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Crime stats April 08 |
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President's conference address |
Crime in England and Wales fell by six per cent in the year to December 2007 according to the British Crime Survey (BCS) and has fallen by 12 per cent according to police recorded crime statistics, pu... 24/04/2008 |
Crimestoppers is an independent UK-wide charity working to stop crime. Crimestoppers works for you, your family and your community. |
Ian Johnston delivered his first presidential address to the Association's annual conference on September 11. Click the link below to read the full transcript of his speech. ... 20/09/2007 |
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THE IMPARTIALITY OF POLICING
13 November 2007
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THE IMPARTIALITY OF POLICING
COMMISSIONER OF THE METROPOLITAN POLICE SIR IAN BLAIR
We speak jointly today as leaders of the Police Federation, Superintendents’ Association and the Association of Chief Police Officers. The death of Jean Charles de Menezes was a tragedy and is a matter of deep regret for all police officers and police staff. We continue to reach out in sympathy to his family and friends.
Recently the Metropolitan Police Service was on trial, not the Commissioner. What we have witnessed since is more about gaining political advantage than it is about seeking improvements to policing. Using the Commissioner as a political football is a matter of great concern that does absolutely nothing to instill public confidence and trust in politicians, the police service and its proven ability to confront terrorism. Much subsequent comment has been selective and ill informed. Politicization of this tragedy in this way cannot, in our view, be in the broader public interest. The prism of party interests has to be a flawed perspective from which to judge those who are called upon to make life or death judgments.
We faced then, and still face now and in the future, the threat posed by a global ideological terrorist movement which seeks to inflict mass murder on the people of this country. This is an unprecedented challenge to law enforcement and we have seen police officers and staff rise to meet it time and time again. Their bravery has been acknowledged by many including Mr Justice Enriques at the recent trial of the Metropolitan Police. There have been many successes, plots intercepted, lives saved and criminals brought to justice. We actively learn from our successes and failures and are motivated solely by the need to protect life.
The police service is accountable. In the weeks ahead, the Commissioner and the Metropolitan Police Service will properly be examined by the Metropolitan Police Authority; the appropriate body responsible for ensuring their accountability. An inquest into the death of Mr Menezes is also in prospect. We ask that these events be allowed to proceed in a less febrile atmosphere than that of recent weeks and that the focus be avowedly on a search for the truth and learning.
Objective calm political leadership in the days and weeks ahead will continue to serve us best. The confidence of our staff and the public turns, at least in part, on the unity of our political leaders and their ability to set aside partisan positions in favour of the greater good. The current highly charged political atmosphere around policing, the Commissioner, and the development of counter terrorist policies more generally, does little to bolster public confidence. We support the current efforts being made by all parties to address this.
Jan Berry QPM
Chair of the Police Federation of England & Wales
Ken Jones QPM
President of the Association of Chief Police Officers of England, Wales & Northern Ireland
Ian Johnston QPM
President of the Police Superintendents’ Association of England & Wales
The death of Jean Charles de Menezes
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| The Police Superintendents' Association of England and Wales 67a Reading Road Pangbourne Berkshire RG8 7JD Tel: 0118 984 4005 Fax: 0118 984 5642 | ||||||
