Tuesday, September 02, 2008
Mike Fuller Steps Up
After Dave kicked the door down with this blog and the subsequent book, others have followed him through.
The latest to appear in print is Inspector Gadget (suddenly ominously quiet after a post talking about his book was removed this week).
The question everyone should be asking is, why is it only bobbies, sergeants and inspectors who have had the guts to tell the truth about what's going on? Why no unofficial Chief Inspector or Superintendent blog? When was an ACPO rank going to sit back and think about why he or she actually joined the job in the first place?
We may have found a candidate today.
Sadly, it isn't Chris Sims, chief of Copperfield's old force. The Glorious Leader of Staffs Police wrote a letter to The Times this week. In it, he declares his undying love for fixed penalty notices and cautions Follow the link to read the rest - basically, he's claiming that they've reduced juvenile crime in Stoke by 50% in 18 months, which must make him the world's most successful law enforcer anywhere, ever.
Down in the Garden of England, though, Kent Chief Mike Fuller is taking a different tack.
He gave an incendiary interview to the BBC this morning, also reported in the Telegraph and the Guardian.
The Guardian piece tells how Fuller blames the government for damaging public and police confidence in the criminal justice system.
"Dangerous criminals are avoiding jail or being released early because of a lack of places in the country's prisons". This crisis was "entirely foreseeable... five years ago, ministers ordered police to bring more offenders to justice, but failed to think through the consequences".
Who failed to foresee it? "One would have to point to the government."
Fuller adds: "Sentencing policy would appear to be determined more by the number of prison places rather than the seriousness of the crimes people have committed. That means recidivist offenders are being released from prison when they should not be. People committing serious and violent crimes are not receiving as long sentences as they should be, making the job of the police more difficult."
He gives details of some recent cases. "A burglar with 100 previous offences received a suspended sentence and then committed another one. Last week a man failed to appear in court having been given bail while awaiting sentence for 255 thefts from motor vehicles; police arrested him, and he was granted bail again - only to fail to show up at the time the court had ordered."
(On the BBC, Ed Stourton recoiled at this and sounded surprised. Like, he's only a national journalist - how would you expect him to know what's going on, day in, day out, across the country?)
The piece continues: "(Fuller) also said forces are over-inspected, with hours of his time each week wasted answering to 13 official national bodies, which sometimes gave contradictory advice and uncosted recommendations."
So it's not just the lower ranks, then?
Ladies and Gentlemen: Mike Fuller has just gone through the door.
We all know the politics infests everything that goes on in the top floors, but I think we can take the Kent Chief at his word.
So Mike, take a bow: you've done your country a massive service today.
Now, is Tony McNumpty going to start calling him a liar?
FOXTROT OSCAR
Comments:
McNulty* was on Radio 4 last Sunday. Being as objective as possible, he really is seriously stupid and/or delusional. *I don't know if that's the correct spelling and frankly I can't be bothered to check.
It was suggested to him that his proposal to publish the details of victims of crime, as part of the Crime Maps initiative, might affect the reporting of crime (obvious risk of reprisals etc.).
His answer was he didn't think it would, but if it did, it would be something 'we would have to look into'.
To qualify for his job there must be exams you have to fail.
BTW I hope Gadget is ok. More like him in the police please, us dopey MOPs will sleep more soundly.
It was suggested to him that his proposal to publish the details of victims of crime, as part of the Crime Maps initiative, might affect the reporting of crime (obvious risk of reprisals etc.).
His answer was he didn't think it would, but if it did, it would be something 'we would have to look into'.
To qualify for his job there must be exams you have to fail.
BTW I hope Gadget is ok. More like him in the police please, us dopey MOPs will sleep more soundly.
# posted by 
: 11:37 AM, September 04, 2008
: 11:37 AM, September 04, 2008
Thank you Mr Fuller for finally saying it as it is and not waiting until you are just about to retire. Now if only his spineless ACPO colleagues have the collective 'bottle' to join him we may actually start to get somewhere as this government implodes around itself.
