Guilty of illegally tapping Asian officer's phone calls - but what of Jarrett?

http://onlypunjab.com/fullstory2k7-insight-tapping+phone+calls-status-21-newsID-1490.html

Sir Ian has done it again, in shirt sleeve order with no tie, and his bag carriers are now nowhere to be seen. I genuinely feel sorry for Sir Ian.Please find an extract: "Reacting to the tribunal's ruling, NBPA president Keith Jarrett said: "It is a blatant abuse of executive power. This is an attempt to undermine the NBPA and shows that racism is still very much alive in the Metropolitan Police."


I really don't like the way Ali has been treated by the Met. There are some shocking revelations. This really is a two tier system for Jarrett is a part of the problem. Jarrett and others like him are incompetent and play games with the subject of race.

The above individual has himself, Jarrett that is, in my opinion played the "race" card when, to gain a position of power for himself, he "culled" the legs of an honest and Senior member of the NBPA. He has done this twice to my knowledge. I have no doubt that Jarrett has been groomed.....but for what? Let's go back to the days of slavery, from whom did the slave traders purchase Black people? From other Black people of course....


I have seen a document written by Jarrett prior to him becoming the President of the NBPA. The document was an absolute whitewash, I can say no more about this document, and those members of the NBPA that took part in this "culling" in my opinion are not only ignorant, but corrupt. Why? Because the organisation has given them power, and they abused the power to the satisfaction of the organisation and to their personal satisfaction.


Keeping intelligent Black and Asian people under control is current race relations in policing and if Black colleagues are used to "cull", so what? My view is that this behaviour, the behaviour of some in power in the NBPA, this "culling" is immoral, corrupt and dangerous....I don't think Ali is like that though; there is a stark difference between Jarrett and Dizaie. Ali is intelligent and I certainly would not expect any support from Jarrett, in my opinion, can be likened to a barking dog, he might appear fierce, can bite, is easily led, but has no intelligence.


I accept that this is a blatant attempt by the Met to undermine the NBPA, but frankly Jarrett and his contemporaries have done a splendid job of this themselves. Chand described this behaviour when he referred to the Met, "untouchable and out of control" in referring to the treatment of Ali. I agree with Chand but remember Jarrett and those that groom others are untouchable. And these people know exactly who they are, they certainly are not my brothers or sisters, they are as racist as some racist White people I know, but it suits to have such an incompetent BPA because the institution can keep it on side when it wants and stuff it when it wants, and it will not know any better. Has Jarrett abused his executive power?


(This entry is dedicated to the officer whose legs were culled, and the stress that some in the NBPA movement have caused this individual).

Unmasked: the veiled RACIST White Muslim convert

Go to this link folks:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=425442&in_page_id=1770&ct=5

This woman is a convert to Islam. Courtesy of Channel 4 she broadcasted her Christmas message. She was veiled during this programme. Why? In simple terms her views are racist, bigoted and dangerous. She says she represents moderate Islam. The views are not moderate at all folks.I am left flabber- gasted at what I read..... In my view this person is as racist as a follower of the NF.I follow my own faith, I certainly do not want to be converted to Islam or Christianity, and I would be offended if someone tried to convert me. No faith should demean another faith and when one is trying to convert others, that is exactly what one is doing; demeaning other faiths. This is a joke: Channel 4 gave a racist air time.....Just in case there are any Met colleagues, I am sure we will be watching this individual. If we are not, why aren't we? This is an extract from the Daily Mail: " She works for the radical Minhaj ul Qur'an group from its UK base at a mosque in nearby Forest Gate - running a "sisters' group" for other female Muslims, travelling the country making converts, and broadcasting on Asian local radio stations. Minhaj ul Qur'an was established in Pakistan, but operates in 92 countries, and aims to convert the whole world in Islam. In Pakistan the religious group has a political wing - the Pakistan People Movement - which boasts it is "actively working to establish an Islamic state in Pakistan" to ensure "muslims have an international voice and political power to relieve the ongoing oppression and subjugation of muslims around the world". " She lives in Barking, East London. If you read the article, you will see that she describes Non believers in a particular way....I am not a rat, that is all I am prepared to say....If the NBPA was truly anti racist I would expect it to stand up and say, "We do not support the views of this individual." The problem is it won't. Why? So when we consult with some in the NBPA we have to decide what is really anti racist.........

Saddam Hussein - hung - 30/12/06

2006 Award Winners - Orange

These are worth viewing. They are great..... Got them from Orange. (1) The Borat international relations award. (2) Monty Panesar's picked up cult status for his inability to bat or field, but also for his wicket-taking ability and bizarre celebration in which he misses almost every high five offered to him. (3) The return of Superman to the big screen seemed to be the inspiration for this David James £250 barnet - that's the only answer we can come up with for his Brylcreem shambles.

Jingle Bells

I just heard it on the radio, and it went like this. It was Asian radio and local, but anyway.

Jingle bal-eh, (as in bale bale),

Jingle Bal-eh,

Jingle all the way,

Oh what fun it is to ride on a....

Then the presenter forgot the words.

I could not but help smile....

I thought whats this Bal-eh bal-eh business....

But you know what, he described Christmas day as an auspicious day,

an auspicious day, is a term used in Asian faiths.

The presenter said it was a special day for it was the birth of the Messiah. Even with a laugh and a joke,

the key is,

the presenter respected the day.

That is the key to race and diversity.

Ramps has done it!

Mark Ramprakash has won the Strictly Come Dancing thing. Well done that man. He was picked off as a sporting cricketer at the age of 17. Mark Ramprakash is recognised as one of the most gifted and talented batsman of his generation.

I love Matt Dawson, in a non gay way, I am not gay by the way. But, Mark Ramprakash and others in his generation paved the way for the likes of Mahmood and Panesar. Indians or Anglo Indians and mix cultures in British sport is about role models and all this publicity will do Indo English race relations good.

We can't measure the impact I know. One thing I do know is that the likes of Panesar, Mahmood and Ramprakash are not sell outs, unlike some of my Black colleagues sitting in BPA's. So I am happy.

Don't arrest on Christmas Day - my foot?

This is going pear shaped and I am embarrassed at what I hear and read. So we don't now arrest on Christmas day, or Ramadan or Diwali. This can't be carte blanche, Jesus, Dear Lord, help us! Stupid, stupid, stupid or what? Before we decide whether we are going to arrest we go back to the premise, does the alleged crime warrant an arrest? Is there a "race" impact?

This is the question that needs to be tackled not bloody carte blanche, but in all cases. Just because it is Ramadan, does not mean I would tell my shift not to arrest for warrant, or for a crime. I am sorry. I might not arrest if the alleged allegations might be false, or it was going nowhere, for genuine reasons, but Ramadan, or Diwali are not generic reasons.

Of course, Areas where there are large minority communities might consider the implications and we do not want riots, but we are there to police, to preserve life and prevent crime. Any Management Team that thinks differently quite frankly are talking from their Colonial, I dare not say it. Think again, it is not about not arresting during Ramadam, respect for diversity is about not making monkey noises outside a Black man's cell, or, in other words whether we can treat people with dignity. Those Managers that think otherwise, I am afraid are dinosaurs and Colonial brats seeking promotions. To fear a faith or community is not the way forwards; in fact it is a dire step backwards.

And I am peeved to say the least, that these fools have the brain capacity to suggest race and diversity is about not arresting people during religious times. Inspector G, DC, PC Southwest, Panda, PC Bloggs, what is going on? Ali G even? And what do the NBPA think? My point exactly! Why are they not saying anything? Where is the guidance from the NBPA? There is no central or local guidance to challenge these absurd Management views. Inspector G, don't let me go on one please....You know my views....

