Commentary
| DOI | 10.1177/0032258X9306600301 |
| Published date | 01 July 1993 |
| Date | 01 July 1993 |
| Subject Matter | Commentary |
Restructuring or Refurbishment?
Thedistinctly cool,almosticy reception received bytheHome Secretary
at the annualconference of the PoliceFederation in May was only to be
expectedofpoliceofficersanxiousoveranticipatedchangesintheService
athis handsandseemingly demoralized overthecriticismsdelivered from
all sides.Certainly, thecontentsofthe HomeSecretary's
speech,
inwhich
hereferredto policeofficersas a "veryspecialand
highly
valuedbodyof
people", failed to achieve even a remotely favourable response. The
officerswere over-sensitive
following
thecriticism heapedupon
them.
Asifoncue,theacquittalonthesameday,at theOldBailey,ofthethree
ex-detectivesfromSurreyof
falsifying
confession
evidence
againstPatrick
Armstrong, oneof theGuildford Four,broughtintosharpfocusoneof the
fundamental reasons for seeking change in the Service. Obviously, no
comments canbe madeaboutthe Guildford Four
whose
1975convictions
for terroristmurderwere declaredunsafeat the Court of Appealin 1989
"becauseof doubtcastuponthe reliability of the officersresponsible for
the interrogations", but the defenceallegation that Armstrong had sung
like a canary, plus evidence of the existence of an interrogation tape,at
least revealed the original enquiry in a new light and softened the
criticisms directedagainstthepolice.
The Police Journal hasalreadyaccepted the need for a review of the
Service andhascommentedonmanyof thesuggestedchanges, butitdoes
not support fundamental alterations. The existing tripartite
system,
in
whichlocally electedPoliceAuthorities have an important role to play,
provides avitallinkwithlocalcommunities whichwouldnotbeenhanced
bytheproposed new-style PoliceAuthorities comprisingapaidchairman,
appointed by theHome Secretary, anda half of its
members
toconsistof
three magistrates and five local people, also appointed centrally. The
present
system,
whichhas operated since the passingof the Police Act,
1964,
often underdifficult circumstances, may need minor adjustment,
but certainly not replacement. No major structural or constitutional
changeis necessary.
Crime
There were 5.59 millioncrimes recorded by the police in England and
Walesin
1992,
94percentof whichwere againstproperty and 5 percent
July 1993 The Police Journal 229
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