Sir Robert Peel, the founder of modern policing, once set out that “the police are the public and the public are the police”. In this way, the power of the police emanates from the common consent of the public, as opposed to the state.
Fast forward nearly two centuries and the Metropolitan Police faces a crisis. The latest revelations, secured by the Evening Standard via a Freedom of Information request, reveal that more than 100 Met officers who are currently under investigation for suspected crimes — including domestic abuse — remain working as normal. Furthermore, nearly half of officers who have a case to answer for alleged gross misconduct have not been placed on restricted duties, meaning some continue to police the streets.
These revelations come off the back of a damning report by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services, the police watchdog, which found that hundreds of officers in England and Wales who should have failed vetting checks may be serving. The combined weight of these serious revelations has fed fresh calls for Sir Mark Rowley, the new Met Police Commissioner, to take urgent action to overhaul the force’s “failed” misconduct system.
The reality is Sir Mark faces a huge task to get a grip on his force. Public trust will never recover until he proves beyond doubt that the Met has the power and will to dismiss all the racists, misogynists, sex offenders and anyone else who should never have been an officer in the first place.
Hancock’s odd move
Moving from entertainment to politics is a well-trodden path. But the reverse direction is full of pitfalls. For every Ed Balls or Michael Portillo there is a Harold Wilson, whose hosting duties of BBC chat show Friday Night, Saturday Morning lasted for only two editions.
Ex-health secretary Matt Hancock may find himself in a similar predicament. In a best-case scenario, he may raise awareness for his dyslexia campaign, sell a few books and be crowned King of the Jungle. However, having already lost the Tory whip, he may end up being forced to eat kangaroo testicles and swiftly return to the political wilderness.
Hancock’s questionable decision-making has thrown up a problem for Rishi Sunak, too, who must have hoped to move on from the circus show of the last few months. It also draws attention more broadly to MPs’ second jobs, a scandal always seemingly bubbling below the surface.
If Hancock really wants to connect with the public, he should consider preparing his response to the Covid-19 inquiry, established to examine the UK response to the pandemic and to learn lessons for the future.
Christmas can wait
One benefit of Thanksgiving, held in the US each year on the fourth Thursday in November, is that it pushes the Christmas advertising blitz into December where it belongs.
Conversely, turn on your television this week in Britain and you may not be overcome by feelings of thankfulness. Disney and John Lewis are among those rolling out their Christmas adverts in the coming days. No doubt these will represent the triumph of brands’ abilities to make us feel warm and fuzzy inside.
We are, as ever, prepared to be emotionally manipulated into buying toys. But not yet. At least let us have Bonfire Night.
