Gary's views

Gary's weekly views

Each week an article by Gary has appeared in the Plympton Plymstock and Ivybridge News in South West Devon. The articles are published here

ANTI SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR - POLICE

This is article three in a four part series on anti-social behaviour. We have touched on interventions in the home, school and now the community.

What is the problem? In some cities you could describe it as gang warfare, but thankfully not here (yet!). No, our communities are being disrupted by groups of youngsters gathering together in shopping centres and other locations, sometimes drunk, sometimes not, generally being an intimidating nuisance to other locals and sometimes indulging in low level violence. This is on the increase. I have been out with the police several times, spoken to many of the youngsters involved and community groups trying to tackle the problem.

Of course, more facilities for young people would help. But there is not likely to be much council cash for our part of Plymouth (seen by the controlling group as idyllic suburbs) for some time. As you know I strongly believe that the real answer lies in the home and I am seeking to explore practical ways of intervening in this difficult arena at Westminster.

But I also believe that we could have more effective policing, and I am coming (reluctantly) to believe that we have a growing problem with policing in this country. Let me say straight away that this is certainly not the fault of individual officers most of whom are hard-working heroes. Nor is it due to the main man in charge of Plymouth police who I consider to be outstanding, although I am less impressed with the ponderous decision-making that trickles out of the Exeter headquarters.

So what’s going wrong? Obviously, the absurd red tape is one problem. If it takes several hours of paperwork to process one simple arrest, is it any wonder that an ethos slowly emerges of preferring not to arrest? But the force also suffers from management styles that are old fashioned, technology that is light years behind, and a growing culture similar to the public sector in the 1970’s – bureaucratic and putting the organisation before the people it is intended to serve. The fear of litigation and an over-reaction to political correctness both help stifle discretion and the kind of hands-on common sense coppering that we really need.
I don’t know what to do about all this, but I consider it time to speak out. Police officers do a very difficult and essential job. They deserve a better system behind them and so do we.

posted by Nigel on Monday, June 27, 2005