BY CHRIS HOBBS
A group of vigilant police officers
Photos: Chris Hobbs
On an ordinary day, this scene would have attracted little comment. Four officers in the ‘meet and greet’ area of the London Marathon were being approached by members of the public for assistance, mainly involving directions that would take them away from St. James’s Park.
In normal times, the fact that a number of these members of the public were unaccompanied women wouldn’t attract comment, but for policing these are not normal times thanks to a rogue police constable whose name has become synonymous with unspeakable evil.
The significance of these interactions and others amongst the thousands who were cheering on the runners was, quite simply, that police had not become pariahs as far as the good- hearted silent majority of the public were concerned. Even the groups of anti-vaxxers present with their placards and banners were not, as is frequently the case, hurling abuse at officers.
This small indication may or may not be a reflection of public opinion following a few days of unprecedented bile thrown at the entire police service by the mainstream media assisted by retired senior police officers who were much in demand for their condemnation, not just of the odious Couzens, but of the entire UK police service and just about everyone in it.
Those who claim that the Met is full of violent misogynists will have their case considerably enhanced by the news that a serving Met officer from the Diplomatic Protection Group, PC Carrick, has just been charged with rape.
It is however, worth remembering that both Couzens and this officer, have entered the justice system courtesy of the efforts of their colleagues. The Homicide team who were responsible for the conviction of Couzens received unusually lengthy praise from the judge which received little coverage in the MSM.
Officers responsible for obtaining sufficient evidence that resulted in PC Carrick being charged will only be too aware of the damaging effect this will have on both themselves and colleagues throughout the country. Ultimately, however, their priority will be seeing that justice is done while ensuring the welfare of the alleged victim.
The MSM have been pointed to the number of allegations made against Met officers in regard to sexual misconduct. The figures show around 750 allegations in respect of sexual misconduct resulting in 88 dismissals which will include 36 court convictions. These figures vary slightly across media outlets.
The number of allegations made seem to have provoked a ‘no smoke without fire’ response from the MSM yet as doctors, nurses and teachers can testify, allegations are easy to make.
Allegations against officers will encompass a wide range of situations from domestic, to inappropriate relationships with victims of crime to claims that during arrests there was ‘inappropriate and unnecessary ‘touching. The latter can apply to both females and males.
Any dismissal or conviction of an officer is cause for concern and will often be the result of investigation by police ‘colleagues.’ but these figures are over a period of more than 10 years from 2010. During this period around 80,000 officers and support staff have or are serving with the Met. Perhaps it is easier to visualise the home of Manchester United at Old Trafford which has a capacity of 74,000. It should also be emphasised that those dismissed, be the dismissals as a result of court cases or just disciplinary hearings, receive no sympathy from those serving.
However, media coverage of police critics, notably former female senior officers, provides a narrative that the Met and indeed the police service, is and always has been, rotten to the core with male misogyny. One provoked fury on social media, including from female officers when she stated that male officers might not respond, if female officers who had expressed concerns, called on their radio for ‘urgent assistance.’
This of course, follows a report claiming that the Met is institutionally corrupt and constant claims that the force is racist.
Whilst sexist harassment and assault in the police workplace is to be deplored and dealt with severely; the narrative however is that this misogynist culture was and is endemic. This would mean that the careers of thousands of female officers have been severely blighted over decades. Based on the many excellent female officers I had the privilege of working with, I sincerely hope this was not the case.
Relationships and marriage
There is no doubt that domestic issues involving officers are an inevitable reality for the police service. When I was a young PC, I was told that the one in three police marriages end in divorce. Legal firms of solicitors who currently deal with police divorce state that the police divorce rate is twice the national average.
Shift work, the stresses of the job which can be linked to PTSD and other mental health issues, will all, understandably, play a part in police marriage and domestic difficulties, especially amongst those uniform and detective officers who work on ‘the front line.’ The challenges and indeed the dangers of those on that front line are far greater than when I was a police officer yet there is no mention of those challenges in statements being made or the column inches being printed.
