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Labour can take the politics out of policing Labour can take the politics out of policing
(about 5 hours later)
Policing and politics have never mixed and until fairly recently they have never had to. When police reforms are necessary (as will happen increasingly frequently as society itself changes so rapidly) they work best when proposed, owned and implemented by the profession itself, without political fear or favour.Policing and politics have never mixed and until fairly recently they have never had to. When police reforms are necessary (as will happen increasingly frequently as society itself changes so rapidly) they work best when proposed, owned and implemented by the profession itself, without political fear or favour.
Sir Robert Peel's 1830s doctrine of "operational independence" was rightly sustained by all political parties. Just as politicians have never tried to direct the way the armed forces work, so it once was with the police. The role of government is to steward resources, to provoke, challenge and sustain a criminal justice system that commands public confidence and reduces crime.Sir Robert Peel's 1830s doctrine of "operational independence" was rightly sustained by all political parties. Just as politicians have never tried to direct the way the armed forces work, so it once was with the police. The role of government is to steward resources, to provoke, challenge and sustain a criminal justice system that commands public confidence and reduces crime.
About 10 years ago the Conservative party began to abandon this consensual approach. Its conventional law-and-order stance was sacrificed to the civil libertarians. They questioned the use of CCTV, removed suspected murderers and rapists from the DNA database and replaced control orders with a watered-down system that has led to the current dangerous situation where suspected terrorists who can't be deported or tried, are free to walk the streets of our cities.About 10 years ago the Conservative party began to abandon this consensual approach. Its conventional law-and-order stance was sacrificed to the civil libertarians. They questioned the use of CCTV, removed suspected murderers and rapists from the DNA database and replaced control orders with a watered-down system that has led to the current dangerous situation where suspected terrorists who can't be deported or tried, are free to walk the streets of our cities.
The relationship between the police and Conservative politicians has become increasingly poisonous to the extent that, in office, their support for genuine operational independence of the police has eroded to the point of disappearance. In London Boris Johnson's decision to sack two successive police commissioners set the depressing standard.The relationship between the police and Conservative politicians has become increasingly poisonous to the extent that, in office, their support for genuine operational independence of the police has eroded to the point of disappearance. In London Boris Johnson's decision to sack two successive police commissioners set the depressing standard.
This unhealthy climate has now been translated across the country by the imposition of police and crime commissioners (PCCs) with a derisory public mandate. Three of them – in Avon and Somerset, Gwent, and Lincolnshire – immediately decided to show who was boss by sacking their chief constables. As the home affairs select committee rightly concluded: "It is very easy for a PCC to remove a chief constable". It's difficult to escape the conclusion that PCC is a title searching for a role. This unhealthy climate has now been translated across the country by the imposition of police and crime commissioners (PCCs) with a derisory public mandate. Three of them – in Avon and Somerset, Gwent and Lincolnshire – immediately decided to show who was boss by sacking their chief constables. As the home affairs select committee rightly concluded: "It is very easy for a PCC to remove a chief constable". It's difficult to escape the conclusion that PCC is a title searching for a role.
The appointment of a non-police officer to the post of Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary – for the first time since the post was founded in 1856 – has created further alienation and distanced senior police from responsibility for their own profession. It remains unclear who is now the home secretary's principal adviser on operational policing matters, a role which we both saw as essential in office. The appointment of a non-police officer, Tom Winsor, to the post of Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary – for the first time since the post was founded in 1856 – has created further alienation and distanced senior police from responsibility for their own profession. It remains unclear who is the home secretary's principal adviser on operational policing matters, a role which we both saw as essential in office.
It will be Labour's job in government to restore police self-confidence and to re-establish the vital constitutional principle of operational independence. Yvette Cooper rightly encouraged the establishment of the Independent Commission on Policing, chaired by former Met commissioner, John Stevens. Labour should now commit itself to implementing its excellent report in full. It will be Labour's job in government to restore police self-confidence and to re-establish the vital constitutional principle of operational independence. Yvette Cooper rightly encouraged the establishment of the Independent Police Commission, chaired by the former Met commissioner John Stevens. Labour should now commit itself to implementing its excellent report in full.
The first step is to remove party politics from the police service. The police and crime commissioners should be abolished as an unhappy and unsatisfactory interlude in the history of British policing. They should be replaced by indirectly elected police boards comprising the leaders of the relevant local authorities.The first step is to remove party politics from the police service. The police and crime commissioners should be abolished as an unhappy and unsatisfactory interlude in the history of British policing. They should be replaced by indirectly elected police boards comprising the leaders of the relevant local authorities.
The second step is to create the most effective organisation to meet modern policing needs and establish genuine local accountability. That means a strong and binding local police commitment to neighbourhood policing, police organisation which works in close partnership with other public services such as schools and hospitals, close collaboration with the rest of the criminal justice system and joint working with private organisations like pubs and clubs. The second step is to create the most effective organisation to meet modern policing needs and establish genuine local accountability. That means a strong and binding local police commitment to neighbourhood policing; police organisation that works in close partnership with other public services such as schools and hospitals; close collaboration with the rest of the criminal justice system; and joint working with private organisations such as pubs and clubs.
The Labour government will have to face up to the fact that, as almost everyone now recognises, the current arrangement of 43 different police forces is inefficient and requires reorganisation. Limited resources need to be applied in the most effective way, particularly in developing the strategic intelligence which is vital for effective policing. Forces should be merged in an organic way which respects local communities. On that basis there would probably be about 15-18 forces in England and Wales. The Labour government will have to face up to the fact that, as almost everyone now recognises, the current arrangement of 43 different police forces is inefficient and requires reorganisation. Limited resources need to be applied in the most effective way, particularly in developing the strategic intelligence which is vital for effective policing. Forces should be merged in an organic way that respects local communities. On that basis there would probably be about 15-18 forces in England and Wales.
Third, the new government will have to strengthen the capacity of the police to fight crime. As the Stevens Committee rightly emphasises police pay and conditions need to continue to be modernised, building on the Winsor review, and new institutions are needed to raise professional standards and remedy police misconduct. Third, the new government will have to strengthen the capacity of the police to fight crime. As the Stevens Committee emphasises, police pay and conditions must continue to be modernised, building on the review conducted by Tom Winsor, and new institutions are needed to raise professional standards and remedy police misconduct.
The Tory approach has put policing in the national spotlight in a very damaging way. It is Labour's job to restore confidence, in the police and the way to do that is to follow the path set out by John Stevens and the distinguished and experienced members of his commission.The Tory approach has put policing in the national spotlight in a very damaging way. It is Labour's job to restore confidence, in the police and the way to do that is to follow the path set out by John Stevens and the distinguished and experienced members of his commission.