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Four in 10 Londoners don't trust Met after G20 death
Paul Waugh28 Apr 2009
The reputation of the Metropolitan Police has taken a knock in the wake of the G20 protests, a new Evening Standard poll reveals today.
A majority of Londoners still have faith in the force overall but nearly four out of 10 say their view of the Met has "worsened" in the past month since the death of Ian Tomlinson.
The YouGov/Standard/London Tonight survey found less than a third of the public were satisfied with the performance of Met Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson, who was forced to confront the row over alleged police brutality within weeks of taking over the helm at Scotland Yard.
Overall, 53percent of those in the capital have a positive view of the police, compared with 35percent who have a negative view.
But the poll shows that Sir Paul has failed to stem loss of confidence among the public, and four in 10 of those polled have no views on him at all.
Scotland Yard has been struggling to contain public dismay since the row erupted over Mr Tomlinson's death on the day of the G20 anti-globalisation protests in London this month. The 47-year-old, who was not part of the demonstration, died within minutes of being pushed to the ground by a police officer. Sir Paul said that there were "obvious concerns" after video footage was revealed.
The Independent Police Complaints Commission is leading an inquiry into the death and the officer concerned was questioned on suspicion of manslaughter after a second post-mortem examination showed Mr Tomlinson had suffered abdominal haemorrhage rather than a heart attack.
Today's poll shows that 45 per cent of Londoners believe the Met's record of dealing with demonstrations and respecting the civil liberties of protesters is poor. However, 48percent think the force's record is a good one.
In a finding that will hearten Scotland Yard, the row over the G20 has not eaten into general faith in the police. Some 63percent said they still trusted the Met to respond "swiftly, courteously and effectively" to victims of crime. A third said they did not trust the police.
There has been a string of allegations made against the police since Mr Tomlinson's death. New footage showed another officer striking an unarmed protester with a truncheon.
Mayor Boris Johnson, who also chairs the Metropolitan Police Authority, has defended the police in the wake of the G20 controversy, and recently claimed the media had embarked on an "unbalanced orgy of cop bashing".
Our poll shows Sir Paul has a big job to do to enhance his own reputation with the public. Just 31percent of those polled were satisfied with his performance, while 39percent were neither satisfied nor dissatisfied. Sir Paul will be pleased, however, that only15 per cent were dissatisfied with him.
Reader views (23)
4 out of ten. Who did they interview? A recruit course at Hendon?
- Joe Kelsall, Irish emigrant to the Republic of Liverpool., 02/07/2009 23:22
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Why should we put up with an "imperfect" police force? Yes some members of the police do their best but it remains that a lot of these guys would simply have ended up as thugs or criminals had they not been recruited into the force. There is a long way to go before we have the "best police force". Why not start with recruiting the right people rather than quasi brainless, dubious characters attracted by the power of the uniform. They are very well paid after all and recruiting the best talent for the force should not be an impossible task.
- Daniel, London, 02/07/2009 22:22
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Brian,
By suggesting the police are tougher on thugs are you suggesting too that they be responsible for punishment. The police are there to arrest people, and the courts to punish people. This devide is simple and unequivocal. However, the Met do no seem to be able to comprehend or comply with it due to its lack of discipline, and so respect for the public it serves.
- Rob, London, 02/07/2009 22:22
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Only 4 in 10 blimey after latest example set by Police how can anyone trust them?
- Mike, London England, 02/07/2009 22:22
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Keep it up and the whole of society will become a big school playground where everybody will be untouchable and unaccountable. When the anarchists have finished smashing up society and the criminal gangs take over and "society", including rentamob, will be pleading for an imperfect police force.
- Bj, London, 02/07/2009 22:22
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I've met some very nice, amicable police persons and I've also met some vile bullying scum. I'd have to sit on the fence for this one, the police mirror society as a whole so there'll always be some bad eggs ruining it for everyone else.
- Bob, Cheam, 02/07/2009 22:22
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The 6 out of 10 were policeman.
- Mr S.Port, London, 02/07/2009 22:22
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Some here believe that those that criticise the police are anti police , anarchists or loony lefties. Wrong, we just want a better police force. To suggest it is the best police force is nonsense, it has degraded itself, not the fault of anyone but themselves, through bad leadership. The one thing above all that showed from video footage was a severe discipline problem within the met. Lack of discipline in any organization leads to morale problems, in turn, high sickness rates, whinging, and frankly - a scruffy could not give a damn look. I witnessed RUC officers at the height of the "troubles" just seeing the way they moved, turnout always immaculate and purposeful, tell me you see that in London - and boy did they work hard ! I accept that this government has politicised the police, but they did not put up much resistance - happy to establish a private company (ACPO) with influence over policing. Whilst we at least claim to be a democracy there should be no place for organizations like this.
- Wills, Soton, 02/07/2009 22:22
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To Brian of Wiltshire -
The police killed a man who had every right to be there and they had no right to 'move him along'. This type of action was typical of the SS police and so its not unreasonable that a parallel be drawn.
