This is important for both the future of policing in London and the national policing functions for which the Metropolitan Police is the lead.
Cressida Dick: Met Police commissioner to stand down in April
(...)
A spokesperson for the mayor of London said: "The mayor is clear that the Met's next leader must demonstrate they understand the depths of the problems faced by the force and have a plan to restore the trust and confidence of Londoners."
Ms Patel said "strong and decisive new leadership will be required to restore public confidence" in London's police force. (...)
One thing which seems clear to me is that this isn't going to be sorted out by a change of leadership. Those comments imply to me that the two main political players have no plan and I'm tempted to say no clue.
You will need to show your understanding of the scale and urgency of these particular challenges in the MPS, and that you have an achievable plan to restore the trust and confidence of Londoners.
Perhaps it's the Home Secretary and the London Mayor who need to do that first.
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From the BBC
Met Police: Job advert for new commissioner published
However, the advertisement for her successor remarks that it has "become evident that significant and sustained improvements need to be made within the Met to restore public confidence and legitimacy in the largest police force in the UK".
It added: "This will require inspirational leadership to deliver a demonstrably more professional police force, that better reflects the diversity of London itself.
.... "The successful candidate will be responsible for re-establishing trust and confidence in policing amongst everyone living in London, particularly women and girls and those from Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities."
The advert also states that the new commissioner will be responsible for addressing the "serious failings" that have been identified by two reports into the Met Police.
Addressing the outcome of the ongoing inquiries led by Dame Elish Angiolini QC and Baroness Casey will also be an important task for Dame Cressida's successor.
Central to role will be the need to work collaboratively with the Home Office and the Mayor's Office for Policing And Crime, the job description adds. (My bold)
"A police and crime commissioner (PCC) has become the first to call her area’s force “institutionally racist”, a statement quickly followed by a categorical rebuttal from the chief constable." https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/202 ... lly-racist
For the benefit of those who don't bother with links, this refers to Merseyside Police. (For the benefit of those who don't do geography, that's some distance from London.)
Jdsk wrote: ↑5 May 2022, 3:02pm"A police and crime commissioner (PCC) has become the first to call her area’s force “institutionally racist”, a statement quickly followed by a categorical rebuttal from the chief constable." https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/202 ... lly-racist
That links to the rebuttal.
And the statement from the Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner:
sjs wrote: ↑28 Jun 2022, 11:37pm
To answer the question asked by the OP, obviously not.
Can any police force?
There are a lot of police officers who are decent, fair minded, honest and trustworthy individuals. There are also a lot who are not. It's pot luck which of these people have dealings with.
'Give me my bike, a bit of sunshine - and a stop-off for a lunchtime pint - and I'm a happy man.' - Reg Baker
Basically, the police (any police) are primarily used to protect the interests of the powerful, often at the expense of the powerless.
Cugel
“Practical men who believe themselves to be quite exempt from any intellectual influence are usually the slaves of some defunct economist”.
John Maynard Keynes
