Policing has a problem with accountability – one that I saw throughout my time as an officer and, later, as chief constable. This stems from the belief, held by much of the police service, that it is under constant attack from all sides, and that a lily-livered leadership is failing to support it, or understand the challenges of delivering frontline policing. The narrative of the “hero cop” looms large, as does the notion of the “thin blue line”, which has other connotations in the US, but in the UK symbolises the cops holding back the tide of lawlessness in the face of a hostile public and press.
As a result, too many officers believe that the law applies differently to them. That can result in an unwarranted arrest here, a strip-search there, checking police systems for contact details, and worse. Many officers believe that if you are doing your job properly you will be on the receiving end of complaints. The abuse of power is ingrained in policing.