What does the name Twining mean?

Boy, do I want to get to 50 blogs rapidly. This is number 49. There's nothing wrong with my name, Twining, is there? What do you think Twining means? No stupid answers please......And how did the name come about?.......

Christian couple challenge council and are pursued

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/lancashire/6205223.stm

Have a read! I cannot understand under what remit this was handled or investigated. I do understand we might have to record homophobic and racist non-crime incidents, but how far do we go? Is this going too far? Why did those in charge not stop this going the way it did? The answer is simple, those in power assume those below them understand, whilst neither seem to have a clue.

Why then do we put certain Black people in power that do not have a clue? Views, for example, which might rightly stand against Islam, are viewed as Anti Islamic, and the views might be Anti Islamic, but if the views are Anti Racist, then it is Islam that has to move for the Anti Racist views not the Anti racist views, for Islam. One has to remember that Islam will not always be right and Anti Racist views will challenge any views that are racist. In other words the Islamic views might be racist.

Currently and wrongly within the NBPA, it is this way round for even in the NBPA there is a lack of understanding. Those in power outside of the NBPA don't care about these wrangling because they know that if the NBPA behaves silly and they have some control over it, then there will be no change in the status quo. This just shows how leaders have undermined race and diversity to political correctness gobbledegook. For years some of us have been saying to police leaders, stop playing games with the subject of race and diversity, don't go into denial, don't become defensive, and if you are going to train police officer's then do so with dignity and respect for the subject matter.

Instead they wish, some of us would just go away, they "shoo" us away and promote their prodigy. Were these people ever likely to pose a threat to the stability of a community? Could this have been handled differently? There is nothing wrong in recording matters, then we build up a picture of trends and intelligence, if there is any, but really was it so necessary to investigate and pursue to this extent? Any changes to the understanding of "race" and diversity inside the service that don't have a clue will allow us to do what we do best, and allow a decent memory to the lives of Lawrence, etc.

I have to say therefore that this type of change is tedious, menial and USELESS just like those that pursue these "tokenistic" gains. Again, where are the NBPA on this? Not a mention from them or sight or sound of them can be found on this matter. Still it's better not to say anything, that way, no one will know just how incompetent we might be hmm. No doubt some are slithering because inside the NBPA, HOMOPHOBIA is a bit of an issue. See some in the NBPA, and look closely, for you will find them, have actually sold their souls for a "sushi" number.

If you don't believe me find out what precise qualifications your NBPA Nat exec member has in race and diversity and when they came on board. Then ask yourself why, even within the NBPA, the established group, will out those that are Black, with a proven track record, but are genuinely working for and with the benefit of the service in mind. Your answer will lie in the fact that some are in it for themselves. THE NBPA ARE CURRENTLY NOT GOVERNED. IF ONE HAS A COMPLAINT THEN ONE MIGHT AS WELL WEE IN THE WIND.........

I have been tagged by Annette

I was rather hoping that I could have the type of tag that asks me 10 things I would like to do, if I had the opportunity, money no cost, in my life. But, alas, in this day and age, I have been given one opportunity. But I am going to cheat aha! There are two things I would like to do. One profesionally and one personally. So here goes: (1) ProfesSSionally I want to go back in time, turn back the clock, and if I could I would wish that all those killed in this country because of the colour of their skin, were still here with us. I mean everyone, absolutely everyone. (2) Personally I would love to travel from North of India to the South, visit the Holy places in India, that is something we should do in our lives at least once. My mother and father are elderly, I wish I could take them with me. They have made me who I am. I also want to go to Moses Mountain.

Right, here come the other 8 that Annette did not ask for. I can't help it.

(3) I am grateful that I have met good colleagues on the way. I think Copperfield is one, I haven't met him really, but Gadget and SouthWest, and extra special and Bizzie. And you and Zebra. It would be nice to meet. Oops and Panda Tales and PC Bloggs too. (4) I want a house with some land here, where I can just chill and where there is no Joe Public anywhere in sight. (5) I would love to have properties all over the World and be able to hop on a plane and go to Egypt, The Algarve, France, Brazil, Florida, India, and Sri Lanka. In other words, if I had properties in thes countires I would just travel. (6) I wish that there was no war in Iraq and Afghanistan currently. (7) I would reduce the rank structures and get rid of those additional officer's at certain ranks that we don't require. I would reduce the numbers of CS's, Supt's and C\I's for sure. I would enhance the role of front line operational response officer's and beat officer's and put more resources in these areas quickly. (8) I would get HR reviewed and get them working in line with policing. (9) I would ask Tariq Ghaffur why it has taken him so long to have spoken out honestly. (10) I would bring back Princess Diana. Don't anyone call me a Romantic. She was wonderful. Absoutely stunning and my nephews remind me of the Two Princes, but they don't take cannabis. My nephews don't, I mean.

A poem! - AN EARLY POST REPEATED!

Now, if you are a throw back from the 1970's eh-hum then you’ll have to sing along with me.

There he goes just a walkin down the street,

singin doo a didli didli dum didli dee.

Wearing fancy epaulettes,and waddling his feet,

smiling," we're achieving on race equality."

It's fine; it's fine,you won't make me change my mind,

hey BALE BALE,

we achievin on race equality.

Doo a diddli didli dum didli dee.

SHAKIN HIS BUTT AT THE NEW HOME SEC-RE-TARY,

WHILST DINING WID THE C-R-E,

MAKIN FALSE PROMISES ON DI-VER-SI -TY.

DOO A DIDLI DIDLI DUM DIDLI DEE.

Dis jobs mine,all mine.you won make me change my mind.

I got da BPA on ma side, Ha ha.

Doo a didli didli dum didli dee.

One year later he waddling down da street,singin, I gonna be the new Chief,I got Keith Vaz on ma side,so you can kick my pride, innit.

Doo a didli didli dum didli dee.

Den years later Muslim youth begin a fight.

Now he don't sing bout race equality.

Hiding him face as he walkin down da street, he cries,

Dis has happened because of me.

Now I see no race equality, MAN.

Crying, dis ain’t fine,I must have lost my mind,

CHA,singin boo a didli didli dum didli dee.

Den a few YEARS laters he seen in da Caribbean,

sporting dreadlocks,and smokin da spliff.

Singing I gonna change this crap i-eee.

With his chest spread proud he sings,

I is the first Chief with Dreadlocks.

Singing doo a didli didli dum didli dee.

Yipee! Monty For Chief

You know, I woke up and heard the news. No, sadly, for some, I am not migrating to India yet, though I think Bizzie would like it there because there are no harassment’s to deal with! But, Monty Panesar took 5 wickets, claimed some amazing wicketting scalps, and Harmisson took 4. Freddie was right. What a formidable team. Duncan Fletcher was wrong just like some other people I know. I love Monty. Well done England! Hmmm. And this is after all the threats the abuse, the intimidating, what the Aussies would call, initiation! And yes I love his celebration's. The precise impact of these images on community and race relations cannot be measured I think. It is simply too early. Maybe we will see less racial assaults by either party on either party, who knows? That might be the short term impact. But the more we see a smiling Monty, the more we realise that a Turban is normal now, it is not something we need to laugh at. Yet, in Scotland a few weeks ago a Sikh lad had his Turban ripped off and his hair cut. This is where I would like to see the NBPA movement, standing up and saying, what happened in Scotland was not right. I accept Ali's case is critical, and I support him 100%, but the Human Rights of this lad are equally critical. That is where and why I say we have a not so competent NBPA.

To migrate to India where....

I have a dream, where there is peace in Kashmir, where Muslims do not kill Hindu's and Hindu's do not kill Muslims. And they all together, Muslims and Hindus, do not rob foreigners, (the British), for their Nike trainers, Seiko watches and sterling. In India there is no such thing as harassment or equality. If you think you are being harasssed you go to your local police station, or local policing unit. You sit in front of the Inspector and give him your statement, your notes. He, the Inspector, has a moustache and a stick and wears "Brylcream just like me and Mr Ghaffur," but he does not smiles. No silly, not Mr Ghaffur. I don't have a moustache by the way. The Inspector wears stars on his shoulders, I say he, because there are very few she's. And if there were more she's they would kick butt, I tell you. He sits behind his desk and eats "pan" and sips tea. The complainant talks. The Inspector doesn’t listen, he just says, (hanji - yes - repeatedly). As if he’s interested! In front of him are his cells. Yes, they are HIS CELLS, not the custody officer's. What's a Custody Officer? You see, the Inspector is judge, jury and executioner for the time someone is in custody or eh-hum being tortured. And around the table with him are his CID . Their uniform is blue jeans, a checked shirt and a moustache of course. They are all playing cards whilst the man tries to make a complaint. There were no section 9 statements. There are not any. After a few minutes the Inspector rips the complaint up, waves his stick and hits the complainant on the backside as he is kicked out and told never to return. If this was in 1993 in the UK then he might have put the piece of paper in his pocket, just like in the Macpherson Report. Is this a way to deal with harassment I wonder? Hmm. Then a weary looking character walks in, he is Indian, of stocky build, has a shaved head, and he wears a"tilak". He just sits down as if he owns the joint. And no, whilst he wears a "tilak" he is not a priest! Argh !!!! I think. This is my worst mightmare. He’s the local mafia dressed up as a priest. He pays the Inspector, they smile, and two scruffy looking detainees are released to harass others so that the bald man can continue to demand money by menaces. Who else is in the cells I wonder? Unsurprisingly, huddled in the corner is a meek and vulnerable man, who probably is renting a home, and is as honest as the day. That is the person that was in the cells, and he will be there until he can pay the Mafiosa boss off or until his family can. That is the way it works. The poor remain poor. Whilst at home his wife and children will be worried. The "Mafia" man walks free. I know whose butt I would like to kick! And I will tell you more of what butt I have kicked when I was out there, and boy was it good! I did nothing unlawful I will have you know!

Dr Dizaei

I have met Ali many a time. He may have made mistakes but genuinely I do not believe him to be corrupt. He is an intelligent and outspoken police officer. I heard on the news that his phone was tapped. OK, I understand allegations of corruption, but actually there was no CORRUPTION. I wonder what confidential information the Met Police now have about the state of the NBPA and the advice given to those that Ali was supporting. It is so easy for the mainstream organisation to allege that individual support groups are corupt.

Can the service give any promises that confidentiality will be maintained or will they be laughing at the internal wranglings within the NBPA movement? Don't get me wrong.

I believe we do need an NBPA, but we need people in the NBPA that do not practice prejudices, that have qualifications in race relations, that have an understanding of policing, and that actually when there are tensions in places like the West Mids, they are able to pick up there coat and go quickly to advise. But at the moment it is a job for the "boys." But all we get is they go, and there is hmming and arring.

We do not need "nodding dogs". Ali certainly is not a "nodding dog" and I love him to bits, just like Monty, but he remains the only really qualified person in the movement. This is the history of the NBPA movement. Who is allowed in? Who is not?

As stupid as it may sound, remember the shooting of the young Black man in the West Mids as a result of an attack on two Asian males, following on from last years disturbances. I feel some of these, like the young Black man that was shot are innocent victims of hatred. I don't know if this man has previous. But, we should have been able to sense this tension.

Our PCSO's and local officers will feel this same tension in the community the same time probably next year. What we must do is engage the community. That means we get into shops, we mix with all communities, we identify troublemakers, we get to know everyone, it is a hard role, but it is key policing, not detection chasing. This is about proactively preventing race hate crime. OK, we can flood the area, but that might not be the answer.

We must ensure that deprived areas have dedicated and resourced teams that know the communities inside out. Other than this I can think of no fail-safe. This is about good old fashioned beat policing on foot and in cars and loving these communities, which incidentally most of us do, but we are forced away elsewhere; towards Home office Targets. These local officer's, some of whom have dedicated their service to marginalised communities, are the eyes and ears of trouble brewing. Interestingly I was at Conference when Ali was to speak, and another Asian officer who I thought was in the pockets of Chief Officer's so to speak, not literally, and not financially, but nudge nudge wink wink, you know what I mean, was going to stand up and criticise Ali if he spoke. I wonder what this Asian officer had been offered. This was an attempt to keep Ali quiet. Who was behind it? But who did the dirty work? I have never since trusted this Asian colleague. This is an example of a "sell out" who had power.

The NBPA

I wanted to negotiate some questions here and answers for those that read these blogs to give people an understanding of the NBPA:

QUESTION: How do people get into the higher offices of the NBPA?

It's pretty simple. Firstly your Chief must agree to release you before you can stand for election and you have to be on the National Executive. To get onto the NEC, National Executive that we call it, your local executive must vote you in. Interesting concept. Who thought about this silly idea that one's Chief has to release you before you can be elected? This is a good example of equal opportunity, not! If you are likely to rock the boat and not compromise on race issues, forget it, you are out.

(2) What type of local BPA's are there?

Well, essentially I think there are three types.

(a) Those where the Chair goes, "Yes sir, no sir, three bags full Sir" and pander to the Chiefs in the hope that they will get some benefit in the fussier, shh promotion or something. Did I say that? These then essentially are "sell outs."

(b) Then there are those that challenge injustices. They just want the truth, they don't necessarily want people sacked. They favour education, but because these types of BPA's bring bad news, they are dealt with at an arm's distance, whilst the above type are welcomed.

(c) Then there are those that do nothing. They have no clue why they are there. They just "exists" because someone is likely to get promoted on the back of these things: you know , if they set up a BPA.

(3) What about "jollies?"

Well, I know Black officers who attend the federation Conference for a "piss up", these are the same people that have career BPA goals, but end up on the same "piss up." Not all BPA members are interested in "jollies."

(3) Is there sexism in the NBPA?

Without a shadow of a doubt there is sexism. I believe male colleagues in power have made sexual advances towards other female colleagues. One could all this sexual harassment.

(4) And what about racism inside the NBPA?

I think you just need to look at the historical make up of the NBPA. In positions of power you will not find many Asian colleagues, and that is because there is this old institutionalised practice called "grooming." One person or a group of people within a group "groom" the next leader. nd the next leader is "groomed" not on skills, abilities or qualifications. Most of the qualified people are left out as I have said, the next leader is groomed on how they compare to the person that is "grooming " them, in terms of an understanding.

(5) And what if one wants to complain about the NBPA? Well, you can try, but if the leadership disagrees with you, they "clam" up and gang up, just like the organisation does.

This is just a brief insight. I am not saying that the NBPA is bad. What I am saying is that it could get it's act together, but dinosaurs refuse to move on. Where have I heard that one before? Hmmm.