# posted by : 12:35 PM, September 04, 2008
: 12:35 PM, September 04, 2008
Sounds just like the Micky Fuller I knew when he came to my old station as a rookie Sergeant when I was one of the old dinosaur Sgts. He was always going to be a senior officer, but in those days was never afraid to ask for advice, and to take it and act on it. I often felt that he was too friendly and helpful to go all the way, I think that he reminded me of the old adage " Be careful who you step on on the way up, because you may meet them again on the way down" I suspect that he very rarely stepped on anyone, and unlike many senior officers will always say it as it is. A genuinely good police officer, definitely not a political animal.
# posted by : 12:36 PM, September 04, 2008
: 12:36 PM, September 04, 2008
Ian,
You say he's not a political animal, but his remarks cannot fail to endear him to the Conservatives. Given that they are likely to be in power at about the time the current Commissioner finally leaves us, has he not just beautifully positioned himself as the no.1 candidate for the top job in the Job?
(and if he's as good as you say, then bloody good luck to him)
You say he's not a political animal, but his remarks cannot fail to endear him to the Conservatives. Given that they are likely to be in power at about the time the current Commissioner finally leaves us, has he not just beautifully positioned himself as the no.1 candidate for the top job in the Job?
(and if he's as good as you say, then bloody good luck to him)
# posted by : 1:18 PM, September 04, 2008
: 1:18 PM, September 04, 2008
Finaly a senior officer with the balls and brains to go on record and speak of the madness that has been going on in British policing for far too long.
If everything that Ian said about him is true, i am sure he will make a great commissioner.
If everything that Ian said about him is true, i am sure he will make a great commissioner.
Two points.
Isn't Kent one of the 4 forces that told the government to stick their targets up their a**e so now the government has agreed to call it a 'pilot' to see what happens? (I may have got that completely wrong but that's how I heard it) If so then Fuller does put his money where his mouth is.
Secondly I don't really care if he's positioning himself for the Met job in the future. That's how it works at that level and I'd rather someone went for it on this 'manifesto' than someone like Ian Blair. Blair was never any different in his previous jobs, so his selection says more about what the current government want as their police chiefs. If the next lot like someone like Fuller then I'd say we're all better off. (And I don't work for the Met or Kent).
Isn't Kent one of the 4 forces that told the government to stick their targets up their a**e so now the government has agreed to call it a 'pilot' to see what happens? (I may have got that completely wrong but that's how I heard it) If so then Fuller does put his money where his mouth is.
Secondly I don't really care if he's positioning himself for the Met job in the future. That's how it works at that level and I'd rather someone went for it on this 'manifesto' than someone like Ian Blair. Blair was never any different in his previous jobs, so his selection says more about what the current government want as their police chiefs. If the next lot like someone like Fuller then I'd say we're all better off. (And I don't work for the Met or Kent).
# posted by : 12:32 AM, September 05, 2008
: 12:32 AM, September 05, 2008
I always thought that 'NIGHTJACK' was a police blog generated by an ambitious upper rank.
With its stories of doughty police battling against the cynical public and obstructive bureaucracy - and wining through. It has the 'Boys Own' sound that would look good in a blokes CV.
With its stories of doughty police battling against the cynical public and obstructive bureaucracy - and wining through. It has the 'Boys Own' sound that would look good in a blokes CV.
Nice to see someone above the rank of peasant saying what most of us say all the time...
Nys
Nys
# posted by : 1:55 AM, September 05, 2008
: 1:55 AM, September 05, 2008
Amazing. Someone who is actually in a position of power telling the truth.
Question is - what will he/the rest of the national Chiefs do about it? (hopefully collectively tell the government to stick their targets somewhere dark and odorous).
Question is - what will he/the rest of the national Chiefs do about it? (hopefully collectively tell the government to stick their targets somewhere dark and odorous).
# posted by : 8:22 AM, September 05, 2008
: 8:22 AM, September 05, 2008
ACPO have already made comment, same 'non-committal sit on the fence' approach that they always take. Bunch of self serving twits!
# posted by : 9:40 AM, September 05, 2008
: 9:40 AM, September 05, 2008
Please...somebody pass McNulty a tissue so he can blow his bloody nose. (I fear his brain might end up deposited into it though).
