Sometimes I question the wisdom (and sanity) of being the infamous Inspector Gadget.
As the site approached 3.25 million hits today, I started to wonder if this is worth the stress of waiting for the inevitable early morning knock by PSD officers with a warrant to seize my computer. The pain of seeing my young children witness me being taken away to Headquarters for questioning, the resulting suspension from duty and the eventual sacking for a trumped-up Orwellian “Undermining Public Confidence” offence.
And then I read about Northumbria Police and their Deputy Chief Constable, Sue Sim.
And about how they nominated themselves and won a public relations award for the way they handled the media after the tragedy of a schoolgirl knocked down and killed by a speeding patrol car.
The family of Hayley Adamson, 16, have reacted with anger that Northumbria Police put themselves forward for the prize after the horrifying smash.
Hayley, 16, was killed when a speeding patrol car with no blue light or sirens on smashed into her in May 2008. The driver, PC John Dougal, was jailed for three years after being convicted of driving at 94 mph moments before he ploughed into her in the late-night tragedy.
Hayley’s mother Yvonne Adamson, branded the move as ‘sick’. Mrs Adamson said:
“It’s a complete joke. I can’t believe they have nominated themselves for the award. ‘What about all the complaints that were put in against them when it happened? ‘Life is truly hell. This is an insult to her memory. Tomorrow would have been Hayley’s 18th birthday. ‘It’s just a massive shock. It couldn’t have come at a worse time for the family.”
Hayley’s sister Sarah Ridley, 33, of Scotswood, said:
“It makes me sick. Hayley is killed and they get an award for it. ‘The news comes at a time when it’s her birthday. Part of me thinks they have done this on purpose.”
In my view, the Deputy Chief should have been round to the house in sackcloth on bended knee, apologising in person for such a crass move. Instead, she said:
“Following the tragic death of Hayley, police officers and staff were involved in minimising inappropriate, speculative or inaccurate reporting, working with the family to try to limit the impact of constant harassment of the family by the media, and reassuring the local community”
How have we arrived at a place where a basic service recovery job with the media, after a fatal POLAC, where one of our officers has effectively killed a young girl for no reason, becomes something we need to be rewarded for, while the family grieve alone? This story says everything about how today’s senior police officers see themselves, what they regard as success (i.e. in how they dealt with the media story) and more importantly, what they really think about “Citizen Focus“.
Can you imagine Stockport Council, nominating themselves for an award for how they handled the media over the death of 11-year-old Sam Linton at Offerton High School? It’s unthinkable. Why then, do we do it? Apart from an almost pathological desire to squeeze any kind of praise from even the most appalling mess up, I really cannot fathom the answer.
While they keep behaving like that, I will keep writing this, even if it means It all goes horribly wrong for me one day. And in the meantime, for all those members of the public reading, as a police officer, I am personally very sorry for what happened to Hayley, and for the crass actions taken afterwards.
(Hangs head in shame and walks away……………)
Gadget fans on facebook join here
First. How childish am I
But not as sad as winning an award on the back of a death like this.
Absolutely incredible.
One would assume that when officers reach the dizzy heights of ACPO they would have the necessary intelligence to avoid making such awful cock-ups.
Maybe Ms Simm is intelligent. But she certainly doesn’t possess compassion or common sense.
How to make a tragic situation even worse in one easy lesson.
A child could see that this was totally the wrong thing to do.
absolutely disgusting. the general public will see that this is how police think, it’s simply not true
Not quite, bobbybobby.
Previous examples of similar stupidity, like Insp. Gadget’s exposé of bureaucracy regarding sick days, are frequently the subject of lounge-bar banter within my group (all of us non-police). Sure, we condemn this idiocy, but we do appreciate that the vast majority of officers below the exalted ranks of over-promoted scoial-workers/politicians feel worse than we do, because they have the extreme frustration of being directed on a day-to-day basis by these wazzocks, and have to do their bidding instead of doing the job properly.
We know that at any level there will always be the occasional oddball – as in any group. But it is true to say that, at least outside the chav underclass, your and your ilk have a lot more sympathy & understanding than maybe you realise.
On the assumption that armed insurrection is probably illegal, what can we do in a practical way to help?
Claustro – I would say unbelievable, but it’s not. IG
I have taken the liberty of reposting this IG, with acknowldgement naturally.
This is sickening – that senior management of a public service could even consider such a thing – let alone actually do it!
The DCC and all those involved should be taken away to Headquarters for questioning, suspended from duty and eventual sacked on a trumped-up Orwellian “Undermining Public Confidence” offence.
Self serving toadies with another prize own goal.
Let them put that award on their website.
You couldn’t make it up!
Another thing occurs – did nobody working alongside this DCC have the courage to turn round and quietly say – ‘Actually boss, I’m not sure this is a good idea……..’
Gadget, enough people out there will make sure that if you do get outed and sacked, you will never have to/be able to pay for your own beer.
Thanks!!
Some smug gits PDR will have a gold star attached for this piece of tat of an award, I hope they are proud of themselves, ’cause no one else is.
IG, I am with SepticTank.
Is there no joined up thinking in the upper echelons? I suggest that the first thing the new government does is sack, and not replace, stupid fools like Simm. Think of the savings.
Frankie at 6.07pm
No one in Northumbria argues with that lady. What surprises me is that (according to the figures published a few weeks ago) Nothumbria were one of the top performing forces. If this is the case I dread to think what is going on elsewhere.
Anon at 6.38 24/3
Point taken – problem is of course that this dreadful ineptitude will not feature in any performance league table.
There is something utterly lunatic and insanely immoral in this. I can understand why Gadget and others just want to run away and hide. Perhaps there ought to be a special award for prime examples of this kind of thing. The Goebbels Himmler Award For Public Service?
IG I think Septic Tank is spot on, there is a huge amount of public support for your crusade. If it comes to it I promise that I will support the outcry that ensues any attempt to remove you from office.
Thank you for all your posts.
Don’t worry lads. When I am President of this country, I have sworn to sack all occifers above the rank of Inspector. It would have been above the rank of Sergeant, but I changed my mind because of Gadget.
We shall have proper coppers, and an elected Chief. None of these office-wallahs with their parking spaces!
I’ll gladly go back to Sgt for the money
Likewise, most fun I ever had being a shift stripe and a custody officer.
I read this today and was just sitting there shaking my head. What pisses me off everytime there is a negative story like that is that it reflects on every single one of us. Jo blogs doesn’t care that some fuckwit in Northumbria dropped a bollock by not only thinking this wasn’t a bad idea, but that it might even be a good idea, all he/she sees is the word Police. Just as everyone outside of London got it in the neck after G20, I had someone have a go at me about that guy in Scotland who gave someone a littering ticket for dropping a tenner. It doesn’t matter where you are in the UK, if someone in the Police does something this stupid or ignorant we all get the blame for it.
I got the blame for shooting a person on the underground the other day – i could’nt work any further away from London!!
Haringey Council’s suggestion-scheme has just received another entry.
I hope you´ll never have to hear that knock at your door.
Shameless bastards. It’s not as if this was something that happened so fast they couldn’t control it, the sick f**ckers had to actually APPLY for the award! They put together a
CASE and submitted it to the judges!!!
Once again, you couldn’t make it up! Embarrassed to be in any way associated with these people.
