Nick Bailey thanks nation for 'overwhelming' support following decision to step down from Wiltshire Police
The Detective Sergeant who was poisoned with Novichok announced at the weekend he was quitting because 'he can no longer do the job."
Last updated 19th Oct 2020
DS Nick Bailey, who came into contact with the nerve agent when he searched the Salisbury home of the former Russian spy Sergei Skripal, says the incident in 2018 "took so much from me."
In an emotional post on Twitter on Saturday he revealed that "After 18 years in the police force I’ve had to admit defeat and accept that I can no longer do the job."
His post was met with an outpouring of love and support with more than 25 thousand likes.
The 40 year old has had messages of support both locally and across the globe.
Nick described the support a feeling like a "virtual hug from the nation"
Meanwhile the Chief Constable of Wiltshire Police, Kier Pritchard, also took to social media to echo his thanks.
"I’ve watched with pride as thousands of people have reached out to Nick on social media since he announced his retirement yesterday.He will be sorely missed by all of his colleagues but we all hope he and his family find some sense of much deserved peace in his life outside of policing. Finally, I would like to thank the public for their outpouring of solidarity and support for Nick. I know this will mean the world to him, his family and every other police officer out there."