# posted by : 5:16 PM, September 05, 2008
: 5:16 PM, September 05, 2008
cramerj - "whining" has an H in it, not "wining" as you spelt it...
# posted by : 6:54 PM, September 05, 2008
: 6:54 PM, September 05, 2008
Hibbo - you're right, and wrong.
Poor spelling, but he meant 'winning'.
Poor spelling, but he meant 'winning'.
# posted by : 8:43 PM, September 05, 2008
: 8:43 PM, September 05, 2008
Good on Mr Fuller - someone in ACPO with a few balls to say it how it is !!!
If the Conservatives get in he is home and dry !!
The real problem though is if you get rid of all this target cr*p - what do you put in its place that enables people to measure performance !!
How do you compare one force against another - how do you apportion spending and budgets - and how do you evidence that things are getting better or worse !!
We cannot be compared to a donut factory - but we still need to measure output some way or other.
In my early years I measured my performance on how many crims I had doing time....
now with greater use of suspended sentences I measure it on detected crimes..
Only problem is I cheat myself by cramming in extra detections !!
The real measure of police performance is that all the prisons are full and everyone is now getting benders - suspended sentences !!
If the Conservatives get in he is home and dry !!
The real problem though is if you get rid of all this target cr*p - what do you put in its place that enables people to measure performance !!
How do you compare one force against another - how do you apportion spending and budgets - and how do you evidence that things are getting better or worse !!
We cannot be compared to a donut factory - but we still need to measure output some way or other.
In my early years I measured my performance on how many crims I had doing time....
now with greater use of suspended sentences I measure it on detected crimes..
Only problem is I cheat myself by cramming in extra detections !!
The real measure of police performance is that all the prisons are full and everyone is now getting benders - suspended sentences !!
# posted by : 9:32 PM, September 05, 2008
: 9:32 PM, September 05, 2008
Well, here's just more evidence of "wasting police time" by way of political correct edicts.
# posted by : 10:44 PM, September 05, 2008
: 10:44 PM, September 05, 2008
The role of the Police should not be to gather statistics - intelligence yes, statistics no. I think the only measure that should be applied is the number of victims. Have a totally separate office (The national statistics office?) whose job it is to conduct telephone polls on crime levels, fear of crime, and effectiveness of police services. They should be certain to find out what news the people they are surveying are subjected to.
Sir Robert Peel -
"The test of police efficiency is the absence of crime and disorder, not the visible evidence of police action in dealing with it."
Sir Robert Peel -
"The test of police efficiency is the absence of crime and disorder, not the visible evidence of police action in dealing with it."
# posted by : 3:07 AM, September 06, 2008
: 3:07 AM, September 06, 2008
I keep a copy of Sir Robert Peel's principals in my file at all times to remind me what I SHOULD be doing, despite what the terminally detached bufoons upstairs decide is a good idea this week.
If you haven't read them recently may I suggest you refresh your memories (Cops & MOP's alike)and remember they were written over 180 years ago !
There is more truth, intelligence, vision and relevance in those 9 short sentences than in the whole of the current criminal justice system and the idiots who run it.
What I personally would give for just a little of that now, Sir Robert must be getting dizzy at the speed he is undoubtedly turning in his grave.
However, seeing that's never gonna happen I shall continue putting everything together for my forthcoming application to South Australia Police !
If you haven't read them recently may I suggest you refresh your memories (Cops & MOP's alike)and remember they were written over 180 years ago !
There is more truth, intelligence, vision and relevance in those 9 short sentences than in the whole of the current criminal justice system and the idiots who run it.
What I personally would give for just a little of that now, Sir Robert must be getting dizzy at the speed he is undoubtedly turning in his grave.
However, seeing that's never gonna happen I shall continue putting everything together for my forthcoming application to South Australia Police !
# posted by : 12:42 PM, September 06, 2008
: 12:42 PM, September 06, 2008
Not sure how this all fits in but in the latest ridiculous updates from a DS at our nick we were asked if we could refrain from arresting people if there was no chance to detect the crime! No doubt a link to getting funding through levels of detections
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