Spot on Oliver, no doubt an office full of ‘media types’ will have trawled their clippings file to select the best ‘story’ to put forward in a chance to
A, Enhance their own CV
B, Go to some industry funded champagne dinner
the fact that they and their ‘managers’ did not have decency to see how crass and inappropriate this is, beggars belief. But then the ‘manager’ are probably also working to A and B. The tail wagging the dog.
I can’t start to imagine the rage felt by that girls family.
I think you got it right uphilldowndale.
As a reporter, PR and official spin is the bane of my life. I’m shocked their press office even considered going along with this. It really is scraping the bottom of the barrel – and what on earth were the judges thinking of? It is just so utterly slimy.
Her apparent concern for the family was pretty short-lived wasn’t it? And it didn’t stop them talking to the nasty media when she and her PR minions trampled all over their grief in the rush to persuade some gullible fools to give them a pat on the back.
Just goes to show that these awards mean absolutely bugger all and that some senior police officers couldn’t give a sh it about the public they are supposed to serve.
There are w**nkers at every rank in the job. Just seems that those who rise to senior ranks NEVER really get hauled up for it.
If it were a PC caught out doing something this bloody stupid they’d be out tomorrow, but an ACPO rank will probably get away with an apology.
Now I know I’m not just a grumpy old cop. Things really have sunk that far.
I’m truly ashamed that these people call themselves police officers. I can only hope that Ms DCC wakes up tomorrow and realises what she has done and resigns immediately.
My personal apologies to Hayley’s family and friends. Please believe we’re not all like that.
IG DCC Simm is to be Chief Constable at the end of April when Mr. Craik retires.
Ever since she arrived she has ruled with an iron rod and imposes the sense of fear akin to that of Darth Vader inspecting the death star.
This latest one can be described in one word. Hubris.
Fantastic … that was the impression I had of her, grateful for confirmation. I also always thought her Force photo on your website was in fact a caricature … no, it’s actually a photo.
After looking at that photo on the Northunbria Web site I would google. Lady Tottington Wallace and Gromit attack of the wererabbit….. Seperated at birth.
Apparently not.
Latest rumour is that she is to be Chiefy at Durham and Jon Stoddart is to come in as Chiefy here
If anything about this sorry case is liable to “underrmine public confidence” – it is the crass insensitivity of applying for the award. (If this was the ‘best’ entry – I wonder just what was involved in the others?)
I’m with Septic.
As a MOP I obtain considerable comfort from the knowledge that there are a few people in the public sector with INTEGRITY.
Gadget, Bloggs and others show that standards in public life aren’t to do with ‘process’ or ‘systems’. It is the quality of the individuals given authority to act on behalf of the public that matters.
Representing the public and taking decisions and making judgements, on the spot and in the heat of the moment isn’t something that can be turned into a computer program or procedure.
If Gadget is ever outed or given the Nightjack treatment then I hope there will be massive public outcry. If he’s ever down in South Devon then I’d be proud to buy him a beer – or several – as a small token of my great esteem.
Ray.
Seconded. Thanks Ray, for writing exactly how I feel. I’ve spent about twenty minutes now trying to write my own comment for this post, but the phrase “Undermining Public Confidence” just starts me off on an angry rant every time.
Thirded.
If he’s in Edinburgh, I’ll do the buying.
Like everyone else
OMG – words escape me Gov.
EHU
Apologies for having a “second go”
//DCC Simm is to be Chief Constable at the end of April when Mr. Craik retires//
Remember that “The Peter Principle” has an option when a person in a hierarchy has reached their ‘level of incompetence’ and it seems impossible to demote them.
Promote instead, provide effective deputies & staff, and HOPE these can; a) ‘get a grip’ & keep the boss from making too bad a mess of being a figurehead – and; b) be held liable if/when it all goes wahoonie-shaped.
Whilst chain-of-command must be respected and loyalty applauded, you have to wonder just how many think “..this is bullshit and it’s going to go wrong, and when it does I’ll just say I was only obeying orders and it’s nothing to do with me..” and those above them take such silence to be agreement.
I’m not sure a Chinese Parliament system would be workable, but you could wonder that if two or more underlings both register their disapproval, then it could be looked at again.
If you haven’t voiced the misgivings that you have, then if/when it does indeed go Wahoonie shaped (gotta love a tip to Mr Pratchett!) then you are appropriately tarred with the same brush.
Driving at 94mph, my God, I break into a sweat doing that on a motorway in the middle of the night, what was he thinking about.
Agree with everyone re the rest.
Just reading about this makes me cringe.
WTF were these idiots thinking?
DCC Stupid, Mindless, VERY Arrogant and unfeeling Cow should be sacked.
Um, I was a journalist for 30 years, and trust me, there’s no way I could have reported this as a positive story. Whoever’s in charge of the PR around there should be wrapped in chains and dropped off a high bridge.
I bet even now they can’t see that what they have done was stupid.
Indeed not. They’ll be brainstorming for a way to alter people’s perceptions and reassure the community by restoring public confidence, building stronger communities.
MPS
Here in Ruralshire, we are not allowed to use the word Brainstorming because it could be seen as offensive to people who have suffered a stroke.
I swear this is true.
‘reassure the communities we serve’
Fixed that for you.
If I hear the word ‘communities’ or the phrase ‘communities we serve’ just one more f*cking time when a copper gets on T.V. or radio I might just blow a gasket.
Communities. Communism. NuLabour.
NOW, do you see what Balir and Brown have done to policing.
It really is that simple.
Board-blasting …
Don’t forget it can also be offensive to Epilepsy sufferers IG…
Oo, i’d best hand myself in for ‘Crimethink’…
The only way to build public confidence is to be out there nicking villans, and being seen to do so. Everything else is spin and bullshit.
Do the right thing and the good PR will follow, do the wrong thing and no amount of PR will help. Simples.
I wonder if this will generate a plethora of dissatisfaction surveys that their Heirachy will delegate to Sgts so they can pick the bones out of it and try and salvage whatever public confidence is left in Northumberalnd or for that matter the rest of the country. Words fail me, I am so glad I am nearly at the end of this once noble occupation!
Thats Ironic…I just googled Sue Simm and she, apparently is the ops manager of a company supplying bulls semen. Can’t be the same person surely? What an utter pratt.
I was so angry about this woman, I was thinking of what to write. Then I read that her namesake sells Bull Semen – Bull Shit surely! What an arse, what a stupid, self serving arse! I hope the family get to hear of real coppers’ outrage with this DCC’s behaviour.
And don’t worry IG, you could always put some underpants on your head and stick two pencils up your nose and claim insanity when they take you away!
I’ll take care of Septic’s pledge should you be in my neck of the woods.
I so feel for the family – this must be the last straw for them.
Use of the word ‘inappropriate’ will hopefully, one day, disqualify anyone who uses it from holding public office.
Oh, and use of the phrase ‘reassuring our local communities’ as well.
As an ordinary MOP I honestly cannot believe this….It’s bad enough an innocent party (any innocent party let alone a child) should be killed…I don’t know anything about the case and would even acknowkedge that in some circs shit happens… BUT to actively seek out an award for killing an innocent schoolgirl?
I can’t believe that I and my fellow taxpayers directly fund thw salaries of pondlife like this…
Honestly everybody in their PR department and every officer with ANY involvement whatsoever should be SACKED immediately – and regardless of involvement, their chief constable and any assistant or deputy chiefs…they’re clearly a bunch of irresponsible and useless cunts and if any one of them would like to claim against me for defamation, I’ll be happy to provide a name and address…
If we could form our own Police force what a great place that would be to live. Good article, by coincidence I was only reading about the original incident before I came to this site, I would not like to have that on my concience.
Muppets. Wonder who’ll be dealing with the fall out from this one.
In fact, Nulabour has a whole department working on success stories, led by Louise Casey under the guise of ‘Crime Fighters’. These prats run conferences at which all kinds of claims are made by police and Town Hall worthies and even allegedly reformed crims are rolled out to read rehab stories. The conferences are an insult to all victims, who are kept well away. The last was run like a pyramid selling expo!
One jerk came on strong about providing intensive help to scum in order to help the community. ‘Great idea’, said I from the floor with him nodding in expectation, ‘but we’re not selfish round my way. You take the scum in next door and get on with intensively improving your own community’. He didn’t like the idea and had no answer to the question as to why this should work in a deprived neighbourhood, when he had no illusions about what would happen to his property value.
This stuff ain’t PR – it’s planned lying.
“This stuff ain’t PR – it’s planned lying.”
Repeated due to 100% truth levels.
Still, I bet it ended up on a lot of senior bod’s PDR’s as a roaring success.
… – “positive media release issued. ” (!)
PR IS planned lying as far as I’m concerned.
Trust me, I’m a journalist……
It must be a blue moon IG. For once we are in complete agreement.
We know more than you think Zoe, about lots of things.
Carry on Gadget……please NEVER give up. I have an interesting and rather worrying tale to tell which although relates to circumstances, nowhere near as serious as the one currently under discussion, has distressingly similar comparisons in terms of how ACPO officers seek to shield themselves and frankly seek to reduce the truth of a given issue to little more than a tirade of self protecting and pathetic ‘sound bites’.
One day, when I FINALLY get the result I (and more importantly my family) deserve………. I will tell all.
Incidentally I am not some ‘Anti police oik’………quite the contrary really. I retired recently with fairly senior rank and I have a family connection with a particular Force that goes back five generations. Things need to be sorted Gadget, they really do!
Your heartfelt and searingly accurate posts and comments on what the modern day Police ‘Service’ has become are needed even if what they describe literally brings a tear to my eye on a depressingly regular basis.
Sometimes we [the Police] do screw up, and when it involves the death of an innocent member of the public, it is a tragedy beyond comprehension. It goes against every fibre of the reason for joining the Police in the first place.
When that happens I expect that whatever force it occurs in does go into overdrive to support the family, control the media to minimise the intrusion, investigate the reason, work 27 hours a day to go some way – even if it is only a little way to repair the damage. etc.
Surely that is the right thing to do?
However this is one of those times that you do NOT under any circumstances seek glory or recognition for having to do all that work and put all that effort in.
Beyond belief. I am [nearly] speechless at their action, what could they possibly have been thinking?.
One day that award will be sold at an auction along with the poetic musings of Pol Pot, a pencil used by Ian Huntley, Harold Shipman’s favourite comb, and a bar of soap containing a long lost pubic hair of Adolf Hitler. Basically anything that is wholly and completely inappropriate.
Gov
Just wanted to say that if you ever do get that knock on the door then there are many who will pick up thy mantle and run…….
I wonder if they will employ a spin doctor guru to “lessen” the media hype surrounding the media award so innapropriately awarded. And if spin doctor guru manages to “lessen” the media hype, will they apply for an award about the way they handled the media in “lessening” the media hype about the media award awarded to them for dealing witht the media hype in the first place. Watch this space.
To the family and on behalf of all normal bobbies, sorry!!
I truly am embarrassed to be associated with these idiots.
Unfortunately a very believable story, I’ve seen this stupidity too many times, in Industry, the company folds, in Government it is a Knighthood 1st class.
Here is another case of PC mentality hiding under the carpet.
Captain Holly Graf was the closest thing the U.S. Navy had to a female Captain Bligh.
Read more: http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1969602,00.html#ixzz0j91438Lm
The just-released IG report concludes that Graf “repeatedly verbally abused her crew and committed assault”
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1969602,00.html#ixzz0j90wfaD6
So you are not alone.
I really hope that history will be kind to you, as leaders hate hearing how stupid they are.
But a man of your character should find a leader of integrity needing someone of your caliber to help weed out all this chaff so that kernels of wheat can grow.
in my dotage.
This is all about, the only thing that this government and therefore ACPO, is interested in. PUBLIC CONFIDENCE in the Police. We have whole departments sending out the good news message to the media. There was probably countless supernintendos and consultants involved in managing this information, who obviously deserve recognition for all their hard work…………..not!!!
This just about sums up most HQ Wallahs, in my book. They have totally lost track of what the Police are actually for. If you speak to any of the mandrins, they will all tell you how hard they are working. No doubt, but doing what exactly? It sure as hell wont be protecting Mrs Miggins from getting mugged or Old Fred from being fleeced by some conman. No, they are as far removed from the ‘victims’ of criminals, as the rest of the criminal justice system are. Full of their own pissing self importance!
I would hope some of the MP’s, who I gather check this blog, take Ms SIMM to task for her quite frankly, crass comments.
Reading stuff like this, makes me ashamed to be a Police Officer
“This story says everything about how today’s senior police officers see themselves, what they regard as success (i.e. in how they dealt with the media story) and more importantly, what they really think about “Citizen Focus“.”
Well said. Well said indeed.
A marvellous post. But how does it make you feel writing something like this, especially given the tragic circumstances it concerns?
The language used by people like Simm and her ACPO chums is deeply sinister and indeed Orwellian.
The truth is that these people really do not care about the police service and policing. They care about themselves, about what they can get, what headlines they can make, what pointless awards and gongs will they get to look good on their CV’s. I used to say that policing policy seemed to be run by personal CV’s. Read any article in ‘The Job’ – if people bother to read the rag at all these days and it was clear that someone had set up some stupid, pointless and ineffective initiative with the sole purpose of getting a mention. Me, Me, Me!
When I used to have to go to NSY I’d always be amazed at the conversations between the ‘in’ crowd in the restaurant/canteen. It never seemed genuine. The main topic of converstaion was about what they were doing or what the other person was doing or what so and so was doing. ‘The [promotion] Process’ was often mentioned if valid, possible transfers to other forces on promotion etc.
I miss the job in so many, the sheer fun we used to have, the cameraderie and the feeling that sometimes it was worthwhile, that we did achieve something or help someone. What started to affect me was the frustration I’d feel on a daily basis trying to to ‘The Job’ but was thwarted by the bizarre directions from above, the pointless bureacracy and the acquiesence of the ambitious.
You highlight all of these in your book and in this blog and I salute you. Keep going.
Ranter
What always amazes me about the comments on these kinds of posts is that not one officer ever writes in and says “I don’t believe they did that”. No one ever expresses shock or surprise.
This tells us a lot about the national situation.
I KNOW that quite a few ACPO read this yet we never get a comment form them giving us a decent defence.
“I KNOW that quite a few ACPO read this yet we never get a comment form them giving us a decent defence.”
Perhaps that’s because they’re embarassed also, and they know that it’s all really crass selfish bullshit. I know it’s not likely, but we can hope….. can’t we?
This is the essence of what is wrong with policing: we’re only able to focus on what we think we’re ‘good’ at (we were shameful here, but the essence of the story is that Northumbria Police think they’re good.) Instead of boasting about clearing up after the mess, we’re should have focussed – perhaps at DCC level – at preventing the mess in the first place.
