Public trust in police hit, says Leicester MP Keith Vaz
City MP Keith Vaz has said public confidence in the police has been shaken due to a "dangerous cocktail" including the "plebgate'' affair and the results of the Hillsborough Inquiry.
The Leicester East MP is chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee which will begin an inquiry into police accountability, integrity and internal corruption next month.
-
Leicester East MP Keith Vaz
He has called on Prime Minister David Cameron to host annual summits with senior officers and for there to be a "a new Magna Carta'' for policing.
Writing in the Sunday Express about the alleged altercation between former chief whip Andrew Mitchell and police officers at the gates of Downing Street, dubbed "plebgate'', Mr Vaz said: "What appears to have happened to Andrew Mitchell could well have been a Christmas special script. The chief whip had to resign following a 60-second 'incident' in, of all places, Downing Street.
Business Cards From Only £10.95 Delivered www.myprint-247.co.uk
View detailsOur heavyweight cards have FREE UV silk coating, FREE next day delivery & VAT included. Choose from 1000's of pre-designed templates or upload your own artwork. Orders dispatched within 24hrs.
Terms: Visit our site for more products: Business Cards, Compliment Slips, Letterheads, Leaflets, Postcards, Posters & much more. All items are free next day delivery. www.myprint-247.co.uk
Contact: 01858 468192
Valid until: Sunday, May 26 2013
"Take a police officer apparently masquerading as a member of the public, a confidential logbook finding its way into the public domain, add the results of the Hillsborough Inquiry, which have resulted in thousands of serving and former police officers being investigated, and the fact that 26 out of the 43 police forces do not have a permanent chief constable, and you have a dangerous cocktail.'
"This is a defining moment for policing. Cool heads, clear thoughts and strong leadership are required."
Mr Vaz also criticised Home Secretary Theresa May for trying to enforce radical changes on the police force without having a proper dialogue with officers.
He acknowledged existing police structures needed to be reformed, but said Mrs May's changes were "too rapid and too far-reaching''.
In the article, Mr Vaz rounded on the Government for altering police officers' pay and conditions while trying to implement reforms.
"The Government was wrong to change police pension arrangements retrospectively. It was unfair and forced out a number of experienced officers,'' he said.
Mr Vaz's committee will next month launch an inquiry into issues of police training, accountability and integrity and into the effectiveness of the processes for dealing with internal corruption and malpractice in the force.
He has also called for there to be a Royal Commission for the police service to explain what it is doing and for the public to say what they want it to do.
He wrote: "We need a Royal Commission that sets out a new Magna Carta for policing in this century."
However, the Home Office has said surveys regularly showed public confidence in the police remained high. The 2011/12 Crime Survey for England and Wales showed that just under two-thirds of adults thought the police in their area were doing a good or excellent job.
A Home Office spokesman said: "Police reform is working and crime is falling. The police budget is £14bn a year and it's only right that they should make a contribution to reducing the budget deficit.
"Chief constables are rising to the challenge of making efficiency savings and providing greater value for money."
Comments
by LDLEICESTER
Sunday, January 06 2013, 9:31PM
“Well said Mr VAZ 4 CASH, maybe you could get someone to loan you an open top Bentley and stand in the back of it whilst the People of Leicester get caught up in your mess, to celebrate that you are in the paper........
Question, who do you trust more, the Police or an MP?????”
by rhino
Saturday, January 05 2013, 6:18PM
“The police are no better.”
by disident3
Thursday, January 03 2013, 6:56PM
“Vaz is not worth any comment, he could slip under a snake. It is MPs many people mistrust not the police.”
by BasilRush
Wednesday, January 02 2013, 4:58PM
“Wouldn't it be better if Keith Vaz and all others in authority would abide by THE Magna Carta or just plain old common sense-common law anyway? as we wouldn't be in this mess of a lack of confidence in the police (and MP's!) if those in authority didn't abuse THE Magna Carta.
Also, thick as mud Mr Vaz doen't even know that the Magna Carta was written in stone never to be changed again. So if is insinuating a change then he doesn't know what he is talking about... nothing new there then.”
by troutfeef51
Wednesday, January 02 2013, 2:41AM
“for while the attention is on the Police,more inquiries,summits etc-all generating another bill for the public to pay for-the Vazman is round the back,lining his pocket.”
by GETINVOLVED
Tuesday, January 01 2013, 9:59PM
“Vaz represents his mandate - the voters in BELGRAVE/LEICESTER EAST who are fickle enough to vote him in after being seduced by Bollywood Stars in open top Rolls-Royces every year and ignoring the fact Vaz was suspended from Parliament and the Labour party for corruption in the Hinduja Brothers Passport scandal a few years back.
Blame his voters”
by rhino
Tuesday, January 01 2013, 4:59PM
“You will not oust this very clever manipulator of the asian vote, the same as most of the city council jobsworths.”
by buschka
Tuesday, January 01 2013, 7:23AM
“A politician who says public trust in Police has been hit. Classic case of kettle calling pot black. Shut up Vaz you twerp !”
by vanunu
Tuesday, January 01 2013, 1:14AM
“There's no point baying "hypocrite" at Vaz. He already knows what he is and laughs up his sleeve when this is pointed out in these comments. A significant part of his support base is a festering puss of resentful entitlement that he is all too happy to advance - so don't expect any halt to this drip, drip progaganda any time soon.
The cops here (yes, East Leicester) do their best to ensure fair play but are shafted by 'carpetbaggers' like Vaz.
The point is you need to get him out as Chair of the Home Affairs Select Committee and as the MP.”
by mick233
Monday, December 31 2012, 11:37PM
“The police generally do a good job in spite of budget cuts, political pressures and apologist courts. As for the "Plebgate" affair, most politicians' opinion of the people who are dumb enough to elect them and pay their wages is derisory contempt. Whatever was said, we are still "plebs"in the eyes of Mr Vaz and his cronies.”