Real Policing

I have just read the story relating to the link provided by Mr. Alan O’Reilly who signed the petition at number 464.  The story concerns a town in Wiltshire called Calne whose residents are frustrated beyond despair at the lack of police patrols which are leaving their streets to the shenanigans of local youths.  These youths are apparently terrorising the local community and making the life of residents there a living hell.  The British National Party have mobilised local residents to carry out their own public patrols in nearby Corsham which has apparently paid dividends by reducing anti-social behaviour.  As a result, they intend to start up a similar initiative in Calne.  When I scrolled down and read the readers’ comments I was saddened to read how so much anger and frustration was directed at the police.  The residents there have lost faith in the ability of the police to protect them and have resorted to taking matters into their own hands.  I fully understand the frustrations of the local residents and I wish they understood that their officers’ hands are tied with repetitive and duplicative paperwork and, as I understand it, a lack of resources.  Whilst I appreciate that staffing levels are the responsibility of the chief constable, it is Home Office policy which ties the hands of officers with red tape and targets.  I’m sure that given the choice the officers of Wiltshire Constabulary would much rather be out on patrol providing reassurance and deterring crime before it has the opportunity to take place than being latched to their computers in the station. 

Incidently, I am well aware that there are those who may use the reference in this blog to the BNP to suggest that I am in some way sympathetic to or endorse their political views.  This is, however, not the case and my reference should be considered as merely a commentary and an illustration of the lengths two particular towns have gone to in order to make their communities safer.  In no way do I endorse extreme politics.  

Whilst I have the opportunity I wish to say that my colleagues in Brighton & Hove are among the most professional, hardworking, dedicated and committed officers with whom I have had the pleasure to serve.  It is indeed testament to their commitment to the people of Brighton & Hove that they are able to provide and maintain such a high level of service whilst their hands are similarly tied.  They too are restricted in their efforts to reassure and deter by excessive bureaucracy and the target driven detection culture.  This is without question a national issue and not a regional one as academic studies and online blogs will contend.

Many thanks to those of you who have added your support today which has seen the petition continue to grow.  Please continue to show your support by encouraging others, including your local MP, to add their endorsement.  I shall be back with you again soon.  All the best.

Johnno.        

The one who almost got away.  My sister should be in CID for spotting entry 306.  Many thanks to Bernard Jenkin, MP for North Essex who has added his support to the petition.  Mr. Jenkin has demonstrated to his constituents his commitment to safer streets and police reform.  Today has seen another teriffic response to the petition however we still have a long way to go if it is to have any chance of success.  Thanks to those of you who have signed so far.  Please continue to encourage others, including your MP, to show their support by adding their endorsement.  I have been reading various police officer blogs today and would like to thank my rank and file colleagues who have shown their support.  They are indeed the legs upon which the organisation stands.  Considering some of the examples I have read regarding the manipulation of crime figures the examples I gave in the press seem rather tame by comparison.  That said, if it is a choice between sitting around whinging about the way things are and doing nothing to bring about change or standing up and encouraging others to do likewise I know which fool I’d rather be.  I shall be back with you again soon.  All the best.

Johnno.    

Many thanks to Dr. Liam Fox MP, the Shadow Secretary of State for Defence and Tim Loughton MP for Shoreham & East Worthing for adding their support to the petition.  Eight Members of Parliament have so far endorsed the petition and in doing so have demonstrated to their constituents their commitment to safer streets and police reform.  Also, special thanks go to David Copperfield, author of “Wasting Police Time,” for his support and link from his website to realpolicing.  

There has been a considerable response to the petition today.  This is the best day yet.  Thank you to all who have added their support.  Only time will tell whether or not it falls on deaf ears.  Allowing the status quo to continue is not a preferable option.  Apathy and pessimism will ensure that absolutely nothing changes .  Only by making our views and our widespread dissatisfaction known can we hope to bring about a better set of circumstances for officers and the public alike.  With enough public support this initiative has every chance of succeeding.  We don’t know until we try. 

Someone read my mind regarding Peelian principles as I attached three quotes I found the other day from Sir Robert Peel to e-mails I sent out to members of parliament.  Sir Robert Peel, as well as being prime minister on two occasions during the 1800s, also established the Metropolitan police force for London, based at Scotland Yard.  Current Home Office policy is such that the modern police force is falling short of Sir Roberts basic principles, below.  

 ”The ability of the police to perform their duties is
dependent upon public approval of police actions.”

“The test of police efficiency is the absence of crime
and disorder, not the visible evidence of police
action in dealing with it.”

