Real Policing

My apologies for not having blogged in a few weeks.  Two projects intended to foster police reform, or at least the precursory debate, have kept me busy.  One I shall explain in due course.  The other is a national police survey designed to gauge the views of police officers.  In regards to the current state of the police force it is difficult to say whether police apathy is part of the cause or merely the effect.  The ability of the police to resist change is as steadfast as its inability to resist political interference.  Some senior officers will decry the civilianising of the police force while those on the ground lament being restricted in their efforts to catch criminals and prevent the public from becoming victims of crime.  Two opposing and contradictory perspectives play out against a political backdrop of dubious government crime statistics and rosy ministerial appraisals suggesting the public have less to fear now than at any time in recent history.  

Therefore, the national police survey is an opportunity for our police officers to make their feelings known and to offer a contradictory opinion, or otherwise, on policing.  Ministerial prevaricating would have the public believe the Labour Government has been tough on crime and tough on the causes of crime, that PCSOs are effective in preventing and tackling crime and that priority distorting targets are necessary to ensure police accountability.  Those who do the job on the ground know better and are far more advantageously placed to proffer a faithful opinion.  However, invoking the views of those who believe almost irretrievably that nothing will change is no easy task.  Fear of reprisals and disciplinary action compounds the malaise and engenders fear.  Yet, the current state of policing can change.  It changed sufficiently to fall into its current inadequate state and can change again.  The fact that it hasn’t does not mean that it can’t.  A considerable amount of money and political will is necessary to bring about a more efficient police force.  The first step to achieving reform is for those of you who joined the job to catch criminals and prevent crime and not to be glorified administrators chasing silly targets to give credit to your views by completing the national police survey.

The survey consists of fifty questions which are intended to gauge officers’ opinions in all aspects of policing.  The questions have been compiled in consultation with a national polling organisation who will analyse the responses after the closing date on January 16th, 2008.  The results will be sent to HM The Queen, the Prime Minister, the Home Secretary and other relevant bodies.  If you are a serving police officer and would like a copy of the survey then please telephone 0870 842 8467 or e-mail info@protecttheprotectors.com for further information.  While the success of the survey ultimately depends upon political acknowledgement of police opinion, the public will be made aware of the results and will judge for itself the veracity of Gordon Brown’s pledge that his Government is listening.  It is not a misconduct issue and in no way brings your force into disrepute if you take a survey form home and complete it in your own time.  You can maximise the chances of bringing about a more efficient police force, do the job you joined to do and truly provide the public with the service they deserve by completing the national police survey.  Please tell the public the truth about your job with honesty and integrity.  The situation in our country has never been more precarious and the need for your honest opinion never more desparate.     

I wish to thank those officers from Constable to Superintendent who have shown their support for the survey thus far.  Please click on the black square below to read in PDF format the national police survey.