Shameful and shameless at the same time … 18yrs to go, and I just KNOW I won’t make it.
sir- I have 5-years to go and am applying for every job I see that gives wifey and I a reasonable income…
In fact, the only thing I’d add is that yes, I could well imagine Stockport Council doing exactly the same.
Don’t think for one minute that there’s something unique about SMT in the police; in my experience, this blinkered, careless attitude to the opinion of the little people that pay the taxes to keep these useless mouths in their non-job is pretty endemic to the public sector.
It arises out of the fact that they are, to all intents and purposes, harder to remove from their jobs than limpets…
She was a Super within 12 years which says it all really, doesn’t it?
I wonder if one day Sue Simm wakes up and realises what she has done. Writhing in guilt and shame would be a good epiphany. Once she has gone through that then we can welcome her back to humanity.
Shocking but not typical, at least of the officers I meet.
We have to keep making the distinction between the decent people doing public service and the loonies who found their way to the top.
Never hang your head IG!
One of my jobs as E/T control room inspector was to rough out a press briefing for the early turn (0800 hrs) PR.
Overnight we had had a spate of hedges being set alight. I printed off the linked serials and added:
Supect seen. Described as: male, 60s, of middle eastern appearance, with long beard, wearing long white ankle-length coat, carrying a number of tablets. The man was being followed by a lot of people. Police are asking for these to come forward.
I couldn’t find a way of getting the parting of the Red Sea into the copy.
It was put on the press line.
I was, as you would expect, criticised for this by the PR people. My suggesting that I anticipated a certain level of intelligence in their staff was ridiculed. I see why now.
Sheer brilliance!
Speachless
The worst bit is that the PR department couldn’t spot that this might be bad PR. The very act of winning the award results in more bad PR. You expect PR monkeys to be clueless about everything except PR, but now this lot are useless at that too – unless they intend to submit themselves for an award about how they dealth with the bad PR arising from the PR award, ad infinitum….
Ugh. (And I don’t post “Ugh” lightly.) What is the matter with these people? How divorced from basic humanity would you have to become to even contemplate that?
What a ghastly woman – unfortunately, she is typical of SMT the length and breadth of the country. Anyway, look at the likes of Hewitt, Byers and Geoff Hoon; vile and grasping pondlife, with eyes only for more, more, more – if this is what senior police aspire to, might as well quit now. I can’t even fathom how such a terrible tragedy could even start to look like an award winner.
Like many others, I completely agree that what you do, IG, is to provide proof that modern bobbies are compassionate, caring and are motivated most by their desire to lock up scum and protect the innocent. While most SMTs are behaving in a manner guaranteed to undermine the confidence they think their creating – mine are nothing more than 4th rate politicians who think in headlines and sound-bites – your blog is the saving grace for modern coppers and ordinary, decent people.
Over 3.25 million hits shows the interest you’ve created; I’d be with the others queuing up to get you a drink and telling you to keep on keeping on.
just checking my monster
OK, That worked. Sorry for the subterfuge Gadget.
Actually, I think we quite like Mrs Simm. She’s taking over the reigns from Mike ‘soundbite’ Craik this month and many of us hope she gets the gig permanently.
General feeling is that she’s fairly pro uniform, has bags of common sense and is relatively bullshit proof. Whether this stands on promotion we’ll have to see.
As for the award. Outrageous. This should have been nipped in the bud. The most insensitive thing I’ve seen a force do. I agree with one of the commentators above, it stems from this almost pathalogical desire to be loved by everyone and to seek praise like a child.
Bags of common sense? ? ? ?
Eh???????
The woman is a malignant, institutionalised, toad. If you can’t see that then please read everything again….
Frankie Abbott
Another thing occurs – did nobody working alongside this DCC have the courage to turn round and quietly say – ‘Actually boss, I’m not sure this is a good idea……..’
Sadly, even if somebody did, ACPO have this tendency to simply not listen. They know better than their own force experts about everything. We all have stories about their mulish stubbornness. Stories like this just sum them up.
What the blazes has happened to the job we loved, the job we went the extra mile for, put our hearts and souls into?
Retired PS, far north
I think they will find that one of the ways the fall out was kept under control was because the IPCC was involved and stopped the Force from running away with itself.
I can find no mention of this award on the Northumbria Police website.
However, all the stories I can find state that they put themselves up for nomination.
They think they are good enough for the award, but when it is awarded they don’t advertise it. This can only be because they are embarrassed about winning it.
Maybe handing it back, apologising and sacking those involved is the only way to come out of it with a modicum of respect.
No one wins in this situation. The girl remains dead, the police officer is in prison, the force has an award it doesn’t want to advertise and public respect for the police is dented again.
I hope you get your Chief Cunstables a.s.a.p Sim, you really deserve it.
Well somebody’s noticed: http://www.thedrum.co.uk/news/2010/03/25/13212-police-apologise-for-winning-pr-award-after-girl-s-death
The CIPR managed a few lines: http://www.cipr.co.uk/News/releases/2010/March/Northumbria_Police_award.html
Remind yourself that this is the response of a professional Public Relations body.
Daily Telegraph 24 March ran this story with a QUOTE – //Deputy Chief Constable Sue Sim said: “This award was not intended in any way to minimise the impact of Hayley’s death on family and friends and we are truly sorry if it has been perceived as such.
“Our deepest sympathies remain with them. Following the tragic death of Hayley police officers and staff were involved in minimising inappropriate, speculative or inaccurate reporting, working with the family to try and limit the impact of constant harassment of the family by the media, and reassuring the local community – this work was singled out for praise during the CIPR awards. We did not release this information.” //
It seems, however, that the family were not sufficiently appreciative, as DT 25 March reports Haley’s mother as saying “It’s a complete joke. I can’t believe they have nominated themselves for the award … It is an insult to her memory”
(I hope there isn’t another ‘award’ for sensitively telling the family that they han’t intended to offend)
Uncle John I think Sue Sim has now got her………. in a twist and who could blame her.
We are possibly looking at a possible contender for Chief somewhere or even the HMIC. God help us.
What the Force has done here is in bad taste; these senior suits simply are taking the pee………..
No doubt the Sergeant or Inspector who had to write the report for the nomination will now have been moved.
Typical non sensical policing when you place a HR lead into a police officers rank and role.
Sheesh…
Nope, you’re right, you couldn’t make it up…
Please keep it up, Guv – it’s coppers like you that keep what good opinion us MOPs have of the police, good.
(Not sure if that sentence works, but hopefully you get my drift)
If PSD come calling, here’s another MOP to man the barricades, and if you’re down south in the green and pleasant land, I’ll stand the beer duty.
I’d like to say nothing surprises me in the Police anymore, but I cannot believe this.
Absolutely disgusting, I am ashamed to be a police officer today.
I am utterly embarrassed by this.
Utter disgrace.
Hmm. Led to this site by Witterings above.
The responses of those above who are apparently police officers might just start the long process of me having some respect for the Home Office’s goons. As a complete outsider who has as little as possible to do with the police I’m glad to see there is some hope and you don’t all regard modern policing as racing round in fast cars and shooting passing Brazilians. I reckon we’d all be better off if the Home Office was reduced to a service resource supply outfit with control coming from locally elected Sheriffs.
problem is, its the 24/7 and nbm’s in the Scotswood area who will face the back lash from this ridiculous pr stunt. It wont be the media department or senior management from northumbria who are getting bottles and stones pelted off their cars from the ever willing charv’s.
