I still can't my head around why more wasn't made of the fact that the new Met Commissioner who is supposedly turning the organisation around was senior Met leader for years while all this was going on. Why they haven't actually got for a clean broom and insist on always appointing those that have been part of the problem mystifies me.
He was a candidate when Cressida Dick got it. And she had "been away" from the service for a bit too when... she was seconded to the security services. There is no clean broom and any clean broom that might be asked to come in wouldn't touch it with a very long clean broom handle.
The unofficial line from ministers and their media stooges (eg Melanie Phillips in the Times and on Politics Live today) will increasingly be that the Police have been demoralised by years of wokeism. The Yard needs someone as tough as Robert Mark, whose at least half-realised his ambition for a force that caught more crooks than it employed. And, somehow, it needs to shake off the foul embrace of the Murdoch press - an affliction so brilliantly documented in Nick Davies' book Hack Attack.
Having grown up in Liverpool in the seventies and eighties, I witnessed the damage and trauma that a racist and unaccountable police force can inflict upon society.
Recent events suggest that not a great deal has changed.
Sadly, for all the ‘thin blue line’ propaganda, the majority of police officers will always prioritise personal loyalty to their colleagues above acting in the interests of the wider community. It is inconceivable to believe that characters as flawed and downright evil as ‘Bastard Dave’ didn’t raise alarm and concern amongst his colleagues. But loyalty to’ ‘the job’ transcends all else.
The majority of police officers may be decent people attempting to do a difficult job, but, by turning a blind eye to the transgressions of fellow officers, they are also corrupt and complicit.
Hillsborough remains an unresolved miscarriage of justice for which no one has ever truly been held accountable. Literally dozens of police officers were willing to falsify evidence, corroborate falsehoods and lie to protect each other.
For too many members of the public, none of this really matters- until you, or someone close to you, becomes a victim.
Off topic but... VAR is only available in Premier League grounds. Yet John Littledick suggests that fans of Millwall (Championship) might protest a VAR decision in a game with Forest Green Rovers (bottom of League One). Not just abhorrent world views but half-arsed writing always guaranteed from these hacks.
I’d stick Inner London under the City of London police. Outer London to Thames Valley, Surrey, Essex etc. Make them all reapply for their jobs and try to lose the bad orchards ....
Excellent as always Mic.
I still can't my head around why more wasn't made of the fact that the new Met Commissioner who is supposedly turning the organisation around was senior Met leader for years while all this was going on. Why they haven't actually got for a clean broom and insist on always appointing those that have been part of the problem mystifies me.
He was a candidate when Cressida Dick got it. And she had "been away" from the service for a bit too when... she was seconded to the security services. There is no clean broom and any clean broom that might be asked to come in wouldn't touch it with a very long clean broom handle.
The unofficial line from ministers and their media stooges (eg Melanie Phillips in the Times and on Politics Live today) will increasingly be that the Police have been demoralised by years of wokeism. The Yard needs someone as tough as Robert Mark, whose at least half-realised his ambition for a force that caught more crooks than it employed. And, somehow, it needs to shake off the foul embrace of the Murdoch press - an affliction so brilliantly documented in Nick Davies' book Hack Attack.
Absolutely endorse that recommendation for Hack Attack.
Another excellent article Mic.
Having grown up in Liverpool in the seventies and eighties, I witnessed the damage and trauma that a racist and unaccountable police force can inflict upon society.
Recent events suggest that not a great deal has changed.
Sadly, for all the ‘thin blue line’ propaganda, the majority of police officers will always prioritise personal loyalty to their colleagues above acting in the interests of the wider community. It is inconceivable to believe that characters as flawed and downright evil as ‘Bastard Dave’ didn’t raise alarm and concern amongst his colleagues. But loyalty to’ ‘the job’ transcends all else.
The majority of police officers may be decent people attempting to do a difficult job, but, by turning a blind eye to the transgressions of fellow officers, they are also corrupt and complicit.
Hillsborough remains an unresolved miscarriage of justice for which no one has ever truly been held accountable. Literally dozens of police officers were willing to falsify evidence, corroborate falsehoods and lie to protect each other.
For too many members of the public, none of this really matters- until you, or someone close to you, becomes a victim.
Thanks again for
Off topic but... VAR is only available in Premier League grounds. Yet John Littledick suggests that fans of Millwall (Championship) might protest a VAR decision in a game with Forest Green Rovers (bottom of League One). Not just abhorrent world views but half-arsed writing always guaranteed from these hacks.
Yeah, I didn’t have space to get into that too but this is absolutely spot on.
Powerful piece, Mic. Thank you.
* having the courage to write candidly about these issues.
The Met needs to be broken up into smaller specialist units independent of each other.
And to have its national responsibilities taken away. But even then…
I’d stick Inner London under the City of London police. Outer London to Thames Valley, Surrey, Essex etc. Make them all reapply for their jobs and try to lose the bad orchards ....
Excellent stuff Mic - thank you.