Introduction The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) has been at the centre of a storm in recent months and subject to huge turbulence. It has seen the departure of its serving Commissioner amid a series of scandals and errors of professional judgement and the appointment of a successor Commissioner committed to internal reform of the MPS. …
The Metropolitan Police: a message from history. Read More »
The current malaise The resignation of Cressida Dick as London’s Police Commissioner following a meeting with the London Mayor Sadiq Khan in which he expressed his lack of confidence in her leadership of the MPS only provided evidence of a significant decline in public confidence in the force. Yet the resignation has in fact attested …
The one important thing shared by all UK police officers is their oath to the Crown. Many of them take comfort from this allegiance to the sovereign not least because it offers some protection from the messy world of party politics. There is no doubt that our late Queen was held in the highest possible …
A brief tribute for the late Queen Elizabeth from the Policing Commentary team Read More »
Introduction Policing is in crisis! That appears to be the consensus from many observers primed with a plethora of real-time examples where the service has at times, catastrophically failed the public. Likewise, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) are currently concerned about the performance of at least six forces in …
Time for internal management change? Policing in England and Wales has once again returned to the top of the political agenda. This has been propelled by a major review of policing from the Police Foundation which has recently presented a range of proposals to improve police effectiveness and service delivery [Police Foundation 2022]. Along with …
The introduction of Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) in 2012, together with a new governance model designed to hold the police to account, brought politics firmly into policing. Hitherto, the acknowledged convention was that operational policing and politics should be kept apart. The doctrine of operational independence appears to have been firmly endorsed by the …
Introduction: the leadership debate: In this first in a series of blogs, we want to take the opportunity to positively critique The Police Foundation’s recent report – A New Mode of Protection, particularly through the lens of leadership. Our intent is to add value to the extensive work that has been carried out over the last …
Introduction As is always the case in healthy democratic systems, there is considerable debate about the role and effectiveness of policing within modern society. In particular, the trust and confidence in policing to be able to fulfil its mandate of protection whilst serving diverse and vulnerable communities in an equitable manner, is under intense scrutiny. …
Enhancing local police service delivery: defunding or refunding the police? Read More »
I am the CEO of the above charity and have been with them for two years. Previously I served with Thame Valley Police for 35 years, retiring as an Assistant Chief Constable. Like many officers I wanted to continue to work in public service and continue to help and support people. The charity sector, and …
Introduction For a Crime Plan to have a lasting impact, both on the root causes of crime and the immediacy of the current crime rate, it needs to be a meeting place of justice and reason. There is a requirement that it becomes a vehicle for new thinking with respect to clear strategic intent. This …