It never is these misguided, obsessive fools that pick up the backlash. Ironic really that this is the exact sort of idiot put in charge of ensuring public trust & confidence. If fools like this just left the OFFICERS to do the job that they are so good at then we wouldn’t have to worry about the confidence factor. It is exactly idiots like this, and there are many, that is so damaging to our reputation. But then you only have to look at what they are aspiring to…Hoon,Hewitt et al, lying low life. I always thought that as an officer one was not allowed to have overt political connections. The current crop of senior officers carry on like fully paid up members of the New Labour Goverment…. lying, spinning, ineffective, self serving, self important, corrupt obsessive lunatics , hell bent on chasing any sort of accolades,peerages,knighthoods etc,etc..they make me ashamed to be associated with what is and still is essentially a once great organisation, problem is they have no shame…..
The sad thing is there was probably a lot of cracking work done by Pcs Sgts and Insps locally to get the locals back onside-all of that has now been flushed down the toilet…and the PBI will have to start all over again.
SIM……..you are a bloody disgrace, resign now. How dare you believe that you have the confidence of anybody in Northumbria, much less the confidence or support of Police Officers /Members of the Public up and down the country?
I have seen arrogance in spadefuls over the last seven or eight years from people at your level but this is frankly amazing (although, regrettably not surprising))
Grow up and do the right thing!
here’s a quote from my fave book…
‘”Do you begin to see, then, what kind of world we are creating? It is the exact opposite of the stupid hedonistic Utopias that the old reformers imagined. A world of fear and treachery and torment, a world of trampling and being trampled upon, a world which will grow not less but more merciless as it refines itself. Progress in our world will be progress toward more pain.”
and
“There was of course no way of knowing whether you were being watched at any given moment. How often, or on what system, the Thought Police plugged in on any individual wire was guesswork. It was even conceivable that they watched everybody all the time. But at any rate they could plug in your wire whenever they wanted to. You had to live—did live, from habit that became instinct—in the assumption that every sound you made was overheard, and, except in darkness, every movement scrutinized.”
and
“The Party seeks power entirely for its own sake. We are not interested in the good of others; we are interested solely in power. Not wealth or luxury or long life or happiness: only power, pure power.
and the most scary of all…
“He gazed up at the enormous face. Forty years it had taken him to learn what kind of smile was hidden beneath the dark moustache. O cruel, needless misunderstanding! O stubborn, self-willed exile from the loving breast! Two gin-scented tears trickled down the sides of his nose. But it was all right, everything was all right, the struggle was finished. He had won the victory over himself. He loved Big Brother.”
Ah yes, Brown’s “vision”…….he wants us all to love him and his snoopy nanny state, forever…..Aaaarrrgggghhhhh!!!
BEST VOTE LIB-DEM THEN…….If you want to escape from Big Brother!
Gadet,
How cold you ever be sacked when thousands of Cops could swear on a stack of bibles that every word is true
The worst thing is that Im not really that suprised that this appalling behaviour occurred
Thanks to the monsters I know (and so will others ) that the last entry apparently posted in my name is NOTHING to do with me!
Although……..actually I agree entirely with what my ‘double’ has said.
I saw a police authority member talking to a CC and an ACC today … she was holding a certain book, asking, “have you heard of this? Somone MUST know who he is. What do you think … ?!” One stated he’d not heard of it at all, the other very quickly found someone to be distracted by. Maybe he is aware of the fallout from a ‘similar’ book? I tried to capture a quck photo, but alas … too slow.
24/7 you should have grabbed it and slapped them all around the head with it! But then, there IS the pension to think about……
IG -
A knock on the door?
I don’t think so.
If the powers that be wanted to “out” you, then I’m sure they easily could.
The truth is that you are too big for them to mess with now.
They know all hell would be raised if they tried to shut your blog down and fire you.
Keep up the good work.
I agree. Another rally would follow.
I echo all the views above
If you or me made a cock up like Ms Simm has done PSD would be on our backs.
Shes not the one who has to work in Scotswood where the incident happened and face the backlash from the public and get bricks pelted off the patrol car!
Beyond belief.
Just watched her on You Tube, not at all what I expected, better not say more.
I have linked for this slick piece of corporate wizardry. How someone could come up with this effort at promoting the brand defies belief. It is clear the monopoly over the ‘bigger picture’ that the management always claim to have is somewhat distorted in the Force in question. I wonder what the family liaison officer’s views on this were ?
It’s very sad but humbling to read so many officers who have taken this stupid episode to heart – these are the officers who we see on on our streets and in our homes, the brave cops who had to stop the madness in Bolton between the EDL and the UAF, the guys who clean up the mess in Deansgate and Piccadilly every weekend, protect our kids from Christ knows who.Thanks to them, we don’t judge you by the antics of senior managers who have lost the plot.
Thank you, but unfortunately a great deal of the population DO judge us based solely the idiocy and crassness of ‘senior’ officers.
Police Codes of Conduct
Police behaviour, whether on or off duty, affects public confidence in the police
service. Any conduct which brings or is likely to bring discredit to the police service may be
the subject of sanction. Accordingly, any allegation of conduct which could, if proved, bring
or be likely to bring discredit to the police service should be investigated in order to establish
whether or not a breach of the Code has occurred and whether formal disciplinary action is
appropriate. No investigation is required where the conduct, if proved, would not bring or
would not be likely to bring, discredit to the police service.
General conduct
12. Whether on or off duty, police officers should not behave in a way which is likely to
bring discredit upon the police service.
Are ACPO exempt from these codes I wonder?
Good news for the Essex:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/essex/8585088.stm
Well done the CPS:-
The (CPS) statement said: “Having reviewed all of the available evidence, including that of an expert, the CPS is satisfied that the level of force used, including the use of handcuffs and CS spray was reasonable, necessary and proportionate.”
Retired PS, far north
Dear Inspector Gadget,
I’ve tried three times to respond to the words I find the most compelling in this, which are:
of the consequences possible against you
but the crusade to go on somehow lives within.
A need to see justice done and truth told.
I still don’t know how to say how much we need this spirit in the world. And yet it isn’t fair for us to ask it of you or anyone.
I find it a gift beyond price, for as long as you’re able to give it.
This will have to substitute for a more eloquent response.
But no less heartfelt.
Ann T.
I played rugby league out of a pub in Scotswood in the 80′s. It had 80% unemployment then and was a ‘rough as’. Only seen things get worse everywhere since, though the PR has us living in paradise.
IG is spot on in wondering why no one ever denies these stories of madness in places like this. The same was true in Soviet samizdat. Just as in Soviet Paradise, the official machine does deny it all in public, an arena in which there appears no shame and in which we suffer in silence knowing the Gulag awaits anyone daft enough to venture truth without anonymity.
GMP are claiming they did everything they could to prevent the death of Mr. Askew, even helping clean his house. One notes they have not published the 20 year record of crimes committed against him and not recorded or dealt with. There should be sackings on both counts. Instead, as with the killing of a passing Brazilian, there will be a long-delayed IPCC whitewash. Cops need protection from this kind of drivel as much as victims.
The judges weren’t exercising much sense when they awarded it either.
This is part of managerialism that seems to have infected many police FORCES.They are no longer police officers but senior managers,line managers,stake holders,clients etc.
Time to re introduce plain old common sense and banish all this nonsense.
My sympathies to the young victims family .
Keep up the good work IG ,yours is an important role in the modern spin laden democracy.
