Policing 21st Century Britain: Do We Need to Rethink?

A 2 hour debate between about 20 people in an upstairs room in a pub. Not as heated as the previous one about the pharmaceutical industry. I provided the following......

Police show minimal interest in lower level crime especially when it involves juveniles. Part of the problem is the amount of paperwork they have to complete in order to process. Then the courts will often give minimal punishments. Easier to brush it under the carpet, as a result more people don’t bother reporting it. Crimes unreported as public lose faith in police - BBC News

Coronavirus lockdowns. Police openly admitted they didn’t have the resources to enforce the rules and many lockdown fines went unpaid. Regardless of your opinions on covid/lockdowns it doesn’t paint the police or justice system in a good light.

OPINION: "There simply aren’t enough police officers to enforce a lockdown" (wiltshire999s.co.uk)

Majority of coronavirus fines unpaid in some parts of England, data suggests | ITV News
Use of Force: There have been concerns about the use of force by police officers, including instances of excessive force or inappropriate responses to non-violent situations. The handling of certain high-profile cases has sometimes sparked debates about police practices and accountability.
1. Stephen Lawrence Case (1993)
2. Hillsborough Disaster (1989)
3. The Rotherham Child Sexual Exploitation Scandal (1997–2013)
4. Sarah Everard Case (2021)
5. Stop-and-Search Policies
6. Undercover Policing Scandal
7. Failures in Handling Domestic Abuse and Sexual Offenses
8. Deaths in Police Custody
9. The Police’s Response to Public Protests
10. Vetting and Recruitment Failures

Two tier policing - Women typically receive lesser punishment for committing the exact same crimes as men. Drunk businesswoman, 39, who glassed a pub drinker after he wrongly guessed she was 43 is spared jail after female judge says 'one person's banter may be insulting to others' | Daily Mail Online

Criticism of the UK police : FROM CHAT GPT

Racial Profiling and Discrimination: Critics argue that racial minorities in the UK are disproportionately targeted by police. There have been numerous reports and studies suggesting that Black and ethnic minority individuals are more likely to be stopped and searched, leading to allegations of institutional racism within the force.

Handling of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Cases: The police have faced criticism for their handling of domestic violence and sexual assault cases. There are concerns about insufficient support for victims, inadequate investigations, and a perceived lack of seriousness in addressing these crimes.

Corruption and Misconduct: Instances of police corruption and misconduct have also been a point of criticism. High-profile scandals and cases of officers being involved in criminal activities or abusing their power have raised questions about oversight and internal controls.

Transparency and Accountability: There are calls for greater transparency and accountability in policing. Critics argue that the mechanisms for holding police officers accountable, such as complaints procedures and independent oversight bodies, are often insufficient or ineffective.

Tactical and Strategic Issues: The tactics and strategies employed by the police, including the handling of protests and public demonstrations, have been contentious. Critics sometimes argue that police responses are overly aggressive or not in line with the principles of peaceful assembly and freedom of expression.

Community Relations: The relationship between the police and various communities can be strained, especially in areas where there is a perceived lack of engagement or understanding between law enforcement and local residents. Building trust and fostering positive community relations remain ongoing challenges.

Mental Health Crisis Response: The police are often called to handle incidents involving individuals experiencing mental health crises, but there are concerns about the adequacy of their training and the appropriateness of their response in such situations. Critics advocate for more specialized support and resource

Failure of the UK police : FROM CHAT GPT

• Failure: The murder of black teenager Stephen Lawrence by a group of white youths in 1993 exposed serious failings in the Metropolitan Police's investigation. The police were accused of incompetence and institutional racism.

• Outcome: A 1999 public inquiry, led by Sir William Macpherson, concluded that the Metropolitan Police was institutionally racist. This led to significant reforms in policing, but issues around race and police conduct remain.

• Failure: The police's handling of the Hillsborough disaster, where 97 football fans died during a crush at a stadium, was heavily criticized. South Yorkshire Police initially blamed the fans, but years later, it was revealed that police mismanagement was largely to blame.

• Outcome: In 2016, an inquest concluded that the victims were unlawfully killed due to gross negligence by the police, among other factors. Several officers were charged with offenses, though some were acquitted, and others’ trials collapsed.

• Failure: Between 1997 and 2013, around 1,400 children in Rotherham were subjected to sexual abuse, largely by men of Pakistani heritage. Local police were accused of ignoring the issue, partly due to fears of being labeled racist.

• Outcome: An independent report in 2014 found that the police and other authorities had failed to protect vulnerable children. It led to public outrage and reforms, but criticism persisted about the handling of these cases nationwide.

• Failure: Sarah Everard was kidnapped, raped, and murdered by Wayne Couzens, a serving Metropolitan Police officer. This case highlighted the issue of violence against women and police misconduct.

• Outcome: The case led to increased scrutiny on the vetting of officers and the culture within the police. Public trust in the police was severely shaken, and calls for reforms, particularly around gender violence, increased.

• Failure: The use of stop-and-search by UK police forces has been criticized for disproportionately targeting ethnic minorities, particularly young black men.

• Outcome: The effectiveness and fairness of stop-and-search have been questioned for decades, with some arguing it erodes trust in the police in minority communities. Although efforts to reform it have been made, it remains a contentious issue.

• Failure: The revelation that undercover officers infiltrated activist groups, sometimes forming relationships with members and even fathering children while under false identities, caused a public outcry.

• Outcome: An inquiry was launched to investigate these practices. The scandal raised serious ethical questions about police behavior, oversight, and accountability.

• Failure: The UK police have been widely criticized for their handling of domestic abuse and sexual violence cases. Many victims report inadequate responses, mishandling of evidence, and poor support from officers.

• Outcome: While steps have been taken to improve training and response, systemic issues remain, and conviction rates for sexual offenses are still low, leading to calls for further reforms.

• Failure: Numerous high-profile deaths of individuals in police custody have sparked outrage, particularly when there is suspicion of excessive force or neglect. Cases involving black and minority ethnic individuals have been particularly controversial.

• Outcome: Investigations and inquiries into these deaths have often led to acquittals for officers, which has increased public frustration and mistrust, particularly among minority communities.

• Failure: In recent years, the police’s handling of protests, especially those related to climate change (Extinction Rebellion) and social justice (Black Lives Matter), has been criticized for heavy-handed tactics.

• Outcome: The UK government has sought to pass legislation giving police greater powers to deal with protests, but critics argue this undermines civil liberties and further erodes trust in the police.

• Failure: Numerous cases have emerged of officers with criminal records or histories of misconduct being allowed to join or remain in the police force. This has led to serious breaches of public trust, especially when these officers are involved in misconduct while serving.

• Outcome: There have been calls for more rigorous vetting processes, better whistleblowing protections, and stronger oversight mechanisms to prevent such failures in the future.

These incidents have contributed to an ongoing debate about police reform in the UK, with demands for greater accountability, transparency, and oversight.