Policy Exchange (PX) to an observer can appear to be “neo-conservative”, although they have and still do have speakers from both sides of the House of Commons. At least one ex-Labour MP is a senior fellow. At one time Bill Bratton, ex-NYPD and other luminaries from NYPD were speakers. I attended one speaker event where Tom Winsor sat in the audience in plainclothes and was ignored by nearly everyone. Peter Clarke, ex-MPS, is a senior fellow.
A previous PX adviser / authors on policing was Blair Gibbs (who had a No.10 role too) and ex-MP, ex-Home Office Minister, now a Baron, Nick Herbert who is now the Chair of the College of Policing. Might the later fact influence this report?
PX was conspicuously silent on the cuts to policing 2010-2024 and for many years had no 'Head of Crime and Justice'.
Now to the 'turd' passage: 'wholesale change in the structure and approach of police leadership is required. The design and implementation of this should be led by an individual from outside policing. This should include Police and Crime Commissioners having the final say in all appointments to chief officer teams'.
That is a curious last sentence, more power to the PCC role? ACPO (now NPCC) lobbied the Home Office hard to give the PCC role the responsibility to appoint a Chief Constable. Is this "shades of an officer class" or more accurately a single officer 'from outside policing'? Mr Spencer, ex-MPS DCI maybe!
Incidentally PX are advocates of leaving ECHR and reducing judicial power.
The comments from Policy Exchange are what an old senior officer I knew would have described as a 'BFOTBO' (Blinding Flash Of The Bleeding Obvious). Forgive me if I'm wrong but wasn't PE the home of the self described 'Four horsemen of the policing apocalypse'? Most of the ideas that May and Winsor used during their destruction of policing originated from PE. It seems they now have an ex-police officer on board who may have convinced them to change track but we will see.
They have restated what all police officers know, come down on a hard core of offenders and you magically deal with a lot of other problems. The trouble is you need to rebuild courts, probation and prisons as well to help deal. I always adopt the 2/98 approach. 98% of your problems are caused by 2% of whatever you are dealing with.
As to the other things, PCC's were a bad idea and the SC are in decline. Never mind a new reorganisation will be along soon.
Thanks Dom. It seems to me that sometimes, just sometimes the obvious, simple solutions might actually work. Identify the criminals, lock up or deport them. Everyone else lives happier, more productive lives.
The Blob and the Sentencing Council lot seem to believe that this is somehow immoral and reactionary. But anything else is little more than fiddling at the edges, and as ever, while they burnish their liberal credentials, the rest of us suffer.
Great as usual, Dom. Didn't have time to read it all, small rugby match on the telly, but 100% with you on P&CCs. Worst idea ever. Largely inadequate, politically aligned people with no idea in charge of police chiefs is a shite idea of monumental proportions.
Another great article, Dom, with which I heartily agree. I was sad to see your opinion of David Gauke. I worked with his brother Jim a long time ago, he was a Ch Supt with views slightly to the right of Genghis Khan, don’t know what went wrong with David.
I’d take it further and explore making reserve / regular service modular / interchangeable. I need to think about how that would work but it potentially solves a host of dramas. And, yes, it has to be paid.
Policy Exchange (PX) to an observer can appear to be “neo-conservative”, although they have and still do have speakers from both sides of the House of Commons. At least one ex-Labour MP is a senior fellow. At one time Bill Bratton, ex-NYPD and other luminaries from NYPD were speakers. I attended one speaker event where Tom Winsor sat in the audience in plainclothes and was ignored by nearly everyone. Peter Clarke, ex-MPS, is a senior fellow.
A previous PX adviser / authors on policing was Blair Gibbs (who had a No.10 role too) and ex-MP, ex-Home Office Minister, now a Baron, Nick Herbert who is now the Chair of the College of Policing. Might the later fact influence this report?
PX was conspicuously silent on the cuts to policing 2010-2024 and for many years had no 'Head of Crime and Justice'.
Now to the 'turd' passage: 'wholesale change in the structure and approach of police leadership is required. The design and implementation of this should be led by an individual from outside policing. This should include Police and Crime Commissioners having the final say in all appointments to chief officer teams'.
That is a curious last sentence, more power to the PCC role? ACPO (now NPCC) lobbied the Home Office hard to give the PCC role the responsibility to appoint a Chief Constable. Is this "shades of an officer class" or more accurately a single officer 'from outside policing'? Mr Spencer, ex-MPS DCI maybe!
Incidentally PX are advocates of leaving ECHR and reducing judicial power.
The comments from Policy Exchange are what an old senior officer I knew would have described as a 'BFOTBO' (Blinding Flash Of The Bleeding Obvious). Forgive me if I'm wrong but wasn't PE the home of the self described 'Four horsemen of the policing apocalypse'? Most of the ideas that May and Winsor used during their destruction of policing originated from PE. It seems they now have an ex-police officer on board who may have convinced them to change track but we will see.
They have restated what all police officers know, come down on a hard core of offenders and you magically deal with a lot of other problems. The trouble is you need to rebuild courts, probation and prisons as well to help deal. I always adopt the 2/98 approach. 98% of your problems are caused by 2% of whatever you are dealing with.
As to the other things, PCC's were a bad idea and the SC are in decline. Never mind a new reorganisation will be along soon.
Thanks Dom. It seems to me that sometimes, just sometimes the obvious, simple solutions might actually work. Identify the criminals, lock up or deport them. Everyone else lives happier, more productive lives.
The Blob and the Sentencing Council lot seem to believe that this is somehow immoral and reactionary. But anything else is little more than fiddling at the edges, and as ever, while they burnish their liberal credentials, the rest of us suffer.
Best to you.
Did bit work last local elections. Dozens voters at Polling Station had no idea what PCC's are, or do, or why they're expected to vote for them.
I met my local pcc a few times. Nice chap. Ex army. Decent enough. No idea of course. Pointless waste time.
Tories and the home office.
That's who did this.
Incisive, humorous and on the money. You should be a PCC, oh, you are over qualified!
I’m glad I retired in 2010, May and Cameron have much to answer for……
Great as usual, Dom. Didn't have time to read it all, small rugby match on the telly, but 100% with you on P&CCs. Worst idea ever. Largely inadequate, politically aligned people with no idea in charge of police chiefs is a shite idea of monumental proportions.
Another great article, Dom, with which I heartily agree. I was sad to see your opinion of David Gauke. I worked with his brother Jim a long time ago, he was a Ch Supt with views slightly to the right of Genghis Khan, don’t know what went wrong with David.
A bit of yin and yang I suppose, Ray.
I bet they had some interesting discussions around the dinner table!
I’d take it further and explore making reserve / regular service modular / interchangeable. I need to think about how that would work but it potentially solves a host of dramas. And, yes, it has to be paid.