Letter: Unaccountability of private police
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: The latest radical idea for the extension of the Parks Police into wider duties by Wandsworth Council has come in for justifiable criticism from many quarters. While there is much wrong with the Metropolitan Police, they have undeniably been going some way towards putting their house in order.
Many dispossessed communities, such as minority ethnic and black people, lesbians and gay men and the poor have been on the receiving end of oppressive and discriminatory policing; complaints, riots and publicity have played a part in the process of making the force more responsive to community needs and less the bastions of large power blocks and outmoded discriminatory ideologies. The Metropolitan and other forces still have a long way to go, but the process of change seems to have started. Is it not, therefore, unfortunate that at this formative moment Wandsworth's plan should be sprung on our minority communities?
If Wandsworth has its way, today's fledgling community-consultation climate may be looked back on as a golden age. The black youth on the street corner, the homeless person and the upfront dyke have much to fear as they are likely to join the ranks of the unacceptable when Parks Police become street moralisers.
Yours faithfully,
CHRIS MILLS
Hove, East Sussex
25 August
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments