Plebgate: the ripple effect

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/oct/15/plebgate-ripple-effect-editorial-mitchell

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Political crises are rarely triggered by middle-aged men on bicycles, and even more rarely outside, rather than behind, the blank black door of 10 Downing Street. But just over a year ago, as the newly appointed chief whip Andrew Mitchell wheeled his bike out of his office along the street from No 10, he had a short and nasty altercation with the police on the gate. He might as well have shouted a curse into the echoing still of Westminster Abbey, for the consequences reverberate still.

It's not quite Ralph Waldo Emerson's war of independence shot that was heard around the world, but context has transmuted an exchange that lasted less than a minute into a crisis that has been acutely damaging for an individual, a government, at least two police services, and the Independent Police Complaints Commission. And the central allegation – that police officers organised a conspiracy against Mr Mitchell – is still being considered by the Crown Prosecution Service.

As in every bitter argument, all the parties brought a lot of baggage to the scene. For the Tories, who had struggled to neutralise their "nasty party" reputation, the accusation that Mr Mitchell had not just sworn at the police but called them "plebs" was the kind of killer allegation that confirms a million prejudices. The police were in the midst of a bitter row over radical reforms. More, two women colleagues had just been gunned down in Manchester, a brutal reminder of the risks that all officers run, but to which – many of them thought – politicians seemed insufficiently sensitive. The Tories were vulnerable. The police, it is now clear, at least overreached themselves in a way that is deeply damaging.

In the 13 months since the original incident, Mr Mitchell has been exonerated of all but the swearing, for which he immediately apologised. But the police will not acknowledge that they took advantage in a way that dishonours their service. Now the IPCC, itself repeatedly criticised for a lack of proper independence, is also in the fight. In a misjudged call, rather than conducting its own inquiries, it allowed police to investigate both the main charge that Met officers conspired against Mr Mitchell, and one of the episode's subplots: the meeting between Mr Mitchell and his local Police Federation, whose officers subsequently gave a damagingly partial account to the press, precipitating Mr Mitchell's resignation. Now Deborah Glass, deputy IPCC chair, is taking issue with the report's conclusion, strongly questioning its finding that there was no deliberate intention to give a false account.

No one has emerged well. But Mr Mitchell, forced to resign, is paying a high price. So now are police. It is in their power to draw a line under this discreditable affair. Come clean. Institute disciplinary procedures. Apologise.

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