Like any workplace, relationships are born, develop and sometimes wither on the vine. Male police officers marry female officers, male police officers go out with female officers and as stated, such relationships can go wrong leading to distress and recrimination. What must never happen, either as relationships develop or fall part, is any element of threat or menace. I can recall, during my 32 years, three cases of physical abuse by male officers against their wives/girlfriends. That, of course, does not mean that the problem is endemic.
Positive memories
I remember vividly, the female officers I worked with during the first three years of my service. They were not individuals who would tolerate male misogynists. Similar characteristics in respect of female officers were also obvious when I transferred to Special Branch. I was very saddened to see three had passed in recent times. RIP: Wendy, Rosemary and Helen.
It would, however, be true to say that male officers did ‘look out’ for their female counterparts. It could even be argued that this was, in some way, misogynistic; there was always unease when two female officers were posted together in a police vehicle. References however to a ‘Petticoat panda’ were normally met with a kick in the shins!!
Comment has also been made in respect of police canteen culture by those oblivious of the fact that few police canteens now remain thanks to cuts made by Theresa May and her party. My memories of police canteens were of places where officers could ‘destress,’ talk over traumatic incidents with colleagues and seek advice. As I recall, teams sat together; the issue of male or female officers was an irrelevance.
Crimes not taken seriously?
Linked to the criticisms of sexism and misogyny are concerns that sexual assault and domestic violence are not taken seriously by police and that more must be done to protect women. To that end the Met appear to have promised the deployment of 650 officers.
Quite how this will work in practise is unclear. Postings to police safeguarding units, seemingly now known as Predatory Offender Units in the Met, are less than popular amongst many officers. That doesn’t mean there is no sympathy for victims, but work is demanding and emotionally draining with officers in many units carrying ridiculous caseloads meaning that crucial issues can ‘fall through the cracks’ with disastrous consequences.
Officers investigating serious sexual offence cases including rape, have been criticised by defence lawyers for not examining mobile phones and laptops for evidence which could assist their client’s defence. When officers did examine phones and laptops belonging to victims, they were accused of violating those victims for a second time.
The bar in respect of evidence in these cases is a high one which partially explains the low rate of convictions. A report compiled on behalf of MOPAC in respect of these cases, whilst not exonerating police, does go some considerable way to explaining the issues faced by police and prosecution; one issue for officers are malicious complaints.
There has been comment about Couzens and alleged offences of indecent exposure, known in police parlance as ‘flashing.’ At present it is a low priority offence and the penalties for those offenders prosecuted tend to be a conditional discharge or a fine.
Whilst various enquiries will determine how allegations of indecent exposure by Couzens were dealt with, it is likely that the ‘low level’ nature of those allegations will be a factor.
In London, ludicrously, hard pressed response officers, who work anti-social shifts, deal with most of the 999 calls, guard crime scenes and also police protests, now have to investigate ‘low level’ crimes. As they point out, this is neither fair on them nor the victims of crime; one frustrated response officer told me that he had been allocated a robbery, hardly low level and once the remit of the CID, to investigate and had been unable to visit the unfortunate victim.
The reason for this situation is the pressure on CID and other investigating officers and may explain the apparent lack of investigation if the indecent exposure allegation was allocated to a response officer. Should that be the case, the response officer in question could be ‘hung out to dry’ at a future disciplinary hearing.
The concept that those who indulge what are perhaps erroneously termed, low level sexual offences, including ‘up-skirting,’ and ‘body pressing,’ may go on to commit more serious offences is clearly a valid one but once again the question is one of resources.
Priorities
Similarly, additional operations such as patrolling ‘hot- spots’ will mean that resources may have to be taken from elsewhere. Currently, this could be where some or all of the 650 officers mentioned above, may be deployed.
The current priority of the Met concerns attempting to keep young black men safe on the streets of London; a task which doesn’t exactly result in an outpouring of gratitude. Horrific as the murders of women and girls are ‘on the streets’ or other public places, research in respect of London carried out by the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime stated that four in five London murders were of men and that women were more likely to know their killer and ‘be killed at home.’
Nationally 73% of murder victims were male and during 2019/2020 there were 188 women murdered which still means that tragedy strikes one every two days.
