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The Met is in a mess and knows it. The reason is that nobody is in charge, and nobody will do what must be done, which is wind up the riot squad, fatuously renamed the Territorial Support Group. It has become that most lethal institution, a quasi-autonomous force within a force. It has become London's echo of Ulster's former B-Specials.
We have been here before. When Robert Mark became chief constable of the Met in 1972, he declared that his first task was to gain control of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). He told its members that “they had long been the most routinely corrupt organisation in London”. He astonished one audience by saying that the way to stop the rash of bank raids then afflicting London was not to unleash the CID but disband it. He suspended some 50 officers and London bank raids — many staged in collusion with the CID — all but ceased.
The Tomlinson incident during the G20 demonstrations was a classic of what happens when any public service abandons accountability and turns in on itself. I recently spoke to a young policeman who was on duty that day and he related how they had been pent up since 4am on 1 April in an over-resourced response to Downing Street's boosting of G20 to glorify the Prime Minister.
By the time the highly strung TSG were deployed to the City, they were itching for action, indeed “raring to go”. Its members had no time for ordinary constables, let alone protesters, and little time even for the forward intelligence teams (FITs) who were supposed to know what was happening and could direct or restrain the riot squad.
The TSG is a cocooned elite. Pictures of a sergeant, a platoon commander in charge of line discipline, apparently going berserk with a truncheon looked ominously like a man showing off before his subordinates. Team ethos had become more important than the job in hand. Loyalty was not to the public but to the canteen: hence the obscuring of identification numbers in flagrant contravention of orders to the contrary.
Other filmed cases now coming before the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) of police ostensibly punching, manhandling and hitting with shields suggest a syndrome similar to that revealed in the de Menezes case, of a paramilitary predisposition to violence overcoming what should be extreme restraint in the face of provocation. I know of cases of the TSG arriving at school gates to rough up black pupils “on suspicion” of carrying knives, to show neighbourhood constables “how it should be done”.
As Mark said on coming to the CID: “I had never experienced institutionalised wrongdoing, blindness, arrogance and prejudice on anything like the scale accepted as routine in the Met.” The cause, and it has not gone away, lay in the Met's size and bureaucratisation and in the absence of clear political leadership.
The Met was then run entirely by the Home Office. Mark was able to reform the Met only because he won the support of the Home Secretaries, Reginald Maudling and later Roy Jenkins. Against him was a vicious CID lobby, supported by corrupt journalists in Fleet Street.
The Met still lacks clear political leadership. It is run by the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, in uneasy harness with the Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith. Smith was angry when Johnson took the lead in the removal of Sir Ian Blair as Commissioner and in the recent, absurd removal of the terrorism chief, Bob Quick, for failing to conceal a document from cameras. But Johnson was at least within his rights and seemed at last to be asserting his statutory authority against a dysfunctional Home Office, whose mismanagement of the Met can only be termed institutionally catastrophic.
The G20 protests should have been handled with light-touch tolerance, rather than a repeat of the clod-hopping thuggery of the 2001 G7 in Genoa. Only a tiny minority of these protesters were a lunatic fringe, enjoying little public support.
The “kettling” policy, a crude form of prior arrest, is a blatant infringement of the right to demonstrate. Having been kettled myself in Oxford Circus in 2001 (thanks to Ken Livingstone), I can only attest that it is a form of coercion more akin to communist East Europe. Like the parking of police cars on pavements and in parks, it shows the arrogance of a force that has lost touch with the people to whom it supposedly accounts.
It is no longer Peel's “citizens in uniform”.
The new Mayor and his police chief, Sir Paul Stephenson, have asserted their independence of the Home Secretary. They need to put that independence to use. Stephenson has indicated a desire to re-establish public support for the Met, including the re‑introduction of single-handed beat policing. Since his three predecessors all promised that, it will be a good test of his leadership.
Beat policing is everything the public likes and police hate. There has been no great increase in assaults on the police, yet they walk London festooned with weaponry and armour like American Action Man marines. They go “four-handed” to have someone to chat with who also speaks police. God forbid they should communicate with shopkeepers, businesses, motorists, young people or mere citizens, who in police theory should be their eyes and ears.
Ask police authorities outside London about the Met and all say the same. It is a law unto itself, largely because it has always been run by central government. The Met now faces a manslaughter charge, some 90 witnessed accusations before the IPCC, two Commons committee inquiries and a government inspection of its public order tactics. Yet it is supposedly run by a democratically elected Mayor of London.
There are now calls for a royal commission on London's police. Rubbish. It just needs leadership. With Jacqui Smith a broken reed and Stephenson invisible, Johnson should seize the moment. He should demand the disbanding of the TSG and put its macho troops on the beat where they belong. There they can reassure the public of the presence of order and help prevent real crime, rather than roam London looking for aggro and helping create it.
