In defence of the Metropolitan Police

I see a lot of criticism in the media about the performance of the Metropolitan Police. They are either hitting someone too hard, or someone else not hard enough. As I worked for them, albeit in a civilian role, for more than 10 years, perhaps I should take this opportunity to say some words in defence of the ‘Bobby on the beat’. The Met Police is a massive organisation, employing more staff than the population of some major towns. They have a staffing level almost on par with the Armed Forces. Given this, there will be the occasional misfit, or bad egg. On the whole, they perform a thankless task, to the best of their abilities. Perhaps we should consider that the Public expect too much of what are, in essence, ordinary men and women. In an area the size of a large County, the demands on the Met are varied, and continuous. Outside observers may find it easy to perceive shortcomings. However, they rarely have an idea of the complexities involved in Policing the Capital. Modern policing presents many new demands. Political correctness, a system on the side of the offender, perceived racism, and constant media monitoring, to name but a few. As a member of the Public, we like to think that a police officer will be there as soon as we need one. However, we understand little about the demands placed on junior officers, custody space, or the judicial system. We ring 999 for any eventuality. It is an emergency to us, so we cannot understand how the Police may downgrade it to a non-urgent situation. Behind the scenes, there are staff shortages, a lack of drivers, officers unable to be deployed appropriately, and an inflexible system to deal with.
Consider the average constable, male or female. The majority of them are not from London. Indeed, most of them are from as far as London as you can get. Local Police Forces rarely have vacancies, so the Met becomes an attractive proposition to those seeking a career in Police Work. Many officers are recruited directly from the Armed Services. Whilst this may mean that they are good candidates in terms of reliability, smartness, and a proven job record, they may not have the necessary Life Experience to make a good ‘Copper’ in the Met Police. They might also not have similar educational qualifications, compared to many people in most other jobs. This is not meant to be disrespectful. It is simply that many join at 18, or after leaving the Services, so will not have been long in further education, or have attended a University.
They also have little or no geographical knowledge of London, nor much understanding of the diverse cultural population it contains. Despite much attention being given to the occasional black, asian, or gay officer, they are predominantly white, with an Anglo-Saxon background and culture. Truth is, Londoners from this similar background do not, as a rule, join the Police. Asian and Black Londoners even less so, and Jewish officers are almost non-existent. These cultures do not, traditionally, join the Police anywhere. They get into business, become criminals, work on Public Transport, or in the NHS. What you are left with are Scottish, Irish, Welsh, North English, and Home Counties personnel, most of whom usually dislike London and Londoners, would never choose to live there, and cannot wait to retire to the pension that they yearn for.

Take an example of a young PC, say from Newcastle. He goes to Hendon training school, proud to have a good career, and an important role in society. After basic training, he is posted to a London Borough that he has probably never heard of, much less been to. Let’s say Haringey as an example. He has decided to live in Hertfordshire, sharing with friends from the Job, as he can travel in to work free of charge, using his warrant card on Public transport. So, he doesn’t live in the community he is policing. That community includes 75% of people from a West Indian and African background. It has the third highest crime rate in London, and 90% of the offenders are black, and under 30 years of age. There is an unemployment rate of 25%, and a repeat offender rate approaching 50%. What is he to think of London? That it is full of black criminals, mostly under 25, so most young black men are potentially criminals. This is not a racist thought, just a statement of fact as he sees it. He never goes to another part of London, unless on a night out, or on a trip with friends. (Other Police Officers). He doesn’t see the parks, the river, Chelsea, Kensington, or Knightsbridge. This is London to him, his working life, in a shit area, that he feels personifies the whole of the City. If he manages to arrest someone, the CPS will probably drop the case anyway. The offender is too young, has too many social problems, or they cannot get the correct reports from Social Services, or he doesn’t turn up for the trial, so it is easier to forget the mugging, shoplifting, or small drug possession charge. If he manages to make the charge stick, he will get off shift late, then have to attend Court on a day off, to probably see the culprit get a Community Service Order, that he will never turn up for. His more experienced colleagues are unable to reassure him. It is just the system, he is told. Learn to live with it.
Later, he meets someone at work. Possibly a Nurse, a fellow Police Officer, or someone with a ‘liking’ for the Emergency Services. They decide to get married, and house prices, good schools, and general snobbery from friends and colleages, dictate that they will move to Cambridgeshire, to the very extent of the free travel allowance area. This adds an extra two hours commuting on his working day but he is sure it will be worth it. Trouble is, they keep cancelling his days off, due to policing commitments. Also, if he manages to make an arrest, he gets off so late, that he misses the last train home, and has to crash with a mate, or worse still, kip on the floor at the Police Station. That really pisses off his new wife. She didn’t get married for this, and she is 6 months pregnant with the first baby. Later, he has to get a motorbike to make the commute more bearable. This is more expense, on top of the Korean people carrier that his wife needs, with a small toddler now, and another baby due next year. She is now working part time, to help with childcare issues, so money is tighter than ever. He puts down to do more overtime at work, which means he is away even more. His wife says he should be looking for promotion after 5 years as a Constable. He has done a driving course, so now is always stuck driving the van. By this time, he knows most offenders by name, and the area he is operating in feels more like home than home.