I remember only too well the murder of 14- year- old Alice Gross back in 2014; the hundreds of yellow ribbons tied around trees and lampposts and worn by locals and police officers. I recall the huge sadness I felt taking the yellow ribbon off my car after Alice’s body had been found. Although a couple of errors were made during the searches, police tried so hard to the extent that the physical appearance of the two leading investigating officers over the weeks changed.
If men are more likely to be murdered than females, that doesn’t alter the fact that women are vulnerable to assault, harassment and intimidation. The walk back, along a poorly lit road from my local station means that all my senses are alert for potential problems. Just recently, two males were arrested after allegedly spiking a woman’s drink in a Bristol club. Currently there are concerns that females have been subjected to ‘drugged needle’ attacks in clubs.
The fact that most women are murdered behind closed doors presents huge challenges for police as does domestic violence generally. Interestingly during the first Lockdown, over a six- week- period, Met police officers attended 17,000 domestic calls and made 4,000 arrests.
One of the major trials and tribulations faced by police and, in this case, male officers is the ‘collective smearing’ by the both politicians and the media. In the current furore which has followed the tragedy of Sarah, it is all male officers who are currently being demonised.
The message is clear; the overwhelming majority of male police officers are misogynist’s and are not to be trusted in the presence of women. This of course is in addition to being racist and corrupt.
Looking back over my 32 years as a police officer, I can recall, on several occasions approaching young women on the street who were distraught; producing my warrant card and asking if they were OK, concerned that they had been a victim of serious crime. In each case, thankfully, their distress was the result of being ‘dumped’ by boyfriends. I still took some time with them and perhaps all these years later they will also be defending male police officers based on that one experience.
If I were in possession of a warrant card today, I’m unsure whether I would adopt the same approach. This will also be an issue for RPU’s (Road Policing Units) who are, in some forces, single crewed, which is another issue.
They will, if they see a lone female driver who has broken down, stop and offer assistance which normally would be gratefully accepted. Perhaps not now.
The Daily Mail has, for several years, been conducting an unremitting campaign against the police service and more specifically, the Met. In recent weeks it has twice used its front page to demand the resignation of the Met’s Commissioner followed by numerous further pages of criticism of Cressida and her officers. It would seem that according to the Mail and indeed its fellow traveller in terms of hostility to police, the Guardian, UK policing has no redeeming features.
Social media
The Mail has recently devoted its front page to officers use of social media notably Facebook, twitter plus WhatsApp stating that 1,000 were being or had been investigated, it bemoans the fact that only 53 officers and staff had ‘left’ the police service as a result.
The fact is that some incidents are beyond the pale and those responsible deserve the strongest possible sanction; taking selfies at murder scenes, racist and sexist posts featuring extreme pornography would all be worthy of the strongest disciplinary action.
That which would have been acceptable ten or even five years ago now could lead to disciplinary action albeit simply a warning. A clip of Jim Davidson performance may well be sufficient to trigger an investigation as could page 3 ‘pin-ups’ from the Sun.
Most WhatsApp messages received by many involve ‘humour’ and here serving officers needs to be careful. It is possible for items to be received and not even be noticed by the person receiving. Even if officers delete inappropriate ‘jokes’ that may not be sufficient; those officers are expected to at least challenge such messages or, in appropriate cases, report the sender if that sender is a police officer or if that which is received is unlawful.
With some social media postings, black or dark humour may be an issue. Such humour features heavily in the armed forces, police, ambulance and fire services plus the NHS and has done so for decades. The following, as tweeted here, is a good summation, but of course, even in the most extreme situations there are limits.
Black humour gets you through traumatic, harrowing situations. Everyone in professions dealing with difficult, terminal & indescribable situations has an instant relief & recall to sanity by a humour that anyone not experiencing it will not appreciate or be able to comment on.
Clearly most forces believe that inappropriate or insensitive postings or ‘forwardings’ depending on the content, deserve censure but not dismissal. Of course, it clearly isn’t possible for forces to publish examples of transgressions but it could well be that whilst the public could be critical or even horrified at postings resulting in prosecution and/or dismissal they might also be surprised at that which qualifies for censure.
