Today Twitter has brought me a most interesting read and it started off with a simple question about whether Police Officers using free public transport should wear their uniform to work.
Its quite simple really having read the report it appears to be about increasing Police visibility at no extra cost. Which one would hope would act as a visual deterrent to those wishing to commit crime.
At first glance it looks like a good idea. However having given it a bit of thought I appeared to have opened myself a can of worms of what ifs and buts.
- Will officers off duty in uniform be expected to take control and make arrests? Like HM Forces are they on duty 24/7.
- What about personal safety officers travelling alone on public transport does this not compromise them and their families?
The 2nd point in the Police Report that surprised me was the amount of Police Officers with the power of arrest being stuck in an office. Of course some with a total overview needs to be there to oversee things. This is what I don’t understand we have PCSOs that have no power of arrest but visible and on the front line. We have officers with the power of arrest tied to a desk. What’s wrong? The wrong people are on the front line swap them around.
I was astounded when I read that only at entry level a fitness test was required and really would have thought like HM Forces and the Fire Brigade the police force would also require an annual fitness test. Stands to reason really.
I don’t quite agree with outsourcing non direct police functions as although it hands the problem of administrative tasks to someone else alongside all other financial implications, fiscals etc. It hands a certain amount to organisations that are in it to make money and nothing more.
Yes these organisations will attract those that have been recently made redundant whether it be from HM Forces or Police Forces and will make best use of their skills and knowledge.
WMP seem to have already out sourced bits to a company called G4S.