I’m so sorry for Hayley’s family,what happened was dreadful, although I knew nothing about the incident until recently, I feel really hurt and bad inside ,knowing that a Police Force has tried to take advantage of such tragic circumstances. If I had ever done anything similar I would not be able to hold my head up in public. If it was a mistake by this silly person then they should really be looking at another career or post.
She is – Chief Constable!
In other news:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/mar/25/police-advert-ban-labour
One of the ridiculous Pledge adverts has been banned for telling porkies. While trying to justify their accounting methods that see SNT’s attending meetings as being on the beat, a Home Office source had this to say:
“We believe it is important to inform the public that they have a right to expect these national minimum standards, which is why we launched an advertising campaign to highlight these promises. Unless the public know what they have been promised, they cannot then hold their local forces to account if they fail to achieve the standard.”
Surely that’s the Home Office’s job? It’s saddening to see that there’s no talk of helping the police achieve targets – just the HO encouraging people to complain if they don’t!
Most of the public who are actually interested are too busy being victims of rampant crime to ‘hold their local force to account’ on irrelevant ‘pledges’.
I am sooo happy about that link and that they have banned the advert. At last someone has realised the 80% bullshit that has been pushed is in fact a complete fabrication by the Home Office. i do hope it is used to really get up Brown’s nose in the election campaign.
The fact that an officer could be in a Police station at the other end of the country and as long as he was dealing with an offender that had committed an offence on his patch it was counted as being on his beat is absolutely disgusting and a very cynical way of deliberatly manipulating statistics to mislead the public.
I thank you for bring this to my attention… My television is so much happier it will not get shouted at quite so much.
I said to colleagues when it was first advertised that it was false and that the public would expect to see a police officer, not beat managers and PCSOs. Citizen focus should be Criminal Focus with this simple formulation:
(a) Take all the repetitive criminals and put them on a boat (b) Take the boat to the middle of the ocean (c) Sink the boat (d) Citizen focus If (a) + (b) + (c) then (d) =
Result: 100% public confidence
Dear Inspector Gadget,
I, as an ordinary MOP, really appreciate what you are doing to expose what appear to be the wasting of my taxes, idiocy, and perversion of the Police force for political ends.
Against the day when the PSD call, and try and charge you with some Undermining Police Confidence nonsense, (since when did honest reporting of truth become a crime? …..oh yes, the Official Secrets act) please have a post ready, telling me where I can send my letter of protest, what number I can call, to register my support.
Cheers
Mop
Gadget if there is a rally I want to be in charge of press coverage!
The notion of cops being cops again (or academics being academics) is a good one. We should remember we have very few cops compared with other similar countries, maybe only a third of the average. Given they admit only about 40% of what we have is operational, one wonders whether the few actually working on what matters cope at all.
There’s little I can add to the outrage and disgust….but have a thought for who might benefit from this.
Prior to this, Sue Sim was regarded as a hard case who got things done. One poster who knows of her has approved of her in general terms.
Would it be beyond reasonable doubt to think that she was fitted up, the way civil servants hide bad news in the red boxes? Was this nodded through on a Friday afternoon, and when the shit hit the fan she realised that as the ranking officer it was down to her?
Maybe I’m paranoid, but I’ve worked in places where being better at your job than the next bloke was dangerous.
Do FOI’s work on the police? You could always try submitting one for the paperwork related to volunteering the force for this award.
In theory … worth a go.
As an ordinary MOP and ex-civvie in TVP (many years ago) I am well aware that the appaling nonsence that goes on in the upper echelons of the Constabulary, be it now or then, is in no way the opinion of the hardworking officers on the street who do the job as opposed to those who sit in their offices and talk it.
My thoughts and opinions have all been expressed by others here and sadly, whilst I am left speechless at the insensitivity of this woman and her posse, I am not surprised.
Never mind the fact that this shower put themselves forward for the award, how about the panel/board who gave it them? What were they thinking? I can only assume they are as bad as Sim and her mob. So divorced from reality and the people they serve that the distress caused to the family concerned probably didn’t cross their minds.
To all you serving and retired officers out there, you have no reason to feel shame. It is not you who have brought shame to the uniform but the self-serving idiots up above whose memebrship to real life appears to have lapsed some time ago. Keep up the good work.
There’s a reason for those 3.25 million hits, you know. We need you to represent sane policing.
Thanks again for all you do!
If the knock ever comes – please God it won’t – I’ll there in the march (have joined the Facebook fanclub).
IG,
I read this yesterday but words failed me, I’ve read it again now and all I can say is that most decent folk will realise that front line police have more common sense than the prats who dreamed this bullshit up! This must be so incredibly hurtful to the family – is the award a bag of salt to rub in their wounds?!
Unbelievable.
Also, make sure that you get some quiet, quality legal advice – it never hurts to be prepared although I hope that you never hear the knock at the door!
PJ
you seen this?!
Police abuse in the US
:/
That’s what some American cops are like. Tactical communication is always better than using force.
There used to be a time when I think ‘unbelievable’. Now I just expect it.
Sack the chawala that dreamed this stuipd award nomination up.
Sack the pankhawala too!
what’s a pankhawala
JR – AFAIK- both terms derive from terms for servants in India (British Raj – remember “It ain’t Half Hot, Mum”?)
‘Chawala’ (Char-wallah) = tea maker
‘Pankhwala’ (Punkha-wallah) = chap who works a (manual)ceiling fan
Do not not forget the Dhobi wallah , the guy that rinses out the under garments and the starches them so that they can stand up.
clearly, must have a few of them up in Northumbria
There was joy in the senior officers suite at New Scotland Yard today when the results of the “Golden Coffin” award-for services to the funeral industry were announced.
Giving the verdict of the judges their spokesperson Ms G Reaper stated that although both the GMP and Northumbria had made strong bids this year the award would go again to the Met for “their sheer consistency in numbers and the variation in the the types of death presented in their entry”
Accepting the award the head of MPS Sir George Formby-Grill said”This award reflects the work put in by the MPS and its partners particularly social services in providing a first class service to the bereavement community”
Meanwhile it was announced that Northumbria Police are to enter for the prestigious “Scholl” awards in the “Best Self Inflicted Foot Injury” category.
Very good.
A pankha-wala is a staff officer! A cha-wala is staff officer that has moved on…….having been promoted for being a pankha-wala……..
On an unrelated subject I have just had a leaflet delivered through my door. The front page shows a garage full of boxes and chemicals. The title reads,
“HANDYMAN? PEST CONTROLLER? BOMB MKER?”
WTF,
On the back it gets worse, stating that “Terrorists live amongst us when they are planning attacks. So naturally that means they’ll try and conceal their activities. But sometimes they can leave tell tale signs. Signs we need your help in spotting.
You can do this by remaining vigilant and reporting any suspicious activity to the police.”
It then goes son to list a number of suspicious activities. Finishing with the lines
“We don’t believe any call is a waste of time.
Let specialist officers decide if the information you have is important.
If you suspect it report it.”
It took me a little time to spot the ACPO logo on the bottom of the front page.
My questions are how much did this cost? who pays for this McCarthyist junk? and my neighbour has some undisclosed chemicals/boxes in his garage, he often goes in their at night, his eyes are too close together and I never liked his wife, come to think of it I am suspicious about his dog as well. Should I report him?
Can any specialist officers help? I am worried.
And I thought I’d heard it all. How naive.
My heart goes out to the family. I cannot believe some in the organisation can sink so low.
Saddened by the lack of thought or consideration for the family.