Onwards Christian Soldiers

Forgive me if this post is found to be offensive to any readers, but even I do not understand this. Soon it will be the Chief Constable's carol concert. Recently I have been hearing, as in since last year, I have been hearing how the lyrics to the hymn above have been changed. I understand the situation we are in with Iraq and Afghanistan and Israel and Lebanon, and that some may view this as a war between Christianity and Islam. Therefore, clearly some light headed people might view the words above similarly. What I can't find out is the background of the hymn. The hymn itself is sung on Remembrance Day and this to me is about remembering the soldiers that died in the first and second world wars. Unless I am mistaken both wars related to Fascist power and both Christian and non-Christians fought together. In the North of India a very serious battle was won in the Second World War against the Japanese that marked a turning point in the history of World War II in relation to the Japanese. Indian and British troops stood together. In Italy, Indian troops were present yet again. The use of the words, Onwards Christian Soldiers does not offend me personally. Today, as in the present, in Lebanon, when the Israeli's accidentally bombed the NATO HQ, there is a picture of Indian soldiers. This image is a beautiful picture from the Times newspaper. Arguably, and I am not anti Islamic, but these wars are about two faiths, Christianity and Islam. Why then are the words to the hymn deemed so offensive? They relate to our history.

New police powers come in in 2007

I have just received valid information that Police Powers are to be amended yet again in early 2007. These powers update the Criminal Justice Act and some powers affect searches and anti terrorism. I note just recently in some Forces SOCAP was multi media trained. People don't read multimedia, they want to know what the changes are? How they affect them? And what they can do, and they need examples, basically they need a briefing or some training up front intervention. Folks, what do you think? How will these changes be delivered? What is the best way to deliver new changes to powers? HELP!

Race relations officer called Pc 'white pig'

"Race relations officer called Pc 'white pig' Nov 30 2006. In Wales A race relations officer narrowly escaped a prison term today for failing to provide a specimen for analysis and calling a police officer a "white pig". Muzaffar Hussain Chowdhury, who works for the Bridgend Community Cohesion Group of south Wales, was instead sentenced to a 12-month community supervision order and banned from driving for five years. Chowdhury, 63, of Suffolk Place, Porthcawl, south Wales, was charged with failing to provide a specimen and a racially aggravated offence contrary to Section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986 following an incident outside a pub on September 1. Bridgend magistrates’ court heard that when police officers arrived at the Swan Inn, Nottage, in Porthcawl, over a dispute between Chowdhury and a father and daughter following a car prang, they were met with abusive language. PC Scott Howe of South Wales Police was told to "F*** off, you white b****** pig" by Chowdhury when he asked him to take a breathalyser test." I found this on a search. This just supports the views about a false race relations industry that I think exists. This means that within that industry there will be good people and there will be bad people. The bad news for us as a service is how do we distinguish between the two. How the hell do people like these get in? My personal view is we need to look at who employed them. Even in CRE's there are battles for power, and those in power and managers are hardly likely to recruit someone that will make them look incompetent. It's the people that let these people in that are to blame. Genuine people are therefore mostly sometimes not let in because they rock the boat. This is not to say all people in the industry are bad. But the whole industry is not anti racist, is it, as this example shows us? I am saying no more. Suffice it too say I am having a bad blonde moment and a bad day! But do look around your Areas and inside and see who take up such posts in "race" and diversity. Some are genuinely good, some take the job as a "sushi" number, and some are simply allowed in because they will sing the "party" song. How these practices will prevent racial murders or even protect us in time of riots God knows, but clearly our managers know best.

Take that

"All I do each night is pray." Well their back, just like John Stevens, to tell us how it really is. And let's face it, I think Take That do a good job. And as for John Stevens and others that actually were told when they were in the job, "You have a problem Sir," and they had all these little troublemakers under them making noises; well actually the troublemakers were right. But these leaders didn't have the courage as leaders to challenge their own leadership, nor the Government. This type of leadership, the type of Sir John's, is leadership of the past.

It's a dinosaur type leadership I am afraid. It lacks courage and "oomph." Hmmm, and I wonder now how the bag carriers feel because actually these people who have since been promoted and are now the new elite are probably just like their, then, managers? Morale appears to be at an all time low.

Why do leaders behave like this and why is morale so low? Moving off the point, did you see those 36 year olds in Take That dancing. They moved some booty. And even more to the point when will Gadget an DC write in my blog?

Police Vehicle RTA

It was a cold night. A double crewed vehicle parks up to reverse into the yard of a house that is being repaired. The driver, class A, does not see a scaffold pole. The scaffold pole smashes the rear windscreen and such is the reversing manoeuvre that, the pole goes through the front windscreen to. The police officer's scratch their heads and think how they are going to explain it to the Sergeant. They drive off, stop nearby on a main road, and call up saying, "police vehicle RTA." The Sergeant duly arrives and sees two fresh holes, about the size that an Owl could go through, one in the front windscreen, and one in the back. They’re a bit symmetrical. The police officers, in fine style, state that they were driving along when they hit an owl, and the owl went through both the front and rear windscreen.

The Sergeant responds, " Why are there no feathers?" A creative excuse, surely there are other blinders!

Real incident - racial assault

It’s Guy Fawlkes night and you are working an area where there are not many minority ethnic people. There are many youths gathering down the road about 600 yards away from a lone Asian youth who is walking towards the groups.

Is your focus the groups of youths gathering further down, and what they might be doing? There is plenty of police activity where the youths are and that is where we are naturally focussed.

The Asian youth, is still about 300 yards away from you, is stopped by three White youths, one of whom tells the youth to go back to his own country. The youths stands and one of the white youths throws two punches at the Asian youth. The second makes contact. The Asian youth reacts to the racist abuse and violence and a scuffle takes place. The White youth backs off.

1. What could have happened had the Asian youth not defended himself? You actually didn’t see any of this because you were concentrating on the groups of youths.
   
2. Can we work better? Can we work smarter? Is there anything wrong in approaching youths in a minority if they are alone. Do we need to alter our focus of patrol sometimes?
   
3. Do you think the Asian youth might report this incident?
   
4. So are there issues in Areas where Asian youth are a minority?
   
5. The youth is British born. What view might he have of the police?
   How can we change these views?
   
6. What would have happened if we had just seen the Black youth hit the White youth, with one White victim and two witnesses?

In short what I am saying is, we can be more preventative, if we change our focus sometimes. Racism can exist anywhere, not just in areas where Asian people are in a minority. Views please.....Asian youth born here are now fighting back, it is our questionning skills and integrity that might save innocent victims from being criminalised.

Copperfield - SKY newsflash

I can imagine it now. Sky newsflash at 9pm. The newsreader says, "PC Copperfield's book received critical acclaim as he took on the establishment. A charity has stepped in to issue one book to each serving officer in the country below the rank of Chief Inspector. The Police Federation received this news warmly. Jan Berry commented, "Hoo-haa. Ride them cowboy!" Hmm, when I heard this, I thought what does she mean? Oh, then I though, it must have been coincidental, because the time she is alleged to have made this irregular remark was the same time we got the pay rise.

The books are out of supply and we have just heard that one Senior Officer's were caught in the locker room at a busy police station trying to get hold of a copy of this book. As the officer was caught in someone else's locker, he had committed, an crime of attempted theft. He was duly detained. On interview he cried, and said he had no intent to deprive, he just wanted a copy for himself. He pleaded for a PND so the story goes. Instead the officer was then issued with an admonishment from the DCC. Story has it, the DCC asked if there were any spare copies going for free. In a conversation between the two it is believed that both met later and went on to ebay where the books were going at £100 a time. Meanwhile ACPO were to hold an urgent meeting on the impact of this book. Sources nearby said, the meeting rooms were filled with grunts. An ACPO press release read. "We are currently reviewing this book." End of newsflash.

