The vengeance of Sir Ian Blair

Interviewed on the Toady programme this morning, the former Metropolitan Police Commissioner was given an easy ride. He is, after all, of similar outlook.

There was much to disagree with him in what he said, but his biggest affront was his rejection of voter input into policing decisions would reduce the independence of the police chief.

He doesn't get it, does he? The reason why the police are held in such low esteem by much of the public is precisely because the police and especially their leaders are so distant and unaccountable.

The transfer of authority to some distant centre by amalgamation of forces means that voters feel even more powerless and ignored.

They also feel ignored at the closure of local police stations where they could at least have spoken to the desk sergeant. The absence of police on the beat, or their replacement by the less impressive and less effective Community Support Officers, means that in small towns and villages it is possible to walk about for weeks without seeing an officer. Above all the failure of police to turn out or attend small crimes, or even more serious ones, means that juveniles create havoc and older people feel too afraid to leave their homes.

The fault is not just with the chief constable. He is handing down orders from the Home Office, and asking his colleagues to record everything on paper, to attempt risk assessment before turning out, and arresting only offenders who contribute to targets and who will not require too much police time.

Well Sir Ian, for my part, if the police are ever to regain the respect they once had, it will only come about if they police the community in the way that the community wishes.

The independence of chief constables should exist for only the methods of policing, not the objectives. The sooner we have locally determined policy the better, and not just one councillor on some distant police committee.