Does Northumbria have a glass case to keep these awards in and just what was the point?
More ACPO mistakes. If it was you or I we would be hung out to dry all for the good of public confidence!!!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/north_yorkshire/8586872.stm
“To that end, North Yorkshire Police is currently conducting a very thorough integrity assurance exercise.”
Jeebus – don’t these people ever listen to themselves?!
Sorry to the “”Original” Andy W I will pick another name to post
Gadget – don’t know if you do requests, but any chance of a post on the robberies/murder in West Mercia that has led to an IPCC talking head spouting on about the police having evidence to arrest one of the robbers and not getting around to it and allowing him to murder.
West Mercia are getting a bit of a kicking for not nicking him for previous robberies, (maybe justified,who knows) but I would LOVE to know about the missed opportunities of the courts to lock up this bloke previously – let’s face it, he must have been a few times and was still around to rob and kill. I really want to know how many times he was in court and for what…….
yeah I saw that last night, suspect identified and named, then circulated on PNC. Sky News put a nice spin on it saying “after the officers did that they must have just expected the suspect to appear out of thin air, because they did nothing else about it”
Nice that, I’m sure they did all the ground work then after putting the circulation they just sat there with their thumbs up their butts waiting for something to happen, and weren’t snowed under with everything else that was going on.
I’m sure the hindsight Generals would have had something to say if the entire CID and response capability was redirected from every other job going on to hunt for just one guy, who at that point was just wanted for robbery and not murder. I wonder what they would have said if a few murders had happened in the meantime while an entire forces capability was focused on catching this one guy?
Unfortunately I think that too many vocal opinion-formers live in isolated little worlds where they have little or no contact with crime or criminals.
As such, they fondly imagine that there are only about a dozen wanted crims in whole country – so OBVIOUSLY we’re all just sitting up in the canteen wolfing KK’s and sipping hot tea if we don’t catch them!
Anyone would think these criminal types didn’t want to get caught, the way the police carry on!
Thirtyearman Formerly Andy……thanks for your message although no apology necessary.
Beneath the media hype, and the disingenuous ranting by a failed government, it is the voice of a blogger that paints a truer picture of the real state of affairs faced by the police service.
The thought of a witch-hunt, involving the loss of inspector gadget, and other officers, both serving and retired of his ilk is anethema to those who look for the overall picture.
I am of a generation who holds the police in the highest esteem. However, a force seeking recognition after the tragedy of a youngsters death is I am afraid utterly disgraceful. Had I not had access to this site and the informative IG, I would have remained in ignorance.
More power to IG et al, and I pray there is no early morning knock on the door.
Grahame Maxwell, the head of North Yorkshire police, and his deputy Adam Briggs are accused of helping two “close relatives” to bypass the first stage of an application process to become police officers.
The Independent Police Complaints Commission yesterday announced that an inquiry had been launched into the “extremely concerning” claims, which came to light after an anonymous tip off.
The allegations are deeply embarrassing for the chiefs, whose force is already under scrutiny over long-running investigation into the death of chef Claudia Lawrence in York. This week they were stretched further by the murder of postmistress Diana Garbutt in Melsonby.
Mr Maxwell is one of the most senior police figures in the country, and is the national lead on human trafficking issues.
His family are heavily involved in the police. His father was a chief constable, his sister is a serving officer and his brother-in-law is also a retired officer.
The IPCC will not discuss the identity of his relation, but they denied reports that it was his son Frazer.
Mr Maxwell has 25 years service with West Yorkshire and South Yorkshire forces, and became North Yorkshire chief in May 2007. He took over from Della Canning, who faced criticism after it emerged that she had revamped her office shower at a cost of more than £28,000.
As The Daily Telegraph disclosed last month, two thirds of all forces have frozen recruitment because of budget pressures, creating a shortfall in police numbers and huge demand for the few remaining places nationwide.
When North Yorkshire police opened a recruitment hotline last month offering 60 jobs, 200,000 people called to register their interest. The demand was so great that the phone system crashed, leaving thousands of potential applications frustrated.
Those callers who did get through were interviewed and given the details of an online application form – the first part of a multiple-stage process to join police force.
However it is alleged that Mr Maxwell and Mr Briggs helped their relatives bypass the phone interview process and submit their application forms directly.
During the recruitment drive, Mr Maxwell and Mr Briggs were pictured in local newspapers manning the phones.
Mr Briggs said at the time: “We have had an incredible response to the recruitment campaign and it was nice to be able get involved and lend a hand.”
North Yorkshire police received an anonymous tip-off on their crime hotline and after internal investigations, it was formally referred to the IPCC last Friday.
The investigation will be conducted by Mike Cunningham, chief constable of Staffordshire Police, and managed by the IPCC.
Nicholas Long, an IPCC Commissioner, said: “These allegations are extremely concerning, particularly the aspect involving the chief constable and deputy chief constable. As they concern the integrity of the two most senior officers in North Yorkshire Police, it is in the public interest that the IPCC is involved. I will therefore ensure that a thorough investigation is conducted.”
Separately, two police staff members at North Yorkshire are also being investigated over allegations they also circumvented the telephone process “to benefit themselves and one other person”.
Sue Cross, North Yorkshire Police Assistant Chief Constable, said: “In respect of the IPCC investigations, our principal concern is to reassure applicants and the communities we serve that our recruitment process is fair and transparent.
“As the IPCC will, I am sure, confirm, the investigations will be conducted as searches for the truth and no conclusions will be drawn until all available evidence has been gathered and considered.”
I’m not sure how much weight we might collectively carry but I do hope that when they come to take you and your computer away, we might all turn up and complain on your behalf.
Dear Inspector Gadget………In all sincerity I hope that you do not get any UNFAIR HASSLE from bosses [hypocrites] because of this blog, and your courage to speak your own truth, and tell it like it is from where your boots are standing, and also allowing others to add their bit to the debate. You mustn’t let the fear of a knock at the door take a hold on you. That’s what Big Brother wants. It rules by fear and paranoia. Have faith instead, that Angels will protect the good guys, no matter what may be thrown at you.
And please excuse me if I am being naive, but is it not a FACT that in this country we are PROTECTED by the Human Rights Act? Part of that act concerns the right to freedom of speech, as an individual and also as a writer, especially if the subject matter is in the public interest. Sooooo, since WHEN were police officers NOT allowed to have a hobby and to express themselves honestly?
I would like to add to this debate, that IF the government were to conduct some sort of witch-hunt against you, and “they” did come and snatch your computer and give you grief, that you would fight for YOUR human right to freedom of speech, which everyone is entitled to.
I really do not see how anyone could claim, that by being honest and writing about issues which are being caused by stupid government policy, that yourself or any other police blogger is “undermining public confidence” in the force/service.
The public RESPECT honesty, and those who do have the courage to speak out, rather than cover things up, like the lying politicians we have been suffering under for far too long.
If “they” are unfair to you Gadget, there will be OUTRAGE……
Minxy,
The ‘public’ disappear when you blow the whistle as do all kinds of well-meaning colleagues, friends and representation. The power of the establishment is immense. Claire Short has probably told the truth on Iraq, but few have supported her and she was patronised and criticised by the Chilcott people as unreliable because she didn’t resign earlier.
IG ain’t daft enough not to know this.
There are no answers when it comes to the kind of whistle-blowing and protection needed to bring it about. Legislation has already failed and was probably designed to. Once you are outside the tent pissing in you are considered fair game for character assassination, punishment postings and a host of nasties.
