Why officers face a crisis of confidence
Paul Snape (January 19) makes a robust defence of rank and file police officers. He tells us the main role of his members is to make the streets safe and reduce fear of crime.
Paul Snape (January 19) makes a robust defence of rank and file police officers. He tells us the main role of his members is to make the streets safe and reduce fear of crime.
The news pages of our newspapers tell us this is simply not happening. A perfect example is the brutal murder of a loving husband and father, Garry Newlove, in Warrington by a bunch of feral yobs fuelled by drugs and alcohol. For a long period of time Garry's neighbourhood has been plagued by drunken youths congregating to damage people's cars and property.
Their continuing menacing presence meant residents did not feel safe even in their homes. On one desperate phone call to the police the resident was told he was in a queue of 15 calls.
Day after day the public go about their daily business without seeing a police uniform. We are told officers spend most of their day on form filling. You simply cannot fight crime from behind a desk.
The constant cry is about a lack of resources, yet how many chief constables have stood up and vigorously criticised government policies that have been prime causes of escalating street crime?
The government was warned about the consequences of unlimited availability of alcohol. They were warned of the consequences of downgrading cannabis. Instead of banging on the door of the latest useless Home Secretary the police hierarchy was willing to rock the boat and went along with the ensuing disastrous political agenda.
Meanwhile Labour backbenchers concentrated on their expense sheets and without protest sat on their hands as the social tragedies unfolded.
Since the 1990s there has been an obsession in the police force with diversity, positive discrimination, targets, ethnic quotas and political correctness.
This has had an obvious effect since the appointment of Ian Blair as Police Commissioner. This is the man who was surprised by media interest in the Soham murders. This is the man who told London householders it was safe to leave their doors unlocked.
There is a crisis of confidence in today's police force.
Older readers will bring to mind a phrase used in the First World War to describe the kind of leadership given to soldiers.
D Perry, Lyndale Park, Wolverhampton.
