Some may think I might have finally lost my senses or be starting to agree with the numerous critics of policing in politics and the media, not to mention several former senior officers. Policing needs special measures but not for some of the reasons recently highlighted and reported. Last week there were a number of leaks from a report being compiled by Her Majesty`s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMIC) about placing several Police forces into special measures. Public sector organisations can be placed into the `engage` stage when the inspectorate decides they are underperforming in a variety of roles and tasks. The country`s largest police force, the Metropolitan Police along with Gloucestershire, Staffordshire, Wiltshire, Cleveland, and Greater Manchester are all now in this stage. Greater Manchester Police had already been placed there in 2020 for a number of failings concerning the recording of 80,000 crimes.
If you believe all that has been written in the media, and reported on TV and radio, then the reason for the Met being in special measures is a litany of appalling behaviour and criminal offences from a minority of serving officers. Those high- profile cases including murder committed by a serving officer, offensive comments posted on a messaging system by members of one team at Charing Cross police station, and two officers taking pictures whilst guarding a murder crime scene, were all referenced in part in the leaked extract from the HMIC. The key aspect is they were not given as the fundamental `reasons` for the measures to be started, the truth of the matter is that together with the other forces named, the Met has been failing in its core business of basic policing. All six will now be required by HMIC to provide a plan to show how they propose to address those issues. They will face increased scrutiny and reporting, and they could be given targets to achieve.
In my view, it is the failure to meet basic policing responsibilities that is the requirement for HMIC to intervene. The failings are not because a minority of serving officers have committed acts abhorrent to most right minded citizens & unacceptable for anyone holding the office of constable.
The reasons for these forces being placed in these measures is reflected in policing across the UK. In relation to the Met, the HMIC reportedly commented about poor initial training, lack of effective supervision, issues with recruitment and having predominantly young and inexperienced officers in front line response policing. In addition, they also mentioned the Met had a substandard response to emergency calls, barely adequate crime recording and a backlog of child abuse referrals. Across the country, forces have produced figures showing a lack of effective investigation for crime types including burglary and a reduction in prosecutions for other offences. These are all basic policing objectives.
I welcome the announcement of the six forces being placed in these measures but not because of any `cultural` issues in policing, that many would have you believe exist. Nor is it to combat the sexism, racism or misogyny that is allegedly widespread in policing and the cause of all these problems. Policing is in dire need of special attention and measures because it has been largely ignored, under- funded and under resourced for over ten years by the government. It is in such a crisis because of government policy and a lack of criticism from senior police chiefs who have been silent against the cuts and in several cases have tacitly supported them.
Specifically in respect of the Met, it needs to go back to the previous structure of areas and boroughs with commanders and chief superintendents in charge. It was re-structured under Lord Hogan-Howe to make it more like county forces with thirteen larger command areas and a reduced number of senior officers managing front line policing. The pilot scheme in East London was an abject failure and those working there reported the problems and issues they faced. However, those in charge were keen to push ahead with their innovative scheme and it was rolled out across the Met. There needs to be a return to smaller command units and far more direct and effective supervision of police officers. The real crisis over the last ten years has been the retention of experienced staff and government need to finally accept and recognise the unique position police officers are in by having no industrial rights at all. The pay and conditions need to dramatically improve or the recruitment of suitable people to be police officers will continue to be a significant issue.
Policing needs to focus on getting back to doing the basic things right, answering emergency calls and responding to them, attending and investigating crime, but return to those primary objects of preventing and detecting crime. Officers are frustrated and angry with government policy around pay over the last ten years, they cannot take industrial action, and nor would I want them to, but that is a quid pro quo situation. That unique position needs to be reflected in their annual pay awards which have been non existent over the last few years and fallen far behind other sectors. They are also frustrated by a lack of support from senior officers who are often far removed from basic response policing and fail to acknowledge the crisis facing that key part of the organisation. Response officers and investigators need additional resources and supervisors must be given the time to effectively manage their officers and not attend endless meetings about targets and figures. The promotion system needs an overhaul as does initial training, innovative schemes like direct entry and degree entry courses have done little to attract and retain the right people for the job.
I think the officers working in the lower ranks should see this report from HMIC placing forces into special measures, as a reflection on the failure of government policy over ten years and a failure of senior management. It is not a reflection of their work which has increased beyond capacity and now encompasses far more roles than just preventing and detecting crime.
The decision to place six Police forces in special measures is a damning indictment of the state of policing in Britain. I would not be surprised if there are others who are close to joining them such is the crisis facing policing.
Graham Wettone 