Policing in crisis

The present crisis in the Metropolitan Police has its roots in a culture of impunity and unaccountability has gone on for many years. The litany of scandals, most recently involving multiple rapist and former PC David Carrick, the murderer of Sarah Everard, Wayne Couzens, the homophobic, sexist and racist attitudes of officers, revealed in dialogue discovered at Charing Cross Police Station and the failings of the Stephen Port inquiry has brought the Met to its knees. The Met has revealed that 800 officers are under investigation relating to 1,000 sexual and domestic abuse claims. Many make parallels with the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC), calling for a similar disbandment and creation of a new service - as has happened with the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). Successive Conservative Governments have under resourced the police, no doubt contributing to the present crisis. Individual police officers have incredible power over ordinary citizen's lives. These powers need to be checked and cannot be just handed out without accountability. Abuse of that power destroys public trust in the police and makes policing by consent impossible. The good officers suffer, as a result of the abuse of power. There needs to be root and branch reform of the police. The criteria for recruitment needs examining. Equality needs to be a watchword. Also, the canteen culture, which encourages covering up for each other and the vilification of whistle blowers needs to go. The make-up of the police needs to reflect the communities which they seek to serve. There need to be more women and ethnic minority officers. Confidence in the Met hasn't been as low as at present, since the 1960s and 70s, when many officers were found to be operating hand in hand with organised crime. At that time, the government made Sir Robert Mark the new Metropolitan Police Commissioner. His ruthless measures weeded out many of the corrupt elements. Some 500 officers were dismissed, with several senior detectives going to prison. Mark famously commented that: "a good police force is one that catches more crooks than it employs." Perhaps, a similar process needs to be undertaken today. The new Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley certainly talks the talk about cleaning up the police but only time will tell. The processes undertaken need to be right to rebuild an accountable police service that can win back the trust of the public.

It's history that needs teaching, not maths

The suggestion of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak that children should learn maths until the age of 18 was widely derided. But perhaps the PM just got the wrong subject, maybe they should learn history. Indeed, learning history really does need to be a lifelong process, not just ending at 18. The teaching of this crucial subject has for so long centred on the kings and queens of England, rather than the plight of working people. Nor has the brutality of the British Empire across the world had much of an airing. Things have improved over recent years, with the likes of the slave trade getting onto the itinerary, but there is still a long way to go. Recently, reading accounts of life in the early part of the 20th century - the struggles of working people just to survive, the brutality meted out by a Liberal Government to the suffragettes and Irish nationalists - it was striking to realise how hidden this history has become. Everyone should know about the botched job made of Indian independence, ensuring a bloodbath ensued from the clumsy partition process. Indeed, the problems caused by British partitioning across the world. If the true brutality of much that has gone on at home and abroad were taught, then the false shibboleths that have taken shape over the years may be more easily dismissed. These include the view that the British Empire was a good thing, a civilising force for humanity. All was well when Britain ruled the waves. More recently this version of history had plucky Britain winning the Second World War, pretty much alone. The role of the US and Russia is relegated to the sidelines. Unfortunately, many seem (and want) to believe this falsification of the past - it was something that the campaign to leave the EU was able to plug into. The truth that Britain was a declining country, whose power was magnified by it being part of the larger EU block, was lost. Now, we are all paying the price. History is so important because it is only by understanding the past that the mistakes made then can be avoided in the future. A proper teaching of history, beyond the fate of the privileged monarchs, would do much to ensure a better informed, so more progressive country.

Time government acted to resolve strikes

Why are the government totally failing to govern when it comes to the question of the strikes in the public sector? The government is there to ensure that things run smoothly. This news may come as a surprise to some, thinking back to the damage done in such a short space of time by Liz Truss's administration, but it is the case. So why is it completely failing to do so on strikes? Why does the invisible Prime Minister Rishi Sunak not get the parties together around the table and endeavour to resolve these damaging disputes. And where this is not possible stop interfering behind the scenes to stop a settlement being reached - as appears to be the case in the rail dispute. The government's only strategy seems to be to let the disputes run, hoping public sympathy will move away from the strikers. This is unlikely to happen, due partly to the fact that most of the public support the strikes because they recognise the injustice of imposing below inflation pay rises on, in many cases, those who put their lives on the line for the rest of us during the pandemic. Neither do many appreciate the double standards that see restrictions on bankers bonuses being removed, whilst austerity is imposed on everyone else. It should also be recognised that the public includes the striking workers. The constant effort of many in the media to try to divide people by referring to the public versus the strikers is quite shameful. Solidarity across society is what is required now. A just wage for all, lifting children and adults out of poverty and away from the need to use food banks. It can be done but is likely to require a rebalancing of society, so those who have most pay more in order that everyone can receive a just and living wage. So come on Mr Sunak get off your backside and resolve these disputes.

The Ragged Trousered Philanthropist - a blueprint for the future?

How far has society really moved over the past century? The thought occurred, after recently reading the book the Ragged Trousered Philanthropists. Written around 1910, it tells the story of a group of construction workers, struggling to survive. The constant battle, with the bosses holding the upper hand, is vividly illustrated. The representative of middle management, Hunter, creeping around the building trying to catch someone slacking, so they can be dismissed and replaced by a worker on a lower rate. The job was hard but dismissal plunged families further into debt and destitution. There was no safety net. The workers have constant debates about their lot, with the skilled worker and socialist Frank Owen pointing out how the workers collude in the creation of their own situation by doing nothing to change it. The arguments that poverty is caused by migrant workers, automation or terms of trade go back and forth during the lunchtimes. Owen describes the bosses as the idle, exploiting the workers simply due to their own power. The book makes for a fascinating read, with author Robert Tressell taking a humorous note at times. However, what is striking are the parallels with today. The debate about the poverty of those in work, paid hardly enough to survive. The sack means destitution. So today, there are increasing numbers of people in work having to attend foodbanks. Foodbanks even being set up at some workplaces. In the book, workers shiver at home, struggling to heat houses, with young children to look after. The children often wanting for food. Ring any bells? Some families, even give up and kill themselves. The mass wealth of a few to the cost of the many. Today, more than 2.5 million go to food banks, amid a society, with 200 plus billionaires in residence. It would be wrong to exactly parallel a situation of a century ago with today but in many ways things do seem to be heading back in that direction. There was no such thing as a pension in the early 20th century. Pensions arrived in 1911. The weekend and paid holidays in the terms of today did not exist. Nor did the health service and welfare state. All of these things and more came about over the following century, as a result of the struggle of people. The trade unions played a huge role in achieving workplace justice. Workers coming together in a collective organisation could assert power and get change. The individual worker could not be picked off. The Labour Party became an agent of social change. Much has been achieved. The danger though is taking all of these gains for granted, thinking they can never be taken away. These basic rights can easily be removed, as the country moves back toward a time of servitude. Poverty being dealt with via charity, rather than justice. Today, the UK is the fifth biggest economy in the world, yet millions struggle to feed and keep themselves and their children warm. In work poverty is a norm for many. It is a national disgrace. There needs to be a fundamental shift of power and wealth away from the few to the many. The move to turn back the clock must be resisted. Collective organisation via trade unions, community groups and political parties all have roles to play. There needs to be a fairer settlement for all in this country, based on justice, not charity.