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Justin Davenport: Vulnerable Met seem to be desperate
Justin Davenport02.12.08
The decision to call in an outside police force to review the investigation into Damian Green smacks of desperation.
Senior officers at Scotland Yard are said to have been taken by surprise by the extent of the controversy surrounding the arrest.
The review of the case may give them an exit strategy - or it could confirm they have got it right.
But the wonder is that they were surprised at all. The Met has taken on some of the most difficult police inquiries in recent years - the cash for honours and the Royal butler case are just two.
A decision to arrest a senior MP and search offices at the House of Commons must have rung alarm bells. As one chief constable told me: "You have to be damned sure of your evidence before you go around arresting MPs."
The timing of the case might explain the difficulties. The original request to investigate was made in the second week in October, just after Sir Ian Blair was ousted by the Mayor and before his deputy Sir Paul Stephenson had taken charge. There was a leadership vacuum.
Sir Ian was first told of the case and then passed it on to Sir Paul. Both may have taken their eye off the ball. There are some police chiefs who say they should have refused to investigate, bouncing the matter back to the Home Office.
But Met insiders argue they had little choice with concerns over the ability of the Government to operate.
But the inquiry again exposes the difficulties the police find themselves in today. Tony Travers of the London School of Economics points out the days are over when the authority of the law went unchallenged.
Unlike America where police chiefs can be defended by political masters, today's Yard bosses are exposed to criticism from all sides.
Reader views (4)
I hope the Tories examine and undo every policy that Labour has introduced that has been detrimental to Britain and return us once again to the Britain we knew and recognised. That means a strong, independent police force that we knew and was admired throughout the world is returned to such, without political affiliation, without political correctness and with the powers to act like police against criminals. I want to see the end of a Police Commissioner in the mould of Sir Ian Blair.
I want to see the end of slimeballs like Mandelson being made a Lord for political measure. I want to see an end to putting minority and foreign interests above our own. Tories...do this and you will have an eer grateful nation in your hands.
- Sweatsocks, London
Unfortunately police forces, including the Met, have no real leadership and blunder along under 'senior management'. They were warned about this by Trenchard in the 1920s and again recently by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary. Unless they start identifying and developing real leaders from an early stage who are capable of saying when required 'No, minister', then we are on a slippery slope.
- Peter Haldane, London
I wish the Police would raid certain homes as they raided the House of Commons.
- Peter, Bournemouth
It shows the sheer lack of ability in those running this country. Anyone with any common sense would have done everything possible to avoid searching the Commons. That 2 senior Met officers thought it OK is deeply worrying. To then state they are "shocked" at the response is utter stupidity. Are they really that idiotic not to realise? What would happen if the Tories won the next election? They be out for senior Met officers as the Nulabour stooges they have become.
- Tony, London