All this time, he has seen dozens of other Police officers leading comparatively easy lives. Sitting around in offices in the local Police Station, or assigned to some task force, or specialist group. He is literally at the tip of the huge iceberg that represents the Metropolitan Police. Just a small percentage of the staff employed are actually available to go out and ‘fight crime’ , or respond to emergency calls. On a Saturday night, often the busiest of the week, you may be surprised to know that most large London Boroughs have less than 20 officers actually deployed to patrols and response teams. If they begin to make arrests, thereby being delayed in the Custody Area, or completing paperwork, the numbers start to diminish accordingly. Other resources are brought in from Pan-London patrols, such as the Territorial Support Group. Other forces, such as the British Transport Police, are asked to assist with vans, or space to lock up prisoners. The whole system hangs on by a thread, and our Constable is in the thick of it.

He is now almost 28 years old, and has been in the job for 7 years. Too long to get out but still 23 years away from the pension dream. He has seen his contemporaries promoted above him, lost respect for fast-track management, that he feels has lost touch with the officers on the beat. He is going through the motions, doing just enough to keep his head above water. Then comes a ‘new initiative’. Officers who have spent too long in one place will be moved to another area, whether they like it or not. Fearing being moved, our man applies for everything and everything he is eligible to apply for. Firearms Branch, Dog handler, Mounted police, River police. He doesn’t care, as long as it is out of Haringey, and away from a forced move to who-knows-where. They will lose his local knowledge, his skills acquired, his contacts in the local community. But they don’t seem to care, so why should he? After three months of applications, he manages to get a transfer to Transport for London Division. Policing the buses, essentially. Dealing with fare-dodgers, trouble on buses, taxi touting offenders; it is all a lot easier than his former life on the Borough anyway, even though it may not be too challenging, or very exciting. He is out of the shit, at long last. He can’t see a problem with that. He served his time, didn’t complain, and he has found a way out. It is someone else’s problem now. At least he has Level 2 Shield training to fall back on. Always a lot of overtime where Public Order situations are concerned. Mind you, he has to be careful. If you hit someone too hard during a riot, and they die, you might be up on a murder charge. If you don’t wade in and stop rioters, then you will be accused of doing nothing by the media, abandoning the streets to the mob.

He still doesn’t see that much of his two kids, or his wife for that matter. She has been talking about a bigger house, in a nicer area, perhaps a bit further out. He doesn’t socialise much, unless it is with his colleagues. People outside the job don’t really seem to understand his views. Like most coppers, he is Conservative, with both large and small ‘Cs’. Although he doesn’t really remember her, Maggie Thatcher is his Heroine. She knew how to deal with the Trade unions, rioters in Brixton, and the Argies! He votes for the Tories too, when he can be bothered to vote. He doesn’t want his Council Tax or Income tax to be spent on society’s wasters and dole scroungers. He still has 22 years before he sees his pension, and there is a nasty rumour going around at work. They are going to change the rules. He will have to pay in a lot more, or not get the pension he was always expecting. Furthermore, he is no longer guaranteed a job for life. (Well, 30 years anyway). He will have to pass assessments, fitness tests, show evidence of career progression, or he may well be asked to leave, or to become a civilian employee instead. There is even talk of contracting out Custody arrangements, and some other services, to outside companies. The world he once knew is falling apart. Senior management search for soundbite TV interviews, specialist branches are enlarged, not reduced, and the whole emphasis of Policing as he knows it is changing direction. The Public feel free to abuse him. Young hooligans openly shout and swear at him, posh people talk to him as if he is their manservant. The Press and TV pick up on any mistake, or error of judgement. Once, he felt as if he had another family in the shape of the Met. If he was ill, had an accident, or was injured at work, they would rally round, support and protect him. Not so now. Be sick too often, say the wrong thing, make the wrong mistake, and you are at best, managed out, at worst, charged and treated like a common criminal.

So, the next time you feel like slagging off the Police, try to consider some of this. Then ask yourself, would you do this for less than £30,000 a year, without the prospect of that pension anymore? And I bet, if someone breaks into your house, steals your car or wallet, before you know it, you will be ringing 999.