Vetting.
Much as has been commented on in respect of the vetting of police officers, including those officers who transfer between forces. Officers transferring will have their disciplinary records scrutinised by the force they apply to but clearly there is now a case for more detailed vetting, perhaps to the same level as deemed appropriate for a new recruit.
However, in the case of Couzens, the provenance of the ‘he was known as the rapist’ allegation, eagerly seized on by the media, has yet to be established and it will be interesting to ascertain whether this would have been revealed in any vetting procedure.
There are currently, amongst the police community, concerns that in the stampede to recruit 20,000 officers, overall standards may be reduced and vetting, already subject to criticism, could be compromised.
When I moved to Special Branch, I was subjected to ‘high level’ Developed Vetting. It was thorough, intrusive and expensive extending to the officer’s personal life. There is therefore an argument that all potential recruits should be vetted to DV level before beginning their service. DV is subject to review every few years and therefore would be hugely resource intensive and, as mentioned, expensive.
Interestingly, a former Met DPS (Department of Professional Standards-Complaints) officer, informed me that a common indicator which helped identify corrupt, criminally inclined police officers was the fact that they were in severe financial difficulty. There are reports that Couzens was heavily in debt although again the provenance has yet to be established.
If his financial problems are fact, then there is little question that this would have been revealed during a thorough vetting procedure.
Just the police?
The actions of Couzens and others appalling as they are, affect all police officers in that every officer is tainted or smeared by their actions yet it seems that this applies only to police.
As the storm began to envelop the entire police service, it was pointed out that whilst the activities of serial killers Doctor Harold Shipman and Nurse Beverley Allitt shocked a nation this didn’t result in the demonisation of all other health professionals who worked in the NHS. More recently Nurse Lucy Letby has been remanded for trial having pleaded not guilty to murdering eight babies.
Scandals at hospital maternity units have resulted in more deaths. In Morecambe one adult and twelve babies have died. In Nottingham there have been reportedly 15 deaths of mothers and babies with 19 still births and 46 babies with brain damage. A police investigation is still ongoing at the Shrewsbury and Telford trust where 12 women and 40 women may have perished.
In addition, the general Medical Council reported that they receive, ‘a significant number’ of complaints against doctors each year which allege that a doctor has acted in a sexually inappropriate manner towards another person or group of people.
In respect of teachers, Kevin Courtney, the joint secretary of the National Education Union stated that ‘the majority of sex abuse allegations made against teachers are ‘made up’ by pupils.
In 2015, according to research carried out by the Association of Teachers and Lecturers stated that 22% of school and college staff had false allegations made against them.
Over a five-year period leading up to 2017 256 teachers were banned from teaching due to sexual misconduct.
Finally, this is an extract from a report published in 2019:
“Many of the experiences related to me were of unwelcome sexual advances, often accompanied by attempts at kissing.
“Many involved some form of unwanted touching: for example, breasts being grabbed, buttocks being slapped, thighs being stroked and crotches being pressed/rubbed against bodies. Contributors reported being shouted at and/or sworn at.’
This was not a report by the police inspectorate or the Independent Office for Police Conduct. It was a report by Gemma White QC which dealt with the culture of abuse in Parliament.
Despite the above, the workforces in respect of the NHS and teaching are not, quite rightly, collectively demonised. Parliamentarians perhaps more so but police officers seem to have been placed in a different category altogether.
None of the above, of course, diminishes the sheer horror in relation to the brutality of Couzens, but it does beg the question as to why all male officers should be demonised and indeed, demonised in such a way that increases the already considerable dangers that those officers face on the streets.
Feeding Frenzy and the future.
Since the sentencing of Couzens, the police service and everyone connected with it, has been subjected to a barrage of constant denigration leading to the conclusion that we have a police service with no redeeming features whatsoever.
Critics, be they the Daily Mail or former senior police officers, have not balanced their views by proclaiming any positives thus resulting in what amounts to a total evisceration and denigration of the police service.
