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Andrew Bramma: a member of the #policefamily

This weekend North Yorkshire Police, along with many members of the wider police family are in mourning. They are reflecting on the sad passing of a colleague and friend who like others, left home to serve his community and our society as a whole but, due to his choice of profession, he will never again return home to his family…

This morning many heard, initially via the undoubted power of social media and latterly via mainstream media avenues, that a North Yorkshire police officer was tragically killed on duty last night.

PC Andrew Bramma, aged 32, was tragically killed when his patrol van hit a tree in West Tanfield, near Ripon, on Saturday 5 January 2013. He was on the way to answer an emergency call. Andrew had recently transferred to North Yorkshire from Greater Manchester…(See Book of condolences – North Yorkshire Police)

Obviously and rightly, the expected words of support and condolence were quickly forthcoming but sadly there were also some disparaging and inappropriate comments across both media platforms. One mainstream media report that I read this morning (Daily Mail) had public comments with a roughly 75% – 25% split (at the time of reading). The higher number were thankfully offering words of support but worryingly, the smaller proportion were not. Some media sources I saw during the day even had sick suggestions that in some way, Andrew actually “got what he deserved” for being a cop?

Everyone is shocked and saddened by the news of his death and I speak for every member of the force in extending our heartfelt sympathies to his family, friends and colleagues…(CC Tim Madgwick)

Many of those people commenting probably won’t ever be able to start to comprehend what Andrew’s family and friends are going through right now. Irrespective of your personal views on policing, he was simply a family man with a wife and two small children going about his daily work on your behalf. But in addition to that, he was also a valued and respected member of the wider police family, a ‘family’ that is shocked, hurt and bereaved at the loss of one of its members, just like any other family. Thankfully one respondent to the article I read in The Mail summed up what many were hopefully thinking.

The usual anti brigade have made visits and posted comments showing their stupidity and ignorance. The sad truth is that the authors of such comments lack the moral fibre and integrity and courage required of all police officers…(Source dailymail.co.uk)

One retired Police Officer and advanced driver commenting on the article also pointed out; many 999 calls are actually made by “people who don’t really need attention that quickly” but the emergency services don’t know that until they actually arrive at the scene of the incident. Rightly he also says “when next you need the police, you will think it’s an emergency and if they don’t get there quickly enough you will criticise them for not being there.”

It’s one of those factors of policing that every officer knows. But still the majority do their job with integrity and professionalism, to the best of their ability. Anyone who truly serves the public (as opposed to themself) fully understands that they will always ’damned if they do and damned if they don’t’ by an element of our society.

Whatever your warped perception of policing in the UK (mostly thanks to our media methodology), have some bloody respect for the grief and pain of Andrew’s family. If you happen to have some valid complaint about the police service you receive, at least have the common decency to voice it through the appropriate official channels. Any uneducated cowardly muppet with a personal axe to grind can vent their sick spleen on social media – Put up or shut up!

Andrew was simply serving his community and I thank him for that. He was also playing his part in making our society a better place for us all to live; what did you do today to make us feel proud?

Rest in Peace Brother!

Police officer killed answering 999 call was father of two (telegraph.co.uk)
Police officer killed in crash (bbc.co.uk)
Police Death: Tributes To Officer Killed In Crash – Sky News (news.sky.com)
VIDEO: Tributes to Pc Andrew Bramma (itv.com)

Posted in Emergency Services, Media Watch, Our Society, Police

1 Comment

Tags: Greater Manchester Police, North Yorkshire Police, Police, Police officer, West Tanfield

Police Crime Commissioners – #PCC = ???

Oct 26

Posted by Dave Hasney

November the 15th will soon be upon us and I’m starting to think that the initials PCC should actually stand for Policing Community Conundrum, as opposed to Police & Crime Commissioner…

On that date we will see the first ever elections for 41 new Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs), people who we will elect across England and Wales (except London) to give us the public a say about how our police perform. (You can read more about PCCs at the Home Office website).

Perhaps the PCC proposal is actually more to do with what Rt.Hon Theresa May MP told senior police officers when she became Home Secretary? She wanted them to be “crystal clear” that the “mission” of the service was “to cut crime, no more and no less”.

Anyone with even the remotest understanding of police work should know; police officers in reality spend the vast majority of their time and effort dealing with matters and incidents that are not “crime” per se. They are called upon by the public, and their similarly cash strapped ‘partner’ agencies, to deal with anything and everything, whether or not that task actually falls within a policing remit. Most police officers care about providing a service that helps and protects the public they serve.

The police are (were) a ‘can do’ organisation. It’s one of the underlying reasons why the police once enjoyed the high levels of public support they did in the past however; continued government drives that have focused on little more than enforcement, as opposed to providing assistance and service, are responsible for destroying that public support. It has been instrumental in creating that widening rift which now exists between our police and the public.

