British detective blog brings international fame

Lancashire detective constable Richard Horton—much better known among blogging enthusiasts as Jack Night—went from being an unknown, local law enforcement officer, to one of Britain’s most prominent and successful blogging celebrities. This story showed yet again how blogs can transform people with run-of-the-mill careers into online sensations. Earlier this year, Horton won a special Orwell prize set aside for the most accomplished bloggers. What seemed to impress jury members the most about the Jack Night blog was its authentic subject matter, as well as the very candid voice that Horton used in blogging about difficult subjects, namely investigations into child abuse cases, the growing problem of thuggish behaviour in some British cities and instances of muggings.

Relatively few blogs focus on the field of law enforcement and crime. As such, the Jack Night website seemed to carve out a unique niche audience and claimed a largely neglected market. Blogging seems to be most popular in the fields of travel, technology, entertainment, investment and real estate, but Horton seemed to understand that if there is a significant public appetite for crime novels, then there may very well be just as much interest in a blog focused on the life of a police officer.

Horton received £3,000 as part of the Orwell prize for his blog, but he decided to donate the total sum to the Police Dependents’ Fund. According to a report in The Guardian, Jack Night yearned to return to his old life and the anonymity that he once had, but he may have to wait a little longer for this time to come. Horton’s blog has been so successful, that Orwell Prize’s director asked the blogger to become a jury member for the next awards ceremony.