ACO…..Hmmmm, I think that a great many of the public read this blog, and have not disappeared at all ACO.
Whistle-blowers may well get flack from the very people who don’t want the truth spoken, but the free press don’t disappear in those circumstances either. They love whistle-blowers and a good story, especially if it exposes corruption, hypocrisy, rubbish policy, lies and bad practices.
I can imagine how someone could be singled out for unfair treatment in the force, for not being a compliant little robot.
And I do know all about the crap that gets smeared upon the reputation of someone who will not put up with nonsense.
I also know all about the “nasties” that can be done to silence one who will not go along with the establishment deceptions.
As Gadget says….You couldn’t make it up, and I have got the
T-Shirt. However, one person CAN make a difference, as Barack Obama has just shown regarding Nukes. Hallelujah!
Yes, the establishment is powerful, but so is truth and the higher spiritual forces of good. One has to have faith in them however. I did read your reply to me on a previous post, in which you said that you had “lost it”. Maybe you have, but I hope you find it again, sooner rather than later. Writing is great therapy when all said and done, especially if it pays the bills! It really is FEAR that must be fought Allcoppedout.
Often easier said than done, I know that….and that IG ain’t daft.
Here’s another classic for you IG.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/2909640/Labour-cop-ad-lies-are-banned.html
Now even the Advertising Standards Authority are behind you!
“Working in neighbourhoods and engaging with communities” … AARRGGHH!!
1. I don’t live in a ‘neighbourhood’: ITS NOT A WORD THAT THE BRITISH PEOPLE USE – it’s been FORCED upon them by a neo-Leninist claque;
2. Can we STOP using the word ‘communities’ and ‘community’: IT’S STARTING TO GRATE UPON ME JUST AS IF SOMEONE WERE USING A CHEESE GRATER ON MY FINGER ENDS.
And whilst I’m on this territory:
3. I am a NOT a citizen (which is all very French): I AM A SUBJECT. Keep you Franco-Socialism out of my lexicon, especially in any context where it is used with FOCUS.
This introduction of imposed communist language by a state determined to tell me what I should think and talk is TOTALLY UNBEARABLE … more so when it perculates to senior officers who sold their integrity to Stalin and Gordon Brown (same thing?!)
Thanks for listening … (off for more coffee and to fix shed).
24/7
You have now offended members of the cheese grating community-have you learnt nothing?????
What classic explanations for the lying BS; ” And it failed to explain the pledge did not apply to all 140,000 cops in England and Wales – but to only 13,500 neighbourhood constables and 16,000 community support officers.”
Is it surprising that the average recipient of this leaflet didn’t understand the “nuances” of this “PR Speak” when your average reader can’t even get her own name right when defrauding the taxpayer of 500K;
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/2909868/Gang-fleece-system-of-500k.html
Glad to see the Judge was “severe” with them;
“Family friend Danny Gorman, 27, of Southend, also admitted tax fraud after banking £14,407 claimed when Connolly hijacked the identity of a real person.
Gorman got a year-long supervision order with 100 hours unpaid work after the court heard he made no money from the fraud.
Connolly’s brother, ice-cream van salesman Keith Taylor, 35, of Grays, Essex, pleaded guilty to tax credit fraud after making claims of £7,144. He was also given a year-long supervision order and 100 hours unpaid work.
Sharon Bayford, 44, of North London, admitted tax credit fraud totalling £11,972 after inventing four fake children – three of them supposedly disabled. She was given a four-month prison sentence suspended for 12 months.
Connolly’s mum Marie Taylor, of Southend, had £7,233.07 of benefits claimed in her name paid into her daughter’s account. She admitted money laundering after accepting £500 and got a 12- month conditional discharge.
Former drug addict Jay Tolfree, 36, of Stifford Clays, Essex, admitted accepting £4,000 to let Connolly use his name in claims totalling £42,600. He was given a 12-month conditional discharge – and outside court made an obscene gesture like drunken layabout Frank Gallagher in Channel 4 comedy-drama Shameless.
Judge Ian Graham said: “These defendants carried out a systematic fraud of the system. The scheme was so bold applications were made in completely false names.”
Shadow Chancellor George Osborne last night said the case showed how the Government had allowed “chronic waste” by failing to crack down on welfare cheats”
We wouldn’t want people to think that stealing half a million pounds would be treated lightly by the courts, now would we?
Andrew – Paris
death of one man is a tragedy…
death of a million is a statistic…
want the Shijuro prediction for what sentence the MPs accused of fraud?
nowt…
Francis Fitzgibbon, defending Stead, said of the gang: “They smoke, they are overweight, and prone to teenage pregnancies”.
Shocking how someone can defend them and speak utter rubbish. Just how does one become prone to teenage pregnancies???
Who`s going to state the obvious about the stabbing at Victoria. Rich cultural diversity anyone?
Just because nearly every single suspect and victim of knife crime in London is black doesn’t mean that knife crime is just a problem for the ‘black community’ and just because nearly all of the suspects and victims are of school age and are male shouldn’t mean we should disproportionately stop search young black males for weapons.
That’s what they keep telling us at Op Blunt briefings anyway.
I haven’t trawled through all the comments, so forgive me if I am merely repeating what everyone else has already said.
For my sins, I’m a public servant, too. Nothing to do with law-enforcement, mind you. No, I sit on my backside and polish a chair with the seat of my pants in a cosy office. Nonetheless, I see this kind of lunacy/lack of common sense/total disregard for human decency & compasion all the time.
Sadly, this does not surprise me. I thank God that I still have enough compassion left in me to be revolted by this story; but I wonder will we all be become inured to this crap eventually.
Recently we have had similiar examples from the Fire Service and a school in Stockport.
Even as a low-grade public servant who witnesses this shite 5 days a week, I still think; ‘Who the hell are these bastards, who make these decisions, and seem bereft of any empathy or compassion for their fellow-man.”
Perhaps we could have a Public-Sector Bastard Manager Finder General, ala Matthew Hopkins, the old Witch- Finder General. Now, that would be worth getting the knitting out for on a saturday afternoon!
As a mop i am disgusted that anyone could even think of nominating themselves for an award, as a member of hayley’s family i can not describe how myself and all of the family feel to be told northumbria police won an award for work done surrounding hayleys death. SUE SIMM seams to think that she has appologised to the family but may i stress she has not approached any of my family in person, yes she has sent people to represent her but as my whole family agree what is an appologie, we have been appologised to so many times that they are worthless they mean nothing NORTHUMBRIA POLICE were given this award back in november 2009 so WHY does it come to light now just a few days before HAYLEY would have turned 18, is someone trying to hurt us even more, everyday the pain gets worse nothing will ever bring HAYLEY home so will someone please tell me why northumbria police would want an award for that, i would also like to say SUE SIMM i hope you read this… you should RESIGN from the police force and so should everyone who had anything to do with this award oh and everyone involved stop and think how you would feel if this ever happened to you.
thank you to everyone who sends there thoughts to my family.
Nice Article very informative & usefull for me thanks…
Mainly, it’s all voluntary and it works pretty well. First, double-entry accounting originated in Italy in the 1400’s, so its been around awhile. Accounting principles have evolved over the years just as have accounting standards. The reason why the system works is that the business community could not function if there was not commonality and consistency in financial statement reporting. It would be chaos, much like if there were no driving rules of the road.
http://freekitiew.com/accounting/index.html