Police and Crime Commissioners will ensure community needs are met as effectively as possible and will improve local relationships through building confidence and trust…(One Team Policing)

The above statement is all well and good but the introduction of PCCs will also have major consequences for the fundamentals of British Policing. If you listen to the ConDem Government, all of those impacts will be good ones. Conversely, when you listen to others, both commentators external to the process and several who work within the service, many aren’t totally convinced or enamoured about the proposals.

Cameron has created a mechanism that will ensure forces can never be rationalised or reformed, while the police gain a tireless “democratic” advocate demanding ever more manpower and money, despite no close correlation between police resources and crime rates…(Polly Toynbee)

But what is the point of all this continual focus upon crime, again? Crime statistics (for what they’re worth) suggest that offending is falling, additionally many ‘experts’ in the field of Criminal Justice system also say that prison doesn’t work. In reality, most answers to crime and policing from politicians are little more than smart straplines or soundbite rhetoric. As Polly Toynbee pointed out in her article, “Cameron shows he’s also addicted to the quick fix of tough talk.”

David Gilbertson QPM, former Deputy Assistant Commissioner to the Metropolitan Police, former HM Assistant Inspector of Constabulary at the Home Office and author of The Strange Death of Constable George Dixon wrote on the subject recently:-

Recent history shows us that party political loyalties and operational policing do not mix… Sadly, the reality of the electoral process for the first generation of commissioners shows every sign of turning into a slow motion car crash…(the-platform.org.uk)

Mark Botham, Chairman of the North Yorkshire Police Federation Joint Branch Board has clearly outlined an official stance on many of the PCC issues. Mark has also raised some pertinent and very important questions in his blog which require urgent answers.

…there remain some unanswered questions which the public should have answers to from all candidates…(Mark Botham)

Several of Mark’s comments have been seen by some as sitting on the fence however; as Mark and his colleagues have to work with whoever is subsequently elected, it’s right for him to be diplomatic in his stance and open to the opinion of others (irrespective of his own personal views). He is considering his organisational position for any future negotiations he may be required to enter into on behalf of the officers he represents.

That said, Mark’s ‘official’ views can (simplistically) be summarised in the question - will PCC appointments risk politicising the police service, or is it a good way of dealing with lack lustre Chief Officer performance? This is also the main area of debate that many question.

Several articles by Jon Harvey, a leadership and organisational development practitioner, published in the Guardian Public Leaders Network have also raised numerous questions about the PCC role, including some of those already mentioned;

Ten questions for potential police and crime commissioners (30-Jan-2012) – Directly elected PCCs are intended to hold the police to account. Some questions for the candidates.
Police and crime commissioners: 13 more questions (13-Jun-2012) – How will new police and crime commissioners be accountable and what will they do from day-to-day.
Police and crime commissioners: six pre-election questions (23-Oct-2012) – From candidates’ credentials to budgets and outsourcing, six more questions for police and crime commissioners

In addition to all this controversy and argument about the role it is suggested that; PCC elections, along with the creation of associated Crime Panels in each corresponding area, are also designed to make savings in the public money being spent on the governance and accountability of policing. If that is correct, why does it appear the proposals are unlikely to achieve many (if any) of those proclaimed savings?

New crime panels being set up across the region will contain up to 70 per cent of the members of the police authorities they were designed to abolish, with critics condemning the controversial policy as an unnecessary waste of tens of millions of pounds…(yorkshirepost.co.uk)

As recently as this week the Prime Minister and policing minister Damian Green have both spoke publicly about the New Landscape of Policing, something the Home Affairs Select Committee also reported upon (see here).

If you want more tough policing, you can get it. If you want coppers who are on the beat, on your street, cracking down on antisocial behaviour, focusing on the things you care about, then don’t just talk about it, get out on 15 November and vote for it…(Rt.Hon. David Cameron, Prime Minister)

As the PCC election process is now something of a done deal, Cameron’s rallying call to the electorate although partly valid and required is in my opinion, too little too late. It is little more than rhetorical and simplistic hot air. A collection of words cleverly designed to appeal to an electorate showing waning support for him and/or his government.

That electorate is rightly concerned about policing and crime issues, even when they don’t really understand them. As is probably also the case with many of the prospective candidates. Is it any wonder that the police officers are worried too?

The thought that law enforcement decisions in this county will be influenced by a prospective candidates bed time and unhindered by current UK legislation is of great amusement to me. It probably won’t be quite so funny when he can’t deliver, and the bitching and blame-games start…(Inspector Gadget)

The electorate are the people who can’t understand why their government and the police appear to be failing them so often. Failing to effectively combat all the issues that they are fearful of, despite contrived public satisfaction surveys. Fearful of the issues that have a negative impact upon their lives, even if they’ve never been a victim.

