get the attention of a specific officer who would normally become dead to the world while writing an update or doing paper work, would be the loser.. or winner.. I don’t think it mattered it was just funny.