Scotland Yard hits back at Tory control claims
10:36 pm - September 3rd 2009
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Scotland Yard today hit back at comments by deputy Mayor that he and Johnson have their “hands on the tiller” of the Metropolitan police.
Kit Malthouse, the deputy mayor for policing, said that and would no longer act as a rubber stamp to whatever the force proposed, in a Guardian interview.
He said:
We slightly elbowed the Home Office out of the picture – you cannot have two captains on the ship.
Brian Paddick, the former assistant deputy commissioner said the Conservatives had politicised the force. He released a statement today saying:
If Kit Malthouse is claiming that unless senior officers do what their political masters instruct they will lose their jobs, it’s clearly politicisation of the police and a very dangerous move.
Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson said:
I do not want anyone to be under the misapprehension that Scotland Yard or the Metropolitan Police Service is under the operational control of any political party. While the Home Office and the police authority have a right and duty to set priorities, budget and hold us to account, I set the operational strategy and direction for the Met.
All operational decisions are taken without fear or favour for any individual, political or other interest. I can reassure you that I have no intention or expectation of this changing now or in the future.
One Yard source told the Daily Mail:
This is nonsense. If you look at what the police have delivered in the past year that is all down to [Commissioner] Sir Paul [Stephenson] and nothing to do with politicians. Paul has been very robust with Mr Malthouse in recent months.It is ridiculous to say he has wrested control away from the police. He is a local politician thinking he is a national politician. We recognise the Metropolitan Police Authority has a role to play but he is very full of himself.
The outgoing commissioner Ian Blair had earlier warned about increasing politicisation of the police force.
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Reader comments
Bit rich Ian Blair warning of the politicisation of the police force. Also what of the police controlling politicians?..ACPO seem to get the police pretty much whatever they call for,plus lots of loot for themselves ( and they offer lovely cushy sinecures for many ex-senior-police who’re pulling down full pensions at an early age) and with little scrutiny. Boris’ braggadocio is small beer by comparison.
Brian Paddick didn’t say the second and third paragraphs attributed to him by Newswire. They were said by Paul Stephenson, Met commissioner.
The Home Office spokesman waxed satirical:
A Home Office spokesman said: “The claim that the Metropolitan Police no longer answers to the Home Office is incorrect.
“Policing priorities for all forces, including the Met, are set by the Home Office and protection of the public is at the heart of this.
“Operational independence, free from political interference, is a fundamental tenet of policing in this country and there are no plans to change this. This is far too important to be used as a political football.”
As if the Home Office is apolitical!
Whoops, that’s been amended. cheers ukliberty.
Am I wrong or was all that stuff yesterday about the Met now working to Boris Johnson’s Conservative agenda just another case of folie de grandeur?
If I am wrong, just what is there to show the new “agenda” is making a difference?
“Am I wrong or was all that stuff yesterday about the Met now working to Boris Johnson’s Conservative agenda just another case of folie de grandeur?”
Either that or a clever exercise in flushing out opposition to greater political control over operational policing preparatory to painting it as corrupt, old-fashioned, comfort-zone politics. Considering the opposition was the Home Office, Blunkett, ACPO and the senior ranks of the Met this shouldn’t be too hard.
Personally I’m more intrigued to understand the consequences of Kit ringing up the fuzz to urge them to deal with dangerous dogs – ‘OK, sir, we’ll just stop pursuing this rapist, then, and get the dog net out’.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/davehillblog/2009/sep/03/boris-johnson-kit-malthouse-metropolitan-police
I am in favour of locally elected police chiefs.
Meantime there is no reason why elected politicians should not set priorities, so long as those were part of their manifesto.
“I am in favour of locally elected police chiefs”
What a fascinating idea ! Who or what will fund the election campaigns of wannabe Police Chiefs or will the candidates get support – explicit or covert – from political parties or just from “concerned citizens”?
Remember this recent news report?
“The body representing Britain’s top police officers last night called for the end of secret payments and perks – including school fees and satellite television costs – being paid to their members.”
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/jul/07/police-chiefs-offered-perks
If we do end up with elected police chiefs, I profoundly hope we don’t get the problems they’ve had in Doncaster with elected executive mayors.
We heard rumors that a young ,gay man is gonning to attempt to kill actor,Kevin Spacey at his OLD VIC theather in Waterloo….during his performance of “Inherit the wind” sometime in Oct..thought U should be informed..guy sounded “HIGH” and said he worked for him..was acrossed the street ..said he had been in building of Mr. Spacey’s and that he was gonna “END THE OLD WANK” for raping him???Concerned tourist..wanted to report it, but JUST WANTED TO GET OUT OF THERE..is London full of LUMS???
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