Reader views (20)
I remember ‘’Operation Countryman’’ very well; which started with the City of London Police; and then the Metropolitan Police; mostly the CID at Scotland Yard itself etc.
Those that remember Sir Robert Mark; will remember those same days when West End Central Police, and Scotland Yard were in the pockets Soho criminals; from porn shops to night clubs; and worse still the Scotland Yards Flying Squad; The Regional Crime Squad, and The Criminal Intelligence Branch, known as C11; who were also in league with bank robbers and the like etc.
They were set up over in Camberwell etc; but attempts were made to interfere with police records and documents etc; by those police that had a lot to hide etc.
They had to move to Surrey after that; out of the way of Met police sabotage etc.
It is a long story to write in full on the small space we have for replies; but you can all read the true facts by using your search engines; just type in operation countryman etc; and it is there for all to read.
But Operation Countryman did face massive obstruction from both the management hierarchy, and the rank-and-file of the police forces it was investigating etc.
I also remember Scotland Yard Detectives threatening to go on strike; if Sir Robert Mark carried on weeding out the bent coppers in the Metropolitan Police etc.
Simon Jenkins is telling the truth; I could have written much the same thing; word for word.
Plus I worked in a few clubs in Soho in those days; out of space
- Mickyinlondon, london
Digressing slightly - I wonder how many of these correspondents have served on a jury - good grief - scary ! "Nasty workshy drunk", who happened to be on his way home from work ! I have been petrol bombed, insulted spat at, told I was going home in a box. As we said to each other "should not have joined if you have not got a sense of humour" - The one thing that would have ensured that I would go home in a box was a break down in self control and discipline. Show a crowd you lack discipline and control and they would have been all over us. I knew the rules of engagement - coloured cards, explaining my legal obligations under law. 18 hour days for months on end, sometimes going back on as you met yourself coming off duty, none of which would have been mitigating circumstances had I deliberately broken the law. There is always excuses trotted out for people who break the law, breaking any law is a personal decision -take the consequences, which in my view for these officers should be dismissal, it is the only way discipline is maintained.
- Wills, Soton
I have seen much footage of the G20 protest and the more I see the more I sympathise with those Officers who had to had to Police it.
When a situation becomes violent it is the function of the Police to suppress the resultant disorder. To do this,the Police have to use such force as is reasonably necessary to achieve their object.
This usually means using a greater level of force than that being exercised by the individual(s)they are trying to Police. Otherwise they would be overwhelmed and anarchy would result.
People WILL be injured or even killed during violent crowd disorder and as long as such events occur. I'm afraid it ``goes with the territory.''
I was in London yesterday and spoke with 2 young Police Constables who told me they felt they could no longer use the level of force in riot situations which would realistically be necessary to maintain order in a situation similar to the G20 incident.
I suspect that next time a similar public disorder situation occurs, individual Police officers will not feel confident enough to deal with the `mob' with the necessary vigour required and we will have mayhem.
However,if that occurs I suspect the aftermath will be a realisation of the importance of ther Police and the difficulties faced by them when dealing with public disorder.
- Joe Craig, dumfries
Simon Jenkins's observations of the TSG seem spot-on, if you require further convincing step into Lambeth or indeed any inner city London Borough and ask any black young man about his experiences or perceptions of the TSG!!!
- Afaircopguv, London, England
Some good points but the Met is not "run by the Mayor", even in "uneasy harness" with the Home Secretary. Operational policing is not the role of the Mayor and it is the Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson who "runs" the Met.
- Damian Hockney, London, UK
The sgt who struck the female is said to have worked 28 out of the previous 30 hours. So did many other officers.
- Mike, Herts
If a mad woman was to spit and swear and scream abuse in the face of a citizen on the streets of any of our towns for the hour this hideous individual screamed at the police, then you can guarantee she would have been on the recieving end of more then a slap.
If you watch the video of the guy being hit with a shield, he and hundreds of others have trapped a small number of police and penned them in. They are using their shields to push the crowd back so they dont get crushed.
As for Tomlinson, anyone care to be on the recieving end of a nasty workshy drunk for a afternoon when they are tring to deal with more pressing matters and not be tempted to slap them?
- Carlos, Wivenhoe
Could not agree more with Simon Jenkins.As a respectable law abiding citizen , I have had nothing but nasty experiences with the police ,lies , corruption , violence , cowardice and bullying.NOT unusual.They are thugs with a licence and Doc Martins.More and more members of the public now are beginning to realise this.[No one used to believe the criminals ' all coppers are ********.'- now everyone I know thinks so !] Are they really so stupid that they thought they could behave like this with impunity forever.They didn't learn anything from Scarman , except to be afraid to venture into certain areas.If I had a relative in the police I should be worried because no one that I know would ever come to their aid.Not surprised they are afraid -thats why you hardly see them unless they mob handedly are beating up some drunk or girl. Sorry , but that's the truth.
