“With law and order to be a major issue in the general election, the denunciations of the Tories from the upper and middle ranks of the police worry the party.” ‘Guardian’ Sat 12th September 2009. For the full report follow the ‘Guardian’ link below.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/sep/12/police-chiefs-row-with-tories
David Cameron’s Tory Party seems to be heading for a major clash over its approach to policing in Britain. Ian Johnston, President of the Police Supterintendents’ Association, is set this week at the TUC Conference in Liverpool to say in his speech
“I have real personal fears that political interference is growing and that it will result in our fine reputation being damaged beyond repair. If we needed any proof that politics and policing do not mix we should all reflect on the actions of the London mayor ………………….”
The reference is of course to Tory Boris Johnson since he became Mayor of London.
Cllr Adrian Jones, who together with Conservative Councillor Kate Wood, is a member of the Merseyside Police Authority commented:
“The way we work on the Merseyside Police Authority is totally without political bias and long may it stay that way. I would shudder to imagine that Tory plans for elected Police Commissioners would ever come to pass. In my view it would threaten the foundation of the existing impartiality in policing and render the operational police subject to politicised direction.” The Police Superintendents’ Association President was reported in yesterday’s press as saying:
“In the past two weeks we have seen an undisguised attempt by the deputy mayor of London to grasp political control of the police …… There is now a greater than ever need for the police service to stand strong and resist further political interference.”
Need we say more?