A new Force!

As I was having my breakfast I thought what would a progressive Police Force look like in terms of senior people. I have gone for my taste or lack of it in music to find these leaders. For starters I would want Bob Marley to be the new Chief Constable of this Force. And this has nothing to do with cannabis; I have never tried it. Marley knows right from wrong and I love his dreadlocks. Can you imagine all the Senior team having to take on Marley's accent innit, "One love." Then as the DCC I would want that guy, who sang, "hit me with your rhythm stick, hit me, hit me." Because if I did do something wrong, I would be hit and then we move on, no grudges would be held.

So I have two have to Assistant Chief Constables. Blondie, Madonna, or Lulu I am not sure has to be one, because they are young at heart. And I met LULU too, she was great! The other ACC would have to be Bruce Springsteen. He would be in charge of crime. So would the HR Director be? I am going back to the guy who sang, because now I am totally confused, "hit me with your rhythm stick, hit me, hit me." I have never met such a group of people as some in HR!

So let me revert my decision, my new Deputy Chief Constable would be Freddie Mercury up there, because I love him, and we should be able to love our DCC's. So folks, what initiatives do you think some of these people would bring to the table in relation to ASBO's, fixed penalty tickets, sanctioned detection's, Area Management meetings, etc. etc.etc.

I love this man!

People laugh at Monty Panesar’s fielding. Some say his batting is weak, but this man and his colleague Mahmood have done wonders for race relations and, er-hum, English cricket of course. I say, if Geoff Boycott likes him, then I do too. Some even Laugh at Monty's "comical" celebrations, but they criticise his celebration. That is just how you would celebrate if you were in East Africa let me tell you. I find him hilariously funny. At work, I told colleagues that Monty reminded me of the character in the film, "The Jewel of the Nile", he was the Jewel, and Monty is a Jewel.

You know the film with Michael Douglas and Sharon Stone and that comical short fellow from the film Matilda. Me, I laugh with Monty, not at him. He has brought the wonderful game of English cricket to life with his enigmatic celebrations. Go Monty Go. Yo Monty, Yo Monty. This man will make such a difference to marginalised youth. I have to say that those Islamic people that referrred to Mahmood as a traitor, were not only out of order, but racist. Why? Because they could not deal with their own prejudices. Go Mahmood, go. These guys will be a Force in English cricket. I reckon I saw Monty on the motorway, but cannot be sure. The number plate on a Merc, a bloody big Merc, it read M8 NTY I think, damnded if I'm checking PNC though. No way!

Help - I need somebody?

Today at work I had had enough. The powers to be waiting to have a go at me. My team consist of police officers and police staff. My question is, how does one motivate police staff? Help, I need somebody. Help, not just anybody, heeelp! Or was that a yelp?

In a CMC type department one person today suggested that the job had changed them. They were down and out. The negativity got into a bundle of happiness, not! I then spoke to the Police Officers in my team and took time off. I escaped, for a few hours. Is it me I wonder?

Celebrate the lives of...

How do we carry on? 2 Asian men were slashed. A Black man was shot dead in a revenge attack in the West Midlands. Then there was a drive by shooting of an Asian household. We heard the tears of the grieving father of the Black child asking for "no more" revenge attacks.

We can only carry on; the title is not tongue in cheek at all, but deliberate. We must celebrate the lives of Stephen Lawrence, this other lad, forgive me I do not know his name, and the 15 year old White Scottish lad whose life was also taken by racists. We must remember as if these were our own children.

Inspector Hepworth - Deal or No deal

All, I am taking guesses, I am not a gambling man really aprt from the lottery, which I don't seem to win, but where, as in what department, not what Force, does this man work? He has criticised police blogs, I think quite unfairly.

But really do police blogs cause problems or are they the way forward? Looking at Gadget, and others, I think they are great.

Stealth racism, tokenism and academic racism

New, academic and intelligent racism is what it is known as. Some describe it as "stealth" racism, but those that have ridiculed the recommendations of the Macpherson and Cantle Reports simply continue to deny the existence of any form of racism.

Our police leaders and leaders of most public sector organisations know full well that racism is outside of their experience, and the public sector, e.g. Social services, NHS, the Home office, etc are the worst culprits for this breed of racism, and believe me, it is abhorrent. Their denial is their incompetence.

On the one hand their leaders sell to the community their race and diversity strategies as encompassing diversity, yet on the other some individuals inside these organisations that are supposed to own the principles behind race equality, simply refuse to do so.

On the other hand they fight tribunals vociferously and with power. Racism is not the same as being different because one is left handed or because one is deaf. Issues such as what hand one write with or one’s difficulty in listening can be hidden well, and just as racism is, these issues our based upon what the "other" actually observes in those that have these difficulties. Indeed most people will not consider it a detriment to employ a left-handed person or someone that is deaf. Employing and promoting intelligent Black people that are seen to stand up for their rights, however, is a big no no, so why not marginalise them.

One does no suggest that people simply always deliberately undermine intelligent Black people, some do, others however just will not allow Black intelligent people the freedom they deserve. Racism is in your face. As the example of Ali Dilzaie has shown one cannot be Black, intelligent and attractive, But Black people are hardly able to camouflage their appearance, and where they have, like Michael Jackson, they are ridiculed further. Racism is simply outside of the interest, understanding and experience of not only current police leaders, but of the leaders of other public sector organisations and of faith organisations also.

Do some Muslim and Indian people care about anything but "their own?" Yet these are the people the service largely consults with. For example, the initial reaction towards Macpherson from some inside the police was shock that the police had been found out. Upto this point the police service kept this taboo hidden. The secret Policeman Documentary was no different. Initially the shock of real evidence of racism inside the police was enough to put Police Leaders on a back foot. Some still think it can never happen in our back yard, but does it not happen everywhere?

Not only are departments able to deselect those individuals with a "racialised" experience who are considered radical, "vociferous", "intelligent." But these and others departments are also able to then choose which Black colleagues they wish to do business with. The choice for Black people is therefore very clear, acquiesce and you will progress, toe the party line and things will be fine. Many Black people simply toe the line, and they are loved and listened to because they simply state what Managers wish to hear. But at some stage after dealing with and supporting Black colleagues that have experienced racism, these same colleagues might just stand up, and when they do, they no longer are a safe pair of hands.

All of a sudden these once trusted individuals begin to speak outside of the majority norm, and so development in race relations in most public sector organisations is actually rather surreal, the reality is strategies and policies have had little impact on the attitudes and behaviours that cause racism. Of course any blame must lie with Leadership because these leaders refuse to acknowledge that they are actually dealing with something they cannot understand. Of course racism is about feelings, it is about attitudes, some of it is about behaviours, and only a small proportion is about perception. Yet, what organisational leaders do is blow this perception angle out of all proportion. The truth is that anyone that expresses that they are experiencing racism is actually experiencing racism but leaders just dismiss this as perceptions.

The problem with strategies and policies are that young marginalised Black people and minorities have grown up with the experience of racism and they can very acutely see through these organisational falcities. But leaders simply think these kids are unintelligent. A further problem with this inside policing is these same Black people will identify Black colleagues that are "tokenistic" and are used by the organisation in this way. For a police organisation and for society falseness led to the race riots of the 1980’s, falseness led to the riots in the North and continued falseness will end in the same place.

But for an organisation that wishes to embrace anti racism and diversity there is a way forwards, and that way is to incorporate a structural overhaul and principles of honesty with the community. But oh how this remains a distant dream. And in short, "stealth racism" is about us saying we are achieving when actually behind the scenes we do everything to ensure anti racism does not succeed. This is about getting personal with racism, racists and bigots.