“Whether the police are effective is not measured on
the number of arrests, but on the lack of crime.”

-Sir Robert Peel.

Sincere thanks to Peter Bottomley, MP for Worthing West, for his endorsement of the petition. Mr. Bottomley is yet another Member of Parliament who, in showing his support for the campaign, also sends a strong message to his constituents of his commitment to safer streets and police reform.  Please encourage your MP to get involved and show their support by endorsing the petition.  Your support and that of your MP is invaluable if this campaign is to make any difference at national level.  Many thanks again to those of you who have shown your support so far.  Please continue to do so by encouraging others to sign the petition too.  I shall be back with you again shortly.

 Johnno.   

Many thanks to Robert Key MP who has added his support to the petition.  Mr. Key’s endorsement sends a strong indication to his constituents in Salisbury and South Wiltshire of his support for safer streets and police reform.  Let’s hope that our own local MPs show due regard for our safety and the effectiveness of our police service by demonstrating their support for the campaign.  Thank you so much to those of you who have signed the petition so far.  Your support is crucial if the campaign is to succeed.  I shall be back with an update for you soon.

Johnno.     

Many thanks to John Randall MP, Graham Stuart MP and John Hemming MP who have kindly added their support to the petition.  Let’s hope other Members of Parliament add their support too.  Whilst I appreciate the numerous endorsement requests MPs must receive I believe that in this particular case the support of our local MPs would send a strong message to their constituents of their commitment and that of their party to police reform.  Many thanks again to all who have shown their support so far.  Please continue to do so by encouraging your friends to add theirs.  I shall be back with you again soon.

Johnno     

This evening Meridian south-east news broadcasted the interview I gave yesterday with James Trollope.  Meridian south-east made the topic of whether police officers back on the beat is the most effective method of dealing with modern crime their talking point for the day.  Members of the public were invited after the bulletin to either e-mail or phone in with their comments for discussion on tomorrow’s programme. 

I am not a criminologist and therefore cannot offer an expert opinion but my experiences in uniform confirmed what I had been taught in training that one of the essential elements crime needs is the opportunity for it to take place.  We cannot hope to truly drive down crime and prevent members of the public from becoming victims of it if we don’t prevent that opportunity.  To what extent the nature of street crime has changed, apart from perhaps the level of violence used, I cannot truly say.  The fact remains, however, that crime depends on the opportunity to occur in order for it to succeed, no matter how violent or sophisticated it has become.  In terms of street crime there must be no question that a regular police presence serves to remove the opportunity.  What are your views on this?

Thank you for your support.  Please encourage others to show their support by signing the petition.  I shall be back with you again soon.

Johnno.    

Today I had two bites of the cherry and was interviewed this morning on BBC Southern Counties Radio which covers Sussex and Surrey.  I went in with a firm idea of the three points I wanted to get across, the detection culture, bureaucracy and also the redefined role of the police community support officer.  The interview itself was something of a blur which required a second listen via their online broadcast when I got home to establish exactly how much I had covered of what I intended to say. 

I was then interviewed for Meridian news where I explained the detection examples I have used previously and how the target culture has served to undermine morale.  This was the focus of the televised interview in addition to prevention over detection.  I also acknowledge the comments in the bulletin from the police federation regarding my actions and the examples I have used which, it would appear, suggest a lack of experience.  I cannot and do not expect unanswered speech.  However, what I lack in experience I make up for in honesty, integrity and a desire to make a difference and help restore a sense of safety, reassurance and respect to our streets.  That said, I believe my time in the job makes me amply qualified to speak considering that I saw nothing after three and a half years which I did not see after six months.  Thank you again for your support.  The success of this campaign depends on it.  I shall be back soon.

Johnno.        

In order to preserve the integrity of this site I must make readers aware of a misunderstanding which came to light this afternoon whilst in conversation with my federation colleague.  I discussed with him the example of cannabis seizure at the sudden death and asked him to clarify if I had understood him correctly by saying this was the incident he referred to at his meeting.  He stated it was not this particular incident but another example of an offence being crimed at a sudden death which he had used in order to illustrate how the target/detection culture has resulted in officers chasing quick and easy detections.  I apologise for my own misunderstanding and feel it would not be fair to those who have already read the original posting to make amendments to it.  I shall be in touch again soon with anything new to report. 

Johnno.      

Many thanks to Nick Herbert MP who is the first politician to sign the petition despite several furious (in terms of speed, not tone) e-mails to other senior politicians asking them to show their support. 

Johnno.