Police that can’t be trusted

Huh? Expecting police not to abuse their position of power is unrealistic?

SueDonim

Huh? Expecting police not to abuse their position of power is unrealistic?

I don't think anyone has said that, can you point me to the post, please? I absolutely think it is wrong for anyone to abuse a position of power, whether that be a member of the police force, a teacher, nurse or doctor, MP or anyone. However, one person or indeed several people within an organisation abusing their power does not make the whole organisation corrupt or abusive but that doesn't mean that there aren't lessons to be learned.

Fennel’s post says that the responsibilities the police have are unrealistic.

But how many corrupt officers do there need to be before we accept that the problem is structural and that the structure may need to be taken down and rebuilt?

Amberspyglass No where in the link you mention is there any mention of pursuing criminals - you know the people I mean, those that go out murdering, stealing, raping, abusing, cheating, scamming, beating up,intimidating. Who will carry out the long slow and detailed investigations that have caught at least half a dozen serial rapists, serial murderers and gangsters and extortioners.

You know, proper real crime

when in reality they are as disgusted by his actions as everyone else
Oldwoman but they weren’t were they, they knew he had form and was a pervert but they ignored it.

The big problem is that the police are still predominantly white men, with all the societal attitudes that go with that.

Police services should reflect the areas they serve. What is needed is a far more diverse police force where 40% plus are women and in London a similar number should come from other ethnic groups. Outside London the ethnic mix could be lower.

The vetting procedure should be far more stringent and any officer suspected of a crime should immediately be suspended on full pay, not just put in a back office job until he is charged or when exonerated , returns to front line work.

SueDonim

Fennel’s post says that the responsibilities the police have are unrealistic.

I read that differently to you, the quote is very non specific but you have made it specific to "abuse of power" which I don't think was the intention.

M0nica

The big problem is that the police are still predominantly white men, with all the societal attitudes that go with that.

Police services should reflect the areas they serve. What is needed is a far more diverse police force where 40% plus are women and in London a similar number should come from other ethnic groups. Outside London the ethnic mix could be lower.

The vetting procedure should be far more stringent and any officer suspected of a crime should immediately be suspended on full pay, not just put in a back office job until he is charged or when exonerated , returns to front line work.

When my granddaughter's fiance applied for the Police a year ago he was turned down because as a white male he didn't fit their demographic!

I think there is a fine line to be trod between giving undue leeway to one applicant because he fits a profile and rejecting a good candidate because they do not.

We do not want the next scandal to involve non-European officers in the force going wrong and then finding that they would never have been accepted, had they not been non-European and vetting standards had been dropped for them.

Sarnia I've sent you a private message.

Why would non-European officers have to have the standards dropped, Monica?

Whilst I agree that in principle more female officers is a good idea, in practical terms is it possible for a female to arrest a large strapping male, break up a fight, apprehend a husband in a domestic violence scenario? They need to be partnered with a male for their own safety.

Granny gravy, I accept the physical power imbalance but women officers are as good as the men when it comes to calming situations. (Or as bad )

Scentia

*when in reality they are as disgusted by his actions as everyone else*
Oldwoman but they weren’t were they, they knew he had form and was a pervert but they ignored it.

Some of them, not all.

M0nica

The big problem is that the police are still predominantly white men, with all the societal attitudes that go with that.

Police services should reflect the areas they serve. What is needed is a far more diverse police force where 40% plus are women and in London a similar number should come from other ethnic groups. Outside London the ethnic mix could be lower.

The vetting procedure should be far more stringent and any officer suspected of a crime should immediately be suspended on full pay, not just put in a back office job until he is charged or when exonerated , returns to front line work.

Think they are doing this with their equity programme.

Cynically though how many times have we heard the party line ' lessons will be learned' How many millions have been spent on groups/quangos to investigate criminal behaviour and nothing changes.
The misogynistic culture in the Met and other forces is systemic and I can't see much changing sadly.

My worry is the Met reflects society. Misogyny, racism, homophobia and other forms of bigotry are seen throughout our society.
As has been seen frequently on grandnet, women can be as judgemental and critical of other women and girls.

Whitewavemark2

Remember this? She was in the vigil for Sarah.

Yes they went in mob-handed at a peaceful vigil then a few weeks later stood back and allowed Wembley to be mobbed.

I actually feel also sorry for all the officers who served with him. How must they feel. Some would have had leisure / personal / holidays with him etc it's a very sad situation all around .

His work nickname was literally “The Rapist”. They already knew what he was.

I’m not diminishing the concerns leading to the nickname but the timeline shouldn’t be forgotten.
The rapist nickname was three years before he joined the Met. He was working in a civil nuclear protection unit. His behaviour made female colleagues uncomfortable. This wasn’t known to the Met when he was appointed by them.
It would appear no formal complaints were made or investigated.
I heard former employees complain difficulties in getting staff led to a deterioration in the quality of new appointees, like WC. Some of whom them found it easier to move eg to the Met.

The reports he used vile pornography came even earlier when he worked at a garage.
There appear to have been a number of incidents when he exposed himself at a drive in McDonald’s. Only one staff member complained to the police, in the weeks preceding the murder of Sarah. . I’m not sure whether that investigation had progressed.

All these red flags are significant and should have led to investigation had they been known. Dare we hope the enquiry will inform future practice

Quote from Raab’s speech.

“Misogyny is absolutely wrong, whether it’s a man against a woman, or a woman against a man”

Not the brightest spark in the box.

As Jess Philips said

Jess Phillips MP
@jessphillips
·
6m
Give me strength. Not sure why I'd be surprised he's got form of knowing the square root of naff all.

At least 26 Met officers have committed sex crimes in the past 5 years including rape, possessing indecent images of children and voyeurism. This has been revealed under The Freedom of Information Act. Couzens is not a one off.

Some officers have not been vetted for over 20 years. Why not? If you wok with children as a football volunteer you have to have a DBS every 3 years and there are paid safeguarding officers you can go to with any concerns. The police need to put their house in order or have it done for them if they are to earn back our trust. Would you tell your gc if you are lost ask a policeman? Sadly probably not. Trust has to be rebuilt.

Lindsay Hoyle is demanding a meeting with top met officials regarding safety from officers at the H of P. Not so long ago a police officer heroically gave his life there protecting mps from a terrorist attack. They owe it to him and every decent police officer to sort this out.

Thanks for your informative post Iam64. I also think that because he transferred from Kent police to the Met, there would have been no further checks made. Perhaps that should be standard, that checks are made even when transferring between areas.

Whitewavemark2 Raab should have used misandry as well as misogyny, but what annoys me more is that not one single political party would make misogyny a hate crime. Why their female members accept this is unfathomable.