Letter: Totalitarian step towards a national police force
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Sir: Your leading article 'Policing the police' rightly supports the widespread agreement that changes in our police force are needed but plans for reform must not be based too enthusiastically on recommendations from an inquiry run predominantly by businessmen. Such an inquiry, if alarmed at the state of police management, must wonder at these results after more than 20 years of the police being almost force-fed with the theories and practices of business.
As a former Civil Service Commissioner, I had close association with police matters arising from the introduction and running of procedures of higher grade selection. Underlying the questions of regional or national forces (including the impact of the two miners' strikes, relationships with local authorities and further amalgamations) must be the stance on what is eventually a matter of philosophy - 'What do we want the police for?'
The answer lies somewhere between two poles: the conviction of a former Lord Chief Justice that the role of the police is to deal with 'real crime', and that of men such as John Alderson that the police, in addition, form one of our vital social services.
Yours sincerely,
K. A. MURRAY
Leatherhead, Surrey
18 January
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments