In praise of the Police

It may not be fashionable to say so, but I have full praise for the Police in their actions over the past few days. They have been criticised in the early stages of the riots for 'hanging back', but at that time, the extent of the rioting was not yet clear. Moreover, if they had gone in heavy-handed from the beginning - and people had been injured or killed - you can imagine the political uproar there would have been.

Night after night on our TV, we have witnessed astonishing acts of bravery by the police - much of it under reported. Without their actions, these terrible events could have been even worse. Facing down a baying mob requires extraordinary courage.

Whatever has gone wrong with policing mostly is down to our political masters - of whatever persuasion. Over the years, governments have imposed bureaucracy, meaning less time for police to be out on the beat. Judges too - gold-plating 'human rights'. laws, have made it harder to detain, jail criminals and let them out early on puny sentences.

This does not mean I think everything the police does is perfect, nor that there shouldn't be some reforms. Of course mistakes have been made. I support elected police commissioners to improve accountability with the public. There also needs to be some major efficiency gains, as with any large public sector organisation, waste needs to be cut. Inevitably too, there are major difficulties over the negotiations on pensions.

In the Commons I have also campaigned - in a number of speeches - for a Police Reserve Force made up of the Special Constabulary, and for Specials to be given Council Tax rebates.

But, we should be thanking our police forces for what they have done. It is a good thing that for the most part, we have gun-less police, who have stood up against the most vicious of thugs, determined to bring anarchy to the UK.

PS. There is a good article here on improvements to policing. 


Rob Halfon
halfon4harlow@roberthalfon.com