The various enquiries will doubtless attract former officers of all ranks, who at same stage in their service, have encountered behaviour this has been, or is alleged to have been reprehensible. It is unlikely that evidence will be called from those officers who had fulfilling and rewarding careers. All officers will have some less than savoury moments to recall including myself yet the inevitable conclusions of the various inquiries will be damning based on the evidence of those who focus on the totally negative.
Looking back on my 32 years, I could select periods and events during that period and use those as a basis for a selective article that would show the Met and its officers in an appalling light. The facts referred to would be accurate but the result would be a total distortion of those 32 years, which were, in the main challenging, enjoyable and memorable.
Mental health; patience, kindness and skill.
A good friend of mine is a mental health nurse with more than 30- years- experience. She now has a triage function which involves extensive liaison with front line police officers who have to deal, on a daily basis, with the massive shortcomings in mental health services.
My friend has nothing but praise for the officers she deals with in terms of their patience, kindness and indeed levels of skill they exhibit in dealing with difficult and dangerous situations involving those suffering a severe mental health crisis. These incidents are not occasional but happen very frequently on a daily basis. Similar units that liaise extensively with police exist across London and often have to admit that, other than advice, they cannot assist with much needed beds in places of safety thus leaving the problem in the hands of police for many hours.
Last year the Met dealt with 40,000 calls linked to mental health; a significant proportion of which will have involved distressed female patients. The media and police critics will not be remotely interested in these and other positive aspects of policing.
The result of the current onslaught will, unquestionably, result in a lowering of morale still further. Whilst there is no current problem with recruitment, retention is a growing issue amongst both new recruits and experienced officers.
A current court case in respect of an officer whose pursuit of a motor cyclist resulted in the latter’s death could also be a watershed moment despite the acquittal of the officer. The motor cyclist and his passenger had, it appears, been involved in a ‘smash and grab’ and were being pursued by a police vehicle when the rider crashed the bike. This incident occurred in 2016 which another cause for concern. The Independent Office for Police Conduct have decreed that the officer must still face career threatening misconduct proceedings.
Those indulging in the current ‘feeding frenzy’ aimed at the British police service in general and the Met in particular are creating the impression that there are no redeeming features whatsoever: No acts of bravery, no acts of kindness, no life-saving first aid, no compassionate dealings, as described above, with those suffering a mental health crisis.
Whilst British policing isn’t perfect and wrongs must be corrected, the question should also be asked as to how far the enemies of front- line officers, including the media from right and left, retired senior officers, politicians and activists, wish to push the their totally unbalanced demonisation and denigration.
It’s clear to the overwhelming majority of the police community that there is a tsunami of violent, malevolent criminality ‘out there’ waiting for the opportunity to roll over a woefully depleted and demoralised police service. Gangs, groups from the hard left and far right, determined ‘anti-vaxxers’ and terrorists are waiting in the wings to take advance of chaos and weakness.
Facing them is a police service about to plunge into crisis and where the ‘extra’ 20,000 officers will merely bring police numbers to the inadequate level they were in 2010 with one of the lowest police to population ratios in Europe.
There are already concerns that police service, withs it’s large numbers of youthful, inexperienced officers, would be unable to cope with riots on the scale of 2011
Given Wayne Couzens utter contempt for humanity doubtless matched by total contempt for his former colleagues, including those who brought him to justice, he will surely view a total breakdown of law and order with jubilation.
Those critical of police, are conveniently forgetting the sight of unarmed officers running towards London Bridge knowing this was a terrorist incident but uncertain of exactly what awaited them. That their objective was the safety of the public has now been forgotten by police critics as is the fact that the safety of the public is the prime motivation of those officers hundreds of times a day.
Finally, it should also be remembered that police drivers, those who deal with contentious public order situations (demonstrations, protests, riots) and firearms officers all have to be fully trained and qualified to carry out those tasks. All are volunteers & carry signed authentication that they are able to carry out those duties at various levels. All can hand back those authentications if they so wish. The police service runs on goodwill and it’s that goodwill which keeps the public safe. Hopefully, despite the current crisis, that goodwill will be retained.
To those indulging themselves in a feeding frenzy against British policing; be careful what you wish for.