In my opinion the creation of PCCs and Crime Panels (in isolation) will never cure any of the fears and concerns that many people hold. But despite many of those ‘fears’ being genuine, they’re also largely unjustified. Not only that but they are interpretations of reallity which are usually compounded (if not originally created), by manipulated statistics and the sensationalism employed in our nation’s media reporting methods.

In short; a PCC is a waste of time, a waste of public money and won’t deliver as intended. But as ever with political sollutions, you’ll have to wait for at least three and a half years (but probably longer) before I can sit all smug again saying – I told you so!

Clashes with elected police commissioners ‘inevitable’ (thetimes.co.uk)
Elected police commissioners should be given greater powers according to think tank (express.co.uk)
Former Met boss Sir Ian Blair tells people not to vote in elections for police and crime commissioners (independent.co.uk)
Police elections leaflets posted (bbc.co.uk)
Does Britain need cop commissioners? (thesun.co.uk)

Posted in Government, Local Authorities, Our Society, Police, Politics, Yorkshire

British Policing: The Price of Shame!

Oct 6

Posted by Dave Hasney

It would be fair to say, it hasn’t been a good year for British policing. As the BBC pointed out recently in one of the latest stories; in recent years a number of chief constables have resigned or retired after facing pressure to step down amid criticism or allegations about their conduct (see here)…

In February, Adam Briggs, Deputy Chief Constable of North Yorkshire Police, took retirement after a spat with his Police Authority over personal development funding, and a subsequent misconduct charge (read more). Later in the year, a deputy police chief in Wiltshire committed suicide, whilst being investigated over allegations of sexual harassment of female colleagues (read more).

The long running saga over the North Yorkshire Police Chief Constable Graham Maxwell rumbled on through the year, until his retirement (see here) in May. He subsequently admitted gross misconduct (see here) and narrowly avoided becoming the first Chief to be sacked in the UK for 30 years. But the Disgraced chief constable, who tried to help a relative get a job was still awarded a £250,000 golden handshake before saying goodbye (see here).

Earlier this week, Sir Norman Bettison, chief constable of West Yorkshire police, decided to step down from his post (see here). There is an Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) inquiry ongoing into his role (see here) in the aftermath of the 1989 Hillsborough disaster.

The only problem with Norman Bettison’s decision to retire as West Yorkshire Police Chief Constable, at a date and on grounds of his own choosing, is that it raises the prospect of the investigation into his role in the events following the Hillsborough Disaster being pursued with a little less vigour…(The Independent)

But, even when a Chief is considered to be a “good copper” by politicians, the public and the officers that he/she is responsible for leading, they’re still not immune to some media condemnation.

Unfortunately, Chief Constable Michael Todd of Greater Manchester Police was subjected to this. At the inquest into his untimely death on Snowdon in 2008, despite being hailed a good cop (see here), he was subsequently branded a lothario by the exact same media outlet (see here).

And, even when the IPCC get involved and find there is no case to answer, as with the “anonymous allegation” against the Chief Constable of Sussex Police (see here), there are still those who will vociferously cry; “no smoke without fire” I’m sure.

Now Sean Price, Chief Constable of Cleveland Police, has been branded “shameful” by the IPCC after being found guilty of gross misconduct and dismissed (read more).

Mr Price appeared to think his position as Chief Constable gave him the power to order people to do as he wished. A Chief Constable must set the standards for the police force to follow. Sean Price appears to have forgotten this and he set his own standards which fell far below those that would be expected. He has attempted to intimidate and bully staff under his leadership and mislead an independent investigation…(IPCC Press Release)

With all the bad press over recent months, it’s hardly surprising that Yvette Cooper MP, the Shadow Home Secretary announced planned changes to police scrutiny at the Labour Party annual conference.

The Guardian: Labour would abolish the Independent Police Complaints Commission and replace it with a tougher and much more robust Police Standards Authority to restore public trust in the police…(Read more)

Cooper reportedly said a new body was urgently needed to ensure that isolated incidents were not allowed to damage the police’s reputation. I’m not sure about the creation of ‘a new body’ but I can go with, something has to be done to preserve and hopefully enhance a failing police reputation. I do however agree with her observation.

Police officers need to know serious problems will be rooted out so they don’t cast a shadow over everyone else. …Policing in a democracy needs proper checks and balances…(Yvette Cooper MP)

After reading all of the above, it would be fair to see the ‘bad year’ comment as something of an understatement however; my concern, more importantly, is the fall-out that is impacting upon British policing as a whole. In particular, the effect it undoubtedly has upon public support (or the lack of it) for frontline officers.

It’s a sad state of affairs that we mostly have to endure events like the recent deaths of frontline police officers (see here) to bolster and mitigate against the failing public support for policing; a failure that is mostly engineered by politicians, senior police management and the media!