What planet are they on?

I was recently walking into the canteen, having started bloody early, I was hungry. And then I see a senior officer. I wanted to just avoid them. They have no concept. People must think I eat so much. He flanked me, hovered, ooo I thought. I knew it, he then asked me about the discontent within the department I worked in.

I advised him that change causes discontent, that this is something colleagues must accept, that colleagues were a little peed of with the fact that they were not being remunerated for the changes in their function, and that we needed more staff. I then sat down to eat. The senior officer sat down with his senior colleagues. I have bat ears you see.

I heard the colleague say, "I was just getting some inside information" or something similar. Yeah right...........What planet ere they on? (Number 1 engage.)

They must think we are deaf, Black and unintelligent! His team was the boy's brigade I think, the senior think tank.....Are these people capable of being honest I wondered? Probably not.

That person just spoilt my desire for chips.....

Let us not forget the dangers of policing

I was in the canteen the other day, just having a cheese roll and chips, when a colleague came and sat down with us. We'd started in the service about the same time in the early 1990's. We were talking about the early years and then he told me. He said, "Do you remember Stephen D?"

I said, "yes." (How could I forget him I thought? He was my mightmare.)
He said he had heard that Stephen D had died a few years ago. Then there was a moment of relief for me, then there was nothing. All three of us were talking, both are good colleagues of mine, and they are not Black. For a moment I was shocked about Stephen D, but my colleague reminded me.

He said," He absolutely hated you, even when you weren't in work, he would give you racial abuse." (That's a first, I wasn't aware of that. Actually I was.) He said, "Do you remember the day he tried to "piss" on you?" I said, "yes, he did wee on me."

My colleague said, "He hated you." Whether he said he wanted to kill me, as in Stephen D, I cannot recall, but this character, for the colour of my skin really hated me. I saw him a couple of times off duty when I was walking with the kids. He must have been drugged up. He was the other side of the road, about 50 feet away. My children were young, only 4 and 6 at the time. My wife was with me. I ushered them away.

I remembered then as we sat and chatted in the canteen how evil this Stephen D was, and thankfully my colleague who I admire, love and respect, who is really no different to me, remembered the very dangerous, racial abuse I suffered.

If Stephen D flipped he was likely to seriously injure someone, a police officer probably. He was racist, violent and a druggie. On another occasion I do recall an associate of this Stephen D. I was always reasonable with him. He was 6' tall and blonde. He categorically said to Stephen, "leave him be." I asked him why he did this, and he shrugged his shoulders. Twice when I have met this nominal we looked into each other’s eyes, and I thanked him. Maybe he saved me from serious injury, who knows?

Fed Conference 2006 - the Met Pol Fed - Unwitting Racism - The IPCC - The Alder Case - The links?

The police service of England and Wales and the Police Federation, if they support the stance of Glen Smyth of the Metropolitan Police Federation in relation to the Alder case and the criticisms of the IPCC, might be making an extremely tragic mistake in relation to Police Community and Race Relations. This inadvertent stance taken by the Metropolitan Police Federation is evidence of the culture of denial that sadly still exists inside police organisations when the debate about racism is opened up. Indeed such a defensive response is nothing new for this was the same response, (denial), experienced immediately after the publication of the Macpherson Report in police organisations in 1998. To say that some police leaders welcomed the report would be patronising. Police leaders took from the report their own understanding; nor did they read or comprehend the real and actual message within the body of the report. In fact they systematically behind closed doors undermined the message. And therefore the current stance of Mr Smyth highlights the historical poor relationship between some Black officers, the Marginalised Black community and the Metropolitan Police Federation.

I do not advocate that the IPCC, just like the police service does not make mistakes or gets things wrong, (incompetence), but historically the police service as an organisation has never on it’s own owned up to it’s own failings particularly where racism is alleged and the organisation worries appears to concentrate it’s efforts on preserving the "good" name of it’s Senior Managers and the possible career costs of a failed litigation, rather than the truth of what has actually occurred. Not only this but investigations are often very white ethnocentric loaded. I would agree that the IPCC can be criticised quite rightly in relation to the Stanley case and the treatment of Inspector Sharman and his colleague, but the IPCC were not the only organisation at fault here.

The execution of a power of arrest remains a police decision and the police service must take some criticism. The protracted enquiry was not therefore just as a result of the IPCC alone. In the race for accountability professional standards departments have kept reasonably quiet over the outcomes of the Stanley case. In the case of complaints made by members of the public where serious misdemeanours are alleged, officers from these departments have historically acted in an oppressive manner towards police officers, even when there is little evidence of malice on behalf of the police officer being questioned.

And some police organisation’s have taken pride in the strength of oppressive investigation’s but these same organisation’s have in effect abused the Human rights of some police officers. The fact is internal complaints systems simply do not work for marginalised communities where racism is alleged. They never will. If the Metropolitan Police Federation is keen to take up the case of the impact of the IPCC investigation on officers then some criticism must be levelled at the Metropolitan Police and the most Senior officer in charge of the incident involving Inspector Sharman.

The IPCC in it’s report writing have created the impression that the account of the officer’s involved in the incident might not be credible because joint notes were made, but joint notes are a recognised practice. This then left a question mark over the officer’s integrity, a question mark that has proven not to exist. However, what is sadly evident in Mr Smyth’s argument is the inadvertent suggestion that comparisons can be made between the IPCC handling of both the Stanley and the Alder cases.

Frankly this suggestion in itself is "unwitting." Let us not forget the long nd continued negative experience of the Lawrence family, treatment that was delivered by officers of the Metropolitan Police service, treatment that was independently subsequently identified as a part of the problem of Institutional Racism.

The Macpherson Report was described in 1998 by the then Home Secretary, Jack Straw, as a watershed in policing history; and it was this report that defined "unwitting" racism. It would appear from the stance that Glen Smyth appears to have taken that some in the police organisation and some in the Police Federation still, despite the wealth of evidence provided since 1998, continue to deny the existence of both "witting" and "unwitting" racism inside the police service. "Unwitting" racism is not about any guilt, yet we appear to make this assumption that it is. "Unwitting" racism does not necessarily make colleagues guilty of deliberate and intentional racism.

On the contrary "unwitting" racism is born out of our mistaken beliefs and upbringing, our prejudices, our attitudes and values, the manner in which we are all brought up differently and how our views impact upon our decision making and the manner in which we deliver a service to visible minority ethnic people of colour. Often "unwitting" racism shows in a lack of care and/or neglect. One of the reasons why we fundamentally do not understand this term is because the organisation has not taught us the truth of what it is and any training that has occurred has perhaps been ineffective partly because of the poor quality of the training but mostly because of this culture of denial.

As a Home Office qualified Race Relations Trainer I have delivered training and have witnessed courses in "race" in the Metropolitan police and I am very aware of the poor quality of this training nationally. Ours, the services, has been a continuous knee jerk reaction to allegations of racism. In other words we are reactive as opposed to proactive in the field of "race" relations. I have also experienced Centrex's attempts to deliver specific training to Black staff in relation to leadership. And this intervention for example has now been replaced by the PALP, but it focuses on the wrong issue totally. The course still assumes that Black officer’s require leadership.

