Last week I was honoured to be part of the Stakeholder Panel in the recruitment process for the next Chief Constable of Lincolnshire Police. Whilst not a new idea, it is still a reasonably uncommon occurrence and therefore it is perhaps worthwhile noting my experience and observations. Our panel was made up of six members of the public, representing a variety of organisations. I do think the success of such a panel has much to thank for both the mix of members and the person running the day, who may be required to keep a firm check on direction. In the event, we were a rather professional panel and needed little steering. I suspect this is not always the case.

We had representatives of a variety of groups who work with the community and link or liaise with Lincolnshire Police. We also had a representative of the National Farmers Union and me, a Policing commentator – I’ll let you` imagine the look in each of the candidates’ eyes when I introduced myself as such! Our part of the process was set up as a round...

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Wanted: Ambitious Leader for Lincolnshire

(must have own car and GSOH)

As the closing date for applications for Chief Constable of Lincolnshire Police approaches, I thought I might put my thoughts down for those of you who may be interested, be that a professional interest or purely personal. I have come to think very highly of Lincolnshire Police over the last 5 years or so and I hope they do not mind me writing this!

Lincolnshire is my adopted home County and I have found it to be both welcoming and an easy pleasure to be part of a thriving community. I quickly learned that a particular Lincolnshire trait is a kind of apologetic nature, which I find both endearing and frustrating as there is so much to shout about here in Lincolnshire. The city of Lincoln itself is a bustling urban city, steeped in history, with a thriving University and all the benefits that brings. Grantham, the next largest town is on the cusp of real regeneration, with a cosmopolitan community and one hour rail link...

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This Monday, 8th August 2016, the Daily Mail published an article by a journalist on their ‘Investigations’ team, called Lucy Osborne. The article was titled, rather sloppily: ‘A law unto themselves. How YOU pay thousands for Police Chiefs’ household bills and private health care – while THEY take up to 64 days holiday’. Being an advocate of justice and a strong supporter of the public sector, I was compelled to read the article. What I found was surprising, given that the author works on some kind of ‘investigative’ brief. A raft of FOI requests had been sent out and then some of the replies had been worked into what tried very hard to be a shocking article. Unfortunately, the author did not understand what she had requested or indeed what information she had received back. I thought it might be useful if I draw together the information people need to make a fair judgement for themselves.

Firstly, lets be clear who decides what the Chief Constable is entitled to. Until PCCs, 4 years ago, it was the old Police Authority – a panel made up of people...

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Job Advert:

Lincolnshire Police and Crime Commissioner

The people of Lincolnshire are looking for a Police and Crime Commissioner. The role is a challenging mix of governance, budgeting, commissioning services and more. The successful candidate should have experience in these or related areas and they should demonstrate an interest in Criminal Justice and the services which together work towards preventing crime. The PCC will secure an efficient and effective Police for Lincolnshire, they will appoint (and if necessary, dismiss) the Chief Constable and hold them to account for running the Force. They will set objectives for Lincolnshire in a Police and Crime plan and set the Force budget and precept. They will contribute to the national and international Policing capabilities as set out by the Home Secretary, whilst here in Lincolnshire they will bring together community safety and criminal justice partners to make sure local priorities are effectively addressed As well as this, the successful candidate will have responsibility for reducing...

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Over the last couple of years, there has been an up swell in far Right opinion. Ideals that previously would have been frowned upon are met openly with approval and encouragement by growing numbers of people. The terms ‘Right’ and ‘Left’ are relatively new terms in UK history, only having been used here since the 20th Century and in fact the terms originate from the French Civil War, when the ultra Royalists sat on the right side of the French Parliament. We are currently under a Conservative Government in its second term, with groups like UKIP and English Democrats gaining popularity from an increasingly disenfranchised populace, while the only significant offerings on the Left are a Labour Party struggling to find a way forward and a smattering of others who still don’t garner that much support Nationally.

In this atmosphere, it has been with growing alarm that I have watched voices around Policing become increasingly right wing. Self proclaimed leaders, ex Officers who do a bit of TV here or there and the odd PCC, have begun...

