Dick?s Out

[Seabag]

Going going??

https://apple.news/AtpiIJbdjQyqmyP86H8wSsw

Gone!

[DuncanW]

About time too!

[wordsworth]

Good. Dreadful Dick.

[Chick]

She should have gone years ago.

[malumbu]

A good ten years ago I spent a weekend with Cress and her colleagues at a training college. She wont remember me I hasten to add. Come the evening many of the cops drank like fishes. I think it was just men. The conversation became boorish and I went to bed. It appeared to be a close knit community. It doesn't surprise me that some still have unsavoury views about some in our society. On another occasion I was told the "Stephen Lawrence was no saint". A similar line used in the recent ITV series that included police failings.

Not a comment on the ex-Commissioner but on what I saw as an underlying culture. No doubt things continue to improve and much has been addressed, as our police become more diverse and inclusive. The male police officer proposing to his boyfriend at Pride a few years ago being a great example

[Nigello]

RIP London?s first gay/first female commissioner.

[JohnL]

I had a school mate who became a Chief Constable and then retired after years and years working his way up the force - never knew why - but I think it can be difficult at the top.

[Seabag]

Genuinely I didn?t know she was gay. Respect to her on keeping her private life private.

She told BBC?s Desert Island Discs in February 2019: ?Sometimes people say to me that they think it?s important, but to be honest, for me, I think it?s one of the least interesting things about me.?

She added: ?I happen to love Helen - she?s my partner. On we go.?

Moving on from here, who?s in line to take over?

Please not Baz Javid

[JohnL]

Her Wife is actually a potential replacement for her - as is Bas Javid (Sajid's brother)

(No she isn't as she's retired - where did I get that from LOL) - Helen

[oimissus]

Nigello Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> RIP London?s first gay/first female commissioner.

She's hardly done a stellar job in keeping London safe for women and lesbians, has she?

I'm surprised Khan held faith with her as long as he did.

[Spartacus]

I wonder if the conversation yesterday went along the lines of "I've not got any confidence in your leadership"

Followed by Sadiq saying the same....

Sad to see a leader respected by rank and file being ousted by someone who's repeatedly failed to deal with youth knife crime in the capital.

[wordsworth]

Spartacus Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I wonder if the conversation yesterday went along

> the lines of "I've not got any confidence in your

> leadership"

> Followed by Sadiq saying the same....

>

> Sad to see a leader respected by rank and file

> being ousted by someone who's repeatedly failed to

> deal with youth knife crime in the capital.

How would you deal with youth knife crime in the capital?

[Spartacus]

Not my area of expertise Wordsworth, but as its within the Mayor's remit maybe you should direct that question at him.

[diable rouge]

''Sad to see a leader respected by rank and file being ousted by someone who's repeatedly failed to deal with youth knife crime in the capital.''

For a force that in recent times has been accused of having a festering culture of racism, misogyny, homophobia, and even 'institutional corruption'' by an independent inquiry, that's hardly the ringing endorsement you seem to think it is.

And it's unbelievable how she remained a police officer, let alone later promoted, after her supervision of the Menezes shooting.

As ever Policy and Law commentator David Allen Green nails it succinctly...

The problem with our political system is not so much Boris Johnson

There are always Boris Johnsons

It is about how he was allowed to ascend

Similarly, problem with Metropolitan Police is not so much Cressida Dick

The problem is cultural and systemic, and not easily solved.

[Spartacus]

I'm sure if you dug hard enough into any large organisation, no matter how well they are at stamping out racism, misogyny, homophobia, and even 'institutional corruption' that you will still find individuals who secretly or amongst friends foster those ideas.

With the Met (and UK policing in general) being such a large organisation its possibly a struggle to root out the bad apples who ruin it for everyone especially if they keep their views to themselves or a select few.

IMHO, if you look closely the majority of police officers and staff don't hold extreme views / beliefs but sadly those few that do seem to tar the rest when they surface.

[DuncanW]

I follow David Allen Green and normally think he is spot on.

Didn't agree with that take particularly.

There may always be Boris Johnson types floating around, but in common with another bete noir, Jeremy Corbyn - I would argue it is rare that these types ascend to lead their respective parties.

As much as I don't have any particular fondness for any previous Conservative prime ministers, Boris is a one-off when it comes to his personal moral compass and conduct.

Cressida Dick, apart from her personal characteristics, was very much in the mould of those who preceded her. She held the remit for changing the culture within the Met. From the outside looking in, it very much seems she has failed to get to grips with that.