The faculty’s focus should be the system because it is the system that is failing; it is not Black officer’s that are failing. Frankly some of us do not require this type of corrupted leadership or game playing. The fact is this course is still rooted in a Colonial mentality, which not only does not teach "race" because Black officer’s can also practice racism, but worse still, this course prescribes the maintenance of the status quo and assists in the maintenance of this culture of denial. Our courses post 1998 are nothing more than reluctant "have to do" issues. Such reasoning for training if it has been adopted nationally in this way, is perhaps a reason as to why racist behaviour still continues. In short, if we are to change things then training needs a radical overhaul from the perspective of those that have suffered racism.

For training the answer is quite simple, employ Black and visible minority ethnic people not because of their colour, but employ those with the required skills and abilities that can deliver training that is effective and allows colleagues an opportunity to not only understand there fears and prejudices, but allows colleagues to understand when these prejudices may result in them stereotyping. Training should also allow officer’s an opportunity to be comfortable enough to challenge these behaviours in themselves and others. It is a fact that the core tenets of "race" training that might actually give us some credibility are still largely ignored by Police Leaders and this is a deliberate act. Training is only one component of failure, HR is perhaps another.

As a service we cannot therefore blame the Lawrence or Alder family for our own failings. The HMIC, the Home Office, the BPA’s and the NBPA have all allowed these failures to sometimes go unchallenged as individuals within core irrepective roles have equally acquiesced through fear or through a desire to remain in post. "Race" is therefore not an intrinsic and natural theme running through the organisation because we simply do not have people with the right experience in relevant departments. What Mr Smyth and others do not acknowledge are the stark similarities between the Macpherson Report and the IPCC Report into the death of Christopher Alder. For example. (1) Both cases have had a lengthy inquest, (2) both cases have had a criminal trial, (3) both cases have had a heavily criticised police disciplinary hearing and other related legal proceedings. There have been two failed police investigations into the Alder case. And it is suggested that The Kent investigation in relation to Stephen Lawrence colluded against anti racism. (4) None of the internal or external police enquiries, e.g. The Kent or Sussex enquiries have made any mention of existence of racism. Only independent enquiries have acceded to the existence of any racism. It is clear that for Black people that the existence of a body like the IPCC is absolutely fundamental to the future of race relations in this country.

Mr Hardwick has indeed made some very frank comments in relation to the death of Mr Alder. For example he stated, "There is no doubt in my mind that the events leading to and following Mr Alder’s death represent very serious failings by many of the individuals and organisations involved – but the process that followed did not hold any individual responsible for these failings. No individuals have been held responsible – yet all of those involved, family and police officers alike, have, to a greater or lesser extent, been punished by the process itself." Is this not balanced?

Mr Hardwick and the IPCC clearly intimated that there were organisational, in other words "institutional", failings. The IPCC also made one pertinent comment that is still far-reaching and still conveniently lost by commentators like Mr Smyth. "I believe the recommendations of the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry need continued attention and powerful leadership in all police forces." This statement is, in my opinion, further damning evidence that the subject of "race" and relevant interventions have been severely watered down since 1998 when the Macpherson Report was published. Then what followed was Secret Policeman documentary and the Cantle Report looking at the Northern "race" riots, and finally the CRE investigation into racism inside the police in 2006 which identified "ice at the heart of management." It is of no coincidence that an attack on the IPCC in relation to the Alder case is being used and supported by the IPCC failings in the Stanley case to undermine the IPCC’s observations of racism inside the police service.

By far the most remarkable statement that the IPCC made in relation to Mr Alder was: "However, eight years after Mr Alder’s death and despite so much grief, pain, anger and confusion it remains the case that no-one seems prepared to accept responsibility for what went wrong. That at least should now change. The failure of those officers on 1 April 1998 was disgraceful. That should have been said eight years ago. The Chief Constable of Humberside Police should offer an unreserved apology for the force’s failings in relation to the death of Mr Alder and he should do it now." The facts are that it has taken to independent reports, one by Lord Macpherson and one by the IPCC in relation to Mr Alder to reveal the whole truth about really happened to these Black people that died because of the colour of their skin.

The fact that the Metropolitan Police Federation remain strongly in denial in innapropriately referring to "unwitting" racism as a non existent factor by comparing the Alder case to the Stanley case is as bad as the IPCC intimating that the credibility and integrity of Inspector Sharman and his colleague should be questioned because they made joint notes. The Metropolitan Police’s stance and the lack of direction from the Diversity faculty of the police service in this whole issue is an affront to many of us, some of whom have teenage children who are minority ethnic and who will inevitably be stopped by the police. Perhaps we still hope that young Black people will be treated with some dignity in the future but this is our continual hope when Mr Smyth and others dismiss the IPCC report into the death of Christopher Alder.

Actually what has also been conveniently missed by Mr Smyth are the stark similarities between the treatment of the Lawrence and Alder family, even though there is a substantial time difference between 1993, the death of Stephen Lawrence, and 2006, the publication of the IPCC report into the death of Mr Alder. In the case of Mr Alder making monkey noises is not "unwitting" racism. Shortly after the IPCC published their findings in relation to Mr Alder, the Chief Constable of Humberside Police apologised to the Alder family. And sadly this is the problem. This apology was too little too late because by omission the Force had allowed Institutional racism to breed in the time in between. In this debate if the police service continues to deny the experience of Black people then it is contributing to marginalising the same communities it is trying to recruit from and police.

And the resultant reaction form Black people might well be so devastating that we as a service may experience riots similar to those of the 1980’s. As such it is my opinion that The Police Federation and Police service must be absolutely clear on what message it is sending out. Whilst the IPCC can and should be criticised because of the manner in which Inspector Sharman has been so badly treated, so should the Metropolitan police; but this is no reason to criticise and undermine the IPCC report into the death of Christopher Alder, nor undermine the term "unwitting" racism. Not only is this stance a sad reflection of our professionalism as a service but it is a blow to any of our efforts to promote "race" equality. There are only two positions, racist or anti racist. Unfortunately the Metropolitan Police Federation’s stance is sadly racist.

2006 Police Federation Conference - LACKING IN ANTI RACISM

Delegates at this year’s Police Federation Conference in Bournemouth witnessed probably the most profound and important issues being both discussed and presented in recent times. From the Chair’s address to the response from the new Home Secretary, Dr Reid.

From the motions considering extending the family of the Police Federation to the debate about "workforce modernisation" to the issues surrounding the possibility of amending section 3 of the Criminal Justice Act to provide an indemnity to those firearms officers who use reasonable force to nullify the threat of an offender in circumstances where the offender is fatally killed.

From the debate about science and how it can help provide reconstructive evidence which supports the honest views and observations of those colleagues caught up in the stresses that such incidents may cause, there was one theme which focussed all of these debates and one theme only: the office of Constable and the uniqueness of policing as a profession.

The conference viewed the recent bold moves by Government ministers to modernise the police service in to a model that of "effectiveness" and "efficiency." Dr Reid suggested that those that had intimated that the police service was the last unreformed public sector institution did not understand policing. Conference stated clearly that the development of a two-tier service was compromising the delivery of 24/7 policing, and even when prolific offenders were placed before courts, little action was taken, only to leave these offenders to commit crime again. The message from conference to the Home Secretary was clear, please get you own house in order first. The new Home Secretary listened attentively on.

Whilst the Home Secretary’s views and acknowledgement of the incompetence within the Home Office caused murmurs and ripples in the corridors at Bournemouth amongst Senior Civil servants present, Dr Reid’s position was realistic and honest. A separate lecture by a Professor from Keele University made it categorically clear that there was one aim in the minds of reformists. And this aim did not necessarily mean a better police service, some reform appeared to merely mimic a cost cutting exercise and did not mean that the public will get the same level of good service that it currently gets or even a better service. On the contrary there were genuine fears that Home Office reform and beaurocracy would reduce sworn police officer numbers by 25,000 officers; and this revelation received wide and damming media coverage the following day.

