DAVID BLUNKETT: Even staunch Cressida Dick backers like me are glad that she’s now going
Until a few weeks ago, I had been a vocal supporter of the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Cressida Dick.
I’d understood the enormous scale of her role leading the largest police force in this country – and being at the forefront of the nation’s counterterrorism operation.
Until a few weeks ago, I had been a vocal supporter of the Metropolitan Police Commissioner. What changed my mind? It had become clear that there was no decisive plan of action forthcoming from Cressida Dick
I felt that the problems facing the current leadership of the Met police went back many years and that, while the force could be criticised for past failures, it was the here and now on which the commissioner’s performance should be judged.
What changed my mind?
It had become clear that there was no decisive plan of action forthcoming from Cressida Dick.
Nothing truly structural – let alone the seismic shift which is now required.
I had known Cressida from my time at the Home Office from 2001 to 2005.
She was well aware of the problems bedevilling the force and I believe was committed to addressing them.
As a high-ranking officer, she’d represented the Met at meetings I chaired, some of which included Stephen Lawrence’s mother, now Baroness Lawrence.
Cressida was one of those responsible for implementing the Macpherson Report, which set out a devastating analysis of what was wrong with the Metropolitan Police at that time – in particular, the rooted racism and the lack of trust from swathes of the community.
I had known Cressida Dick from my time at the Home Office from 2001 to 2005. She was well aware of the problems bedevilling the force and I believe was committed to addressing them
It was clear even then how defensive the force could be, yet I’d felt that under successive police commissioners, genuine progress had been made.
How disturbing, then, to find how many of these historic failings persist. That the culture remains toxic.
And for this, the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police must take responsibility.
There is a sad irony to Cressida Dick’s departure as she is an embodiment of the modernisation we all want.
Not just because she was the first woman ever to head the Met, but also as the first openly gay leader of a police force in this country.
She commanded the respect of the officers working under her.
Yet scandal followed scandal – followed by apologies, regrets and promises to do better.
How disturbing, then, to find how many of these historic failings persist. That the culture remains toxic. And for this, the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police must take responsibility
Worse than that was the Commissioner’s failure to act swiftly, to demonstrate a grasp of what was going wrong and how it might be addressed.
Timing is critical.
I found the revelations about the messages exchanged by officers at the Charing Cross police station sickening.
Two of the perpetrators were sacked, but some were actually promoted!
Cressida Dick had been informed of these horrors some considerable time ago.
Belatedly, Dame Louise Casey is now leading a review of police culture, but why was she not brought in much earlier?
Where was the leadership? This has been the pattern throughout.
Time after time, Dame Cressida failed to act until her hand was forced by overwhelming circumstance or public outcry.
I found the revelations about the messages exchanged by officers at the Charing Cross police station sickening. Two of the perpetrators were sacked, but some were actually promoted!
The Mayor of London had no choice but to intervene decisively. Whoever the new Commissioner of the Met might be, this much is essential: he or she must show the way, not follow.
A few practical steps are obvious. New recruits must be properly vetted. We need background checks on their behaviour and social media accounts.
They must be mentored and monitored. Training for mid-ranking officers must be completely overhauled along the lines of a recent report from the College of Policing.
Whistleblowers who expose unacceptable behaviour must be guaranteed protection. We need more than technical fixes, however.
All too often, the Metropolitan Police fail to get their priorities into perspective.
Take, for instance, the vast sums spent on investigating Leon Brittan, Field Marshal Bramall and others in the flawed Operation Midland, diverting officers from protecting the public.
We need leadership now more than ever. A culture of ‘hands-up’ when confronting failure –because ‘hands-off’ simply will not do.
This country has a long tradition of policing by consent.
Openness, transparency, restraint and plain common sense have made our officers the envy of the world.
The new commissioner must fight to protect that reputation and rebuild the trust and confidence of the public.
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