• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

MayorWatch

London News and Comment

  • NEWS
  • Twitter

Foreign Armed Police Must Not Patrol Olympics

February 6, 2007 - Martin Hoscik@MayorWatch

Met Assistant Commissioner Tarique Ghaffur has raised the prospect of non-UK armed police patrolling the capital during the 2012 Olympic games.

Interviewed in the Parliamentary Monitor Mr Ghaffur suggests:

“We may have to change some constitutional positions, like, do we bring in some foreign police officers to work here like they did in Germany.”

This raises serious questions about the accountability of such officers. If a British officer fires their weapon they are subject to an immediate and independent investigation. What arrangements would exist in relation to any non-UK officers in similar circumstances?

How would the UK authorities ensure these officers were available to any enquiry? The Government’s failure to secure evidence for the inquest into Lance Corporal Matty Hull is hardly an inspiring precedent.

Would these officers have a power of arrest over UK citizens?

Mr Ghaffur is right when he says “the starting point is always we police with the consent and co-operation of the community.” London’s police are drawn from our communities, it’s this which fosters community consent and co-operation.

We find ourselves agreeing with the Conservative Olympics spokesman Hugh Robertson who told today’s Telegraph:

“In my view, this is a job for the British police and solely for the British police.”

If more police are needed it’s incumbent on the Met and central government to use the next 6 years to fund and recruit sufficient numbers. They should start by looking to convert existing Police Community Support Officers into fully fledged officers and work to improve retention rates.

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)

RECENT UPDATES

Record number of candidates stand in London’s Mayoral election

TfL and Siemens unveil new Piccadilly line Tube train designs

852 new homes to be built in Acton by Transport for London

HGV operators in London urged to apply for a Direct Vision Standard permit




POPULAR

City Hall to move to Docklands as Mayor seeks to raise £55m for frontline services

‘Concern’ over TfL’s ability to deliver major projects in wake of Crossrail cost overruns

City Hall halts London Overground ticket office closures but many will still see opening hours reduced

Transport for London confirms bus cuts will go ahead despite passenger opposition

GOT A STORY?

As the original London news and scrutiny site we've been casting an eye over the capital's public services and politicians since 1999.

 

Many of our top stories started with a tip-off from a reader - if you've got something you'd like us to cover get in touch and we'll do the rest.

Stay In Touch

  • E-mail
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Copyright © 2021 MayorWatch Publications Limited · MayorWatch is Registered Trademark · All Rights Reserved · Contact Us · Terms of Use · Privacy Policy

MayorWatch Publications Limited · 20-22 Wenlock Road · London N1 7GU · Company Number 6291816

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.