The future is BIG policing
Discussion
Proposals to merge smaller forces were published by HM Inspector of Constabulary (HMIC) on 16 September 2005 and are being backed by Charles Clarke, the Home Secretary.
Denis O'Connor, the former chief constable of Surrey and author of the report, said, "In the interest of the efficiency and effectiveness of policing it should change."
Following the general rules that apply in business:
Bigger forces (sorry, "services") = less connection with the "customers"
... in this case [big][b]US[/b][/big]
I suggest that "big policing" will mean fewer BiB on the beat, fewer in TafPol, less discretion (more government targets to meet), more "Mr Smith did not receive the service he is entitled to expect" letters, more BiB sat is police stations writing reports and juggling figures, more sat [i]en masse[/i]in armoured vans in city centres waiting for the pubs to turn out (24x7 of course!), more "buy a map/watch/whatever" replies from any BiB you do meet (as they book some hapless motorist for parking more than 6" from the kerb), ...
You think I'm joking? A major driver is the desire to focus on "organised crime" ... which means a lesser "focus" on non-organised (or dis-organised :)) crime - i.e. the crime that Joe and Joanna Public see all too often.
Not a rant at the individual BiB, but their bosses will move the force (sorry, "service") in this direction and the new BiB will surely drive out the old. The "George Dixon" will finally be consigned to the dustbin and Joe and Joanna Soap will have to put up with whatever crime comes their way.
Streaky
Denis O'Connor, the former chief constable of Surrey and author of the report, said, "In the interest of the efficiency and effectiveness of policing it should change."
Following the general rules that apply in business:
Bigger forces (sorry, "services") = less connection with the "customers"
... in this case [big][b]US[/b][/big]
I suggest that "big policing" will mean fewer BiB on the beat, fewer in TafPol, less discretion (more government targets to meet), more "Mr Smith did not receive the service he is entitled to expect" letters, more BiB sat is police stations writing reports and juggling figures, more sat [i]en masse[/i]in armoured vans in city centres waiting for the pubs to turn out (24x7 of course!), more "buy a map/watch/whatever" replies from any BiB you do meet (as they book some hapless motorist for parking more than 6" from the kerb), ...
You think I'm joking? A major driver is the desire to focus on "organised crime" ... which means a lesser "focus" on non-organised (or dis-organised :)) crime - i.e. the crime that Joe and Joanna Public see all too often.
Not a rant at the individual BiB, but their bosses will move the force (sorry, "service") in this direction and the new BiB will surely drive out the old. The "George Dixon" will finally be consigned to the dustbin and Joe and Joanna Soap will have to put up with whatever crime comes their way.
Streaky
bluepolarbear said:Wildy put it excellently, but to recap ... bluepolarbear, you obviously (and strangely) have not experienced the changes that have taken place in customer-facing businesses - and the police see themselves as just that these days.
Rubbish
[ ... ]
Claims that you loose sic local knowledge or will be more remote are just rubbish - normally spouted by incompetant fat cat CC who don't want to lose their particular feeding trough.
Soon, the police call-centre (that is already replacing the police station in the town centre) will be outsourced to the Indian sub-continent, or an African state, or China. Then there will be even less chance that your call will be dealt with in any manner that you (or more probably I and Wildy and DVD and many others would call reasonable. You should have no expectation that you will get any response by, or the presence of, a BiB ... now, later, tomorrow, ever.
Next time your property is stolen, or your premises damaged or your person assaulted, you will doubtless bask in the certain glow of satisfaction that organised crime is being targeted and that around one hundred officers are lying in wait in a warehouse at Heathrow.
Streaky
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