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Last week HMIC published the first PEEL reports on each Police Force in the UK. PEEL stands for Police Effectiveness Efficiency Legitimacy – a mnemonic which in itself rather stretches the realms of credibility but >https://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmic/wp-content/uploads/2014-peel-methodology.pdf shows the thinking behind the ‘three pillars’ of Effectiveness, Efficiency and Legitimacy. The first PEEL reports concentrated on Efficiency, which leaves me wondering why they didn’t just put that E first in the mnemonic. Each Force received their own report but as they were graded between Outstanding and Inadequate, it is impossible not to view PEEL as a league table. It seems a shame that modernising Police Forces, often in pursuit of innovation, are judged in such a limiting and old fashioned way.

Efficiency is covered by three questions for the purpose of PEEL. In the link given above, in November 2014, the questions are straightforward, if more than a little unappetising. The first seems to negate any need for further...

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Today I tried – not for the first time – to tell people who work in Policing and some who used to work in Policing, how things can be for a member of the public who has nothing to do with the Criminal Justice System unless they are unfortunate in some way. Unfortunate. Yes. Not just unfortunate if they become a victim. Simply unfortunate if they come into contact with our antiquated, eternally added to but never properly changed, Criminal Justice System.

After Soham, Police Forces began to keep local databases. Quite right too. Had there been such a database prior to Soham, two little girls would likely not have lost their lives and certainly not in the circumsances that unfolded there. Databases are not just for keeping record of sexual impropriety that does not warrant arrest. They keep information on all manner of things, including all out of court settlements – accepted Cautions to get a horrible experience over with, Formal Warnings and the like. They all go onto local databases. Then the person is told “Its ok, its not a CRO (even...

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Yesterday, Chief Constable Nick Gargan was required to retire or resign by his PCC, under the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011.  http://www.avonandsomerset-pcc.gov.uk/News-and-Events/News-Archive/2015/Aug/PCC-starts-process-for-Chief-Constable-Nick-Gargans-resignation.aspx That he should resign is pretty much universally agreed. That he has not, is unsuprising. Nick Gargan’s rise in Policing was fast and sure. By the time he was heading up the National Police Improvement Agency, his career seemed secure and there was much talk of him being a future Commissioner. So how did it come to this inauspicious juncture in just a few short years? The story I am about to recount features an act of adultery. I think it important, before I go on, to note that none of the allegations originally made about Nick Gargan were found, whilst the investigation did find behaviour that is unacceptable, there was no evidence of any behaviour linked to the events herein. I strongly believe every person is entitled to a private...

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As we draw closer to the General Election, I have been pondering purdah and what it really means for Police, both as individuals and as an organisation. We expect UK Policing to be above Politics, the epitome of impartiality. Yet the truth is that Policing and Politics are inextricably linked. The advent of Police and Crime Commissioners served to concentrate the minds of many both within the Police Service and those who have interest in the field. Suddenly every one knew about purdah and the restrictions it placed upon serving officers. Except….does it actually place those restrictions on officers? What is purdah really? What happens if you break it?

This year, purdah begins on 30th March. It is not a law. It is described as a moral obligation and is employed to avoid Political one upmanship in the run up to an election. In simple terms, Local Government stops announcing new initiatives until after the election, so as not to appear to advantage one candidate over another. Its not quite as innocuous as it sounds, given that if advantage can be...

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Today I tweeted that I believe it’s time for PSD/DPS departments to be disbanded. I said they rarely support the public in a positive way and that they frequently damage officer’s touched by their ‘investigations’. They are not trusted from within or without the organisation and frankly they are very poor value for money. It amazes me that the press in particular have not picked up on the broken bridge that is Professional Standards. Steve Evans, from the Police Federation rightly called me put on my sweeping statement. He asked what I suggested should replace PSD. So, not being one for empty words, this is my reply to you Steve.

Currently, PSD investigate individual wrongdoing. They actively look for misdemeanours and corruption. They are a conduit for Police Discipline. Everything about them is negative. Much of what the public complain about – or want to complain about but don’t – is not due to individual wrongdoing. It is due to skewed practices or unintended consequences. Disciplining an individual officer changes nothing but...

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