"The Met and the police in general have to deal with many thousands of incidents every day and every once in a while someone who is or has put themselves in a dangerous situation will die because of an unintentional police action, it is the nature of the job ........"
No, its not. We pay for and expect a high level of performance from our police which they manifestly fail to deliver. Accidentally killing the public is not their job.
"The anarchists and law breakers of course will use this kind of thing to weaken the police forces strength and ability to be police,"
If the police killed less people, then the public support would be there against the anarchists you claim to be causing the problem. As anarchists have so far killed nobody and the police have killed many innocent people, its perhaps safer having anarchists around.
"I support our police , they have never gave me any trouble or my family, in fact like most people in the uk i want the police and courts to be allowed to be tougher on the thugs that own our streets"
A laudable aim - but how will you family feel on the day you are killed by a policeman and the response is as you put it' its the nature of the job' and should just be accepted as a fact of life.
- Graham, Fleet, 02/07/2009 22:22
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How can you trust them?There first statement as regards the death of Ian tomlinson was"he had had no contact with the police and he died of a heart attack"If it had not been for members of the public and there mobile phones with cameras the matter would have finished there.Its a strange kind of logic to trust a organisation that so eagerly and so readily puts out such untruths for public consumption!And its not the first time they have done this,but i do believe most of the rank and file cops are concerned about the minority of thugs thay so obviously have in there midst.
- Kev, London-UK, 02/07/2009 22:22
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I cannot understand why there is a negative view of the Metropolitan Police force,if you go to a demonstration and it is peacfull,there is no need for the police to intervene,therefore nobody gets hurt.
If the thugs go in so do the police.
There is unfortunatly a few maverick cops,but they are a very small minority.
- David Nigel Braham, Milan Italy, 02/07/2009 22:22
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BJ,
There will not be much left for the anarchists and rent a mob to smash up except the massive debt and global pollution caused by capitalist consumerism whilst being protected by the police.
- Rob, London, 02/07/2009 22:22
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Four in ten, these people probably would never trust the police as we have a society that does not respect them in the first place. The behaviour of the protestors a tthe G20 summit was disgusting but the media didn't want to cover that view, why not?
- Nick Nack Paddy Mac, Kilburn, UK, 02/07/2009 22:22
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Hows about "majority of Londoners still trust the Met"?
- Gazza, London,England, 02/07/2009 22:22
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I would be intrigued to know what sort of lives these anti-Police people lead that has given you so much first hand knowledge of the Police. In my experience it is those who get themselves on the wrong side of the law that have a problem with the Police.
- Sarah Bradshaw, Enfield, Middx, 02/07/2009 22:22
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After the police and IPCC said there were no CCTV cameras at the place Ian Tomlinson was assaulted, I went there and found seven.
Here's the article with photos and locations of the cameras:
http://postedby123.blogspot.com/
- Postedby, uk, 02/07/2009 22:22
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You are saying that 6 out of 10 actually TRUST the Met ?
- Cap, london, 02/07/2009 22:22
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Our police are the best there is , because one protester who was provoking the police to move him on has died does not make our police some kind of SS squad.
The Met and the police ij general have to deal with many thousands of incidents every day and every once in a while someone who is or has put themselves in a dangerous situation will die because of an unintentional police action, it is the nature of the job and it will always be a factor when police have to deal with incidents like this.
The anarchists and law breakers of course will use this kind of thing to weaken the police forces strength and ability to be police, but it will be to the detriment of all law abiding people as the criminal and those committing acts of violent protest get away with it.
I support our police , they have never gave me any trouble or my family, in fact like most people in the uk i want the police and courts to be allowed to be tougher on the thugs that own our streets.
- Brian, Wiltshire, 02/07/2009 22:22
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BJ,
We already have untouchable, unaccountable criminal gang running London
They are called the Met Police
- Lb, London, 02/07/2009 22:22
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Nothing wrong with the Metropolitan Police - well not the rank and file officers at least.
Knock off the fast track and have all promotion open to all who join and on equal performance. Then you'll have a proper leadership who know how to do the job properly without having to produce the Bramshill paper trail.
- Paul, Crystal Palace, 02/07/2009 22:22
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I trust them. I've had to call them out a few times recently and their conduct was amazing. They've saved my life so I'm a little biased, but these are good people who shouldn't be tarred and feathered because of the actions of a few.
Until you have to call on them you don't really understand how hard their work is, please keep that in mind.
- Ian, london, 02/07/2009 22:22
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Graham of Fleet, I do hope you never run out of muesli, your samdals break or you pink panties never lose their elastication.
The type if behaviour describe just doesn't exist when policing Public Order. There are always those who will confront police and there are always those who didn't intend to be there having 'just nipped up to take a gander.' It's usually the latter that are injured, one way or another.
So, Graham keep at the muesli but please don't continue as the judge and jury you have set yourself up to be.
- Paul, London, 02/07/2009 22:22
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Next time the police should just stay at home then.
- John, London, 02/07/2009 22:22
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