- Chris M, morbihan,france
It's not often I agree with Simon Jenkins, but this article is brilliant and encapsulates the problem.
I am a 59 year old businessman, never been in trouble with the law, however, I have never met a decent Met copper. rude, arrogant, thuggish and unaccountable. I'm sure there are some decent caring individuals, but I've only ever been treated with contempt by them.
- Kerry, Purley
H Morgan has it spot on. Yes a few officers have clearly overstepped the mark, and will be dealt with, but many didn't.It is the G20 protestors who were out of control that day.
- Mike, London
Well said Simon Jenkins !
Disband the TSG and make the hiding of officer`s ID badges a criminal offence.
-and poor old PC Blakelock was a very long time ago. If he had been alive today, I think he would have been horrified at the brutal activities of the TSG.
Briatin needs Dixon of Dock Green cops, not armoured Judge Dredd thugs.
- Andy Parks, London, UK
why keep bashing the police for the actions of a few!
They are the best police force in the world. Don't you realise that most of the officers are afraid. Remember PC Blakelock!
Very proud mother of London police officer.
- Pat Morgan, spain
"They have the training" ! It would appear that these officers were using camouflage and concealment to disguise any training. This sergeant displayed a lack of control, his officers were not in any recognized formation I know of in a riot, mainly because this was not a riot in any shape or form, however, with his stupidity he could have easily turned a demo into a riot. Riot/demo commanders stand back from the line so as to control events, this was a classic case of hey lads look at me. Kettling has its pros and cons, the danger is that you aggravate decent people who want to put legitimate points to deaf politicians. My own view is to let things move and use snatch squads to remove those that are a danger. Failures of any organization aways stem from bad leadership and a breakdown in command and control. leading to discipline and morale problems. The lack of shoulder titles on some officers is a flagrant disregard for regulations and although to some trivial, shows writ large, that this is a rabble and not a professional organization !
- Wills, Soton
H. Morgan - a response
The two main roles of the Metropolitan Police Service are to deal with crime and public order.
Simon Jenkins states;
"...a dysfunctional Home Office, whose mismanagement of the Met can only be termed institutionally catastrophic."
Look at the MPS Leadership page at their website;
http://www.met.police.uk/about/leadership.htm
The Commissioner has been in post for three months, John Yates, only a month. All four of the other police officers, including the Deputy Commissioner, are 'Acting', they are not permanent appointments. With the exception of Dick Fedorcio, the other four members of the board lack experience of the MPS and senior level experience.
With a massive budget, a vital role and nearly fifty thousand employees, the Met needs a stable, experienced management team and clearly does not have one. This is a fact and the person responsible is the Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith.
- Manny Goldstein, London, UK
Bloke, London..
Where? Where?
- Maurits Van Eijck, Billericay, UK
This is an appalling article - lacking in evidence and strong on accusation. Some of the claims made here are totally groundless - how about some proof? Units like the TSG are totally necessary, they have the training and physicality required to deal with some of the most menacing and dangerous criminals in London and beyond. They are not a simplistic "riot squad" they deal with far more - but of course Mr Jenkins is either unaware of this or keen to hide it as it would conflict with his unfair and groundless charicature.
- H Morgan, London
Boris has been strangely silent on the police lies over Mr Tomlinson's death. He's definitely still out there, writing columns, so why hasn't he said anything? Could it be that Johnson wrote a scandalous, rabble-rousing article labelling the protesters 'anarchists' and 'trouble-makers' before the protest? Johnson wrote: 'They will taunt the police. They will paralyse traffic. They will do their utmost to spoil your day; and when they have been sufficiently whipped up by the oratory of Tony Benn, and when Billy Bragg has finished his ditties, it is a safe bet that they will begin the chant of hate."
Hateful, inciteful garbage intended to demonise and dehumanise people exercising their democratic right. But ever since the police lies about Tomlinson's death have been exposed, not a word from Johnson. Strange, eh? Maybe he's ashamed.
- Sally Pearsehouse, Bethnal Green
Here, here.
- Bloke, London
The police have served London well, even if there were a few incidents. To compare the met to some sort of paramilitary force that are a law unto themselves is unfair. I saw in teh same footage many many more protestors shoving the police and abusing them verbally and physically. Damage done to London was light and the majority of the people feel that this is precisely because of the actions by the police.
- Maurits Van Eijck, Billericay, UK
A wonderful article that highlights all that is wrong with the Metropolitan Police Service. It is nothing that cannot be corrected, just as Sir Robert Mark has demonstrated in the past.
By working together, Mayor Boris Johnson and Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson can implement the management and leadership required. The majority of Londoners are law abiding and want to support the MEt, they are well aware the it does a difficult and dangerous job, as do the intelligence services and military.
The police are given extraordinary powers and so it is only right that they are subject to the most rigourous scrutiny, but Johnson and Stephenson can win back not only the trust but the respect of the public if they put the Met in order.
- Manny Goldstein, London, UK