The IPCC and Nick Hardwicke received a hard time as the rank and file showed their discontent in the manner in which the IPCC conducted some of their investigations and published their findings, in particular in relation to the Stanley case and the impact this had on two firearms officers. The IPCC report had left an open question mark over the integrity of the two officers and this was as a result of some of the words the IPCC had used when referring to the fact that the officer’s completed their notes together. Although the officers are now fully exonerated the words used in the IPCC report did not reflect a complete exoneration. The presumption that officer’s involved in fatal shooting incidents are automatically treated as suspects was put before Leicestershire’s DCC. (Perhaps there is learning for all Professional Standards departments). And his position was clear and appropriate for the IPCC; he intimated that the issue of joint note taking might well have been better placed by the IPCC in another arena and not this report.

The officer’s in this case had suffered unnecessarily. Nonetheless, conference requested that consideration should be given to the IPCC being monitored independently because of it’s inexperience. Both the Police Federation and scientific research showed in no uncertain terms that the officer’s accounts in the Stanley case were credible; there was therefore absolutely no issue of integrity. The case of Neil Sharman and his colleague and their relationship with the IPCC marked an incredible U-turn by the IPCC which ended with Chief Inspector Neil Sharman received a standing ovation from Conference. A fact remains that Nick Hardwicke did listen, but a further fact is that his teams have hindsight at their benefit and although he loosely apologised to Inspector Sharman; what he was unable to do was something that would have given him some credibility. He was unable to say he was sorry on behalf of the IPCC.

The day of the AGM masked no issues, as once again the office of Constable was a direct and related theme. The conference voted against extending the membership family of the Police Federation and pushed towards maintaining a professional status. In this way the conference of 2006 was arguably not only the best conference ever but it debated the most fundamental and important issues relating to the foundation of policing; and the potential for reform to lead to reduced numbers or rather, policing on the cheap.

Dr Reid, as a strong Home Secretary, might just be able to salvage some of the mess that his predecessors have left behind, (including the issue of the Victoria Cross and DC Oakley), and he has the track record and credibility to do this, but judgement day will come in the manner in which he continues his police reforms and whether he lives up to some of the promises made.

Acceding to the fact that some of the Home Office was incompetent might not have done anything to win the hearts and minds of Senior Civil Servants and policy makers; but Dr Reid may have won the hearts of many good police officers who try and do a good job day in day out. Lastly but by no means least, the conference remembered all those officers that had fallen in the line of duty in 2005/2006 including the most recent, Nishma Patel Nasri.

This year’s conference has shown the Police Federation of England and Wales in 2006 to be an extremely sleek and effective business organisation consisting of professional people that not only understand reform but understand the shape of a modern police service that is now required to police some old some new and some different demands.

Consultation - my foot is this consultation

Post Macpherson, there have been many practices that are deemed to have actually "corrupted police and race relations." In terms of consultation with the disaffected community, many police managers still consider that consulting with recognised minority ethnic members of the community, the CRE, etc. is enough, based on their own experiences. It does not appear to have mattered to some Leaders whether these people have an understanding of racism’s or diversity or even experience of racism’s.

A fact remains that this type of consultation has been going on for years, it is allowed to continue and it overtly has tended to exclude those minority ethnic people that are disaffected by ‘race’, i.e. it excludes the type of person that the police are likely to come into contact with in confrontational situations, and perhaps this is a natural process for White ethnocentric managers.

The police service must move beyond this position quickly to police ‘race’ disaffection fairly equitably without stereotyping negatively these groups. Indeed such consultation is "cosy and complacent" because the police service has been able to overtly show and measure this process as a positive change in terms of "consultation" strategically, but the reality of this consultation has mean this is more no more than a "tick in the box". Furthermore, such is this behaviour that it exists generically in mainstream partners also.

Sadly though, it is the police service that is the ‘expert’ in maintaining "old style" systems, but it is the service that holds one of the keys to the success, failure, and competence in relation to race relations and society. As a further and associated example, it is widely recognise in policing circles that some managers within key functions, e.g. Race, have overtly made this strategic action "practically corrupt" by choosing who within the BPA they consult with, or who within the BPA the organisation can afford to give "power" to.

Some Black officers have not been innocent in this. Therefore individual police organisations need to be very clear in terms of consultation as to whether they wish to foster an honest and open type relationship with their own BPA and with the communities based on ethics of good understanding for example, or whether they wish to foster a ‘master/pet’ relationship which changes with the skills and beliefs of senior management. Evidence has shown that ‘race’ can no longer be an area upon which Chief Officers can compromise on by such attitudes and behaviour depicted above; behaviours, which are arguably also very clear examples of institutional racism. Such practices are not constructive; they prolong the change, and maintain a ‘false’ race relations industry both inside and outside the police service.

And therefore it can be gleaned with some confidence that managers right up the management chain of ‘race’ are working well within there own "comfort zones" and these zones do not assist in dismantling the unequal "racial" status quo. In essence, and in order to dismantle some of these corrupting practices all police organisations really need to ask themselves some critical questions: Who are they consulting with? What understanding do these people have in relation to racism’s? What academic background or experience do these people have? What advise can these people bring to the internal anti racist managerial stance and the operational effectiveness of policing disaffected minority ethnic communities fairly? And whom do these people actually represent? It is these types of questions that the middle and senior police managers have been very keen to ignore to date.

Indeed some of the people that the service consults with cannot impact on the issue of trust between the police service and the minority ethnic communities, and since trust is a key issue that the Macpherson report had asked the service to consider and build upon, the police service cannot have said to have yet achieved in this key area.

With these type of practices occurring in respect of the established visible minority ethnic communities 20 years after the ‘race’ riots; (Black, Asian, etc.); then one can only deduce that the consultation with "new minority ethnic communities is equally corrupted from the outset and the dangerous aspect in relation to new communities is that, these communities have little experience of the service and will remain as trusting as the established communities have been in the past, only to be abused" by personal incompetence and a culture of denial."

Sadly where genuine attempts had been made at consulting with real people of integrity from the communities, those in power inside have been quick to pull the plug on these people. Such false conditions are merely setting the whole service up, and more importantly, front line delivery, to experience yet another significant Lawrence type incident involving the established minority communities; and now even perhaps the new communities also, and this is indeed complacent.

In reality, if the service is unable to place key minority ethnic people in key strategic positions when they actually exist inside the organisation; then this is simply just not good enough anymore and organisations of this type are deemed to be paying total "lip service" to the ethos and meaning of race equality.

The changes suggested here may be deemed by some as reverse discrimination but what other option does the service now have? Since there is no equal opportunity for marginalised BLACK people inside anyway, but there is equality of opportunity that is white ethnocentric, for those Black colleagues that toe the party line, it is only a matter of time until changes are forced. The disaffected Black community should not be demeaned in this way, nor should those police officers that are Black and that stand up to the truth of corruption. There is only so long that establishment can hold on to this power and fool others into thinking otherwise.

In order to necessarily break the culture of ‘ice’ management and ensure that the service now responds positively and with real integrity to ‘race’ issues rapidly perhaps the service would like to start by dismantling the structure of the "mess" that so inappropriately appears to be a selection ground for promotion and progression.

If the police service does not change now after repeated efforts and external pressures since the 1980’s then the service and it’s managers are lining themselves up for firstly riots where innocent police officers may be hurt and killed and potentially forced change via government intervention.