For me, the parallel is probably closer to Jeremy Corbyn and his handling of antisemitism within the Left of the Labour Party. There just seems to be a complete denial on the scale of the issue.

[diable rouge]

''I'm sure if you dug hard enough into any large organisation, no matter how well they are at stamping out racism, misogyny, homophobia, and even 'institutional corruption' that you will still find individuals who secretly or amongst friends foster those ideas.

With the Met (and UK policing in general) being such a large organisation its possibly a struggle to root out the bad apples who ruin it for everyone especially if they keep their views to themselves or a select few.''

That only holds true on an individual level, the problem with the Met however is that it goes beyond that, it's become institutional. When an independent inquiry accuses it of ''institutional corruption'' it's not talking about a bad apple here and there. Dick herself was accused of 'frustrating' the enquiry. It's the enablement of the bad apples and how you deal with them that's the problem she failed to address...

[JohnL]

There was talk about bring back Trident

Not sure of the political repercussions of that and anyway the new person will need to oversee.

[malumbu]

Its the demographic that tends to join the police. For example those that get drawn to the voluntary sector and health tend to be caring, lefty types. Those into the city more competitive, driven and right of centre. Black cab drivers, hang them and flog them brigade. The police traditional, conservatives with a small c. They've of course done lots to recruit from more diverse backgrounds.

In working with the police I found them great in command and control, following instructions, forensic minds, but no so good on the abstract thinking.

Gross oversimplification of course, and smacks as if I am speaking about the cops coming from another planet. But very telling that we have no cops posting here (as they tend to live in the outer boroughs), not I expect some other professional I have denigrated.

I got on well with a few, but socially they would stick in a close knit circle of coppers, tending not to let others in.

[Seabag]

malumbu Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Its the demographic that tends to join the police.

> For example those that get drawn to the voluntary

> sector and health tend to be caring, lefty types.

> Those into the city more competitive, driven and

> right of centre. Black cab drivers, hang them and

> flog them brigade. The police traditional,

> conservatives with a small c. They've of course

> done lots to recruit from more diverse

> backgrounds.

>

> In working with the police I found them great in

> command and control, following instructions,

> forensic minds, but no so good on the abstract

> thinking.

>

> Gross oversimplification of course, and smacks as

> if I am speaking about the cops coming from

> another planet. But very telling that we have no

> cops posting here (as they tend to live in the

> outer boroughs), not I expect some other

> professional I have denigrated.

>

> I got on well with a few, but socially they would

> stick in a close knit circle of coppers, tending

> not to let others in.

You missed out the misfits we all had at school, the ones who had big key sets on key rings, and big feet.

The ones who seemed to love the idea of speeding around in a cop car going ?Neeee Naaaww? and enjoying nicking people.

[TheCat]

With the title of this thread, I worry about what the bots might contribute.....

[wordsworth]

She managed to get a good pay off and pension for being SO cr*p. Bit like a rubbish football manager.

[malumbu]

And what is your claim to fame Wordsworth. It is fine for you for throwing insults about, even if you consider them facetious. Have you done anything to change the world? Have you never failed in a job?? She was a well intentioned career police officer, rising through the ranks and doing a lot for diversity. Ultimately she came up short as the top copper in the country, as many others in her place have too. By all means discuss whether she made some key mistakes.

Anyway, more importantly, blowing my own trumpet, which as ever is well informed, worryingly the Home Sec appears to agree with my earlier post about the insular police culture. Worryingly I say, as this is Pritti Patel. Who reminds me of a rubbish football manager......

[wordsworth]

malumbu Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> And what is your claim to fame Wordsworth. It is

> fine for you for throwing insults about, even if

> you consider them facetious. Have you done

> anything to change the world? Have you never

> failed in a job?? She was a well intentioned

> career police officer, rising through the ranks

> and doing a lot for diversity. Ultimately she came

> up short as the top copper in the country, as many

> others in her place have too. By all means

> discuss whether she made some key mistakes.

>

> Anyway, more importantly, blowing my own trumpet,

> which as ever is well informed, worryingly the

> Home Sec appears to agree with my earlier post

> about the insular police culture. Worryingly I

> say, as this is Pritti Patel. Who reminds me of a

> rubbish football manager......

It's not a insult, it's a fact. Patel shouldn't be in her job either. Take a chill pill bro.

[Dogkennelhillbilly]

Spartacus Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I'm sure if you dug hard enough into any large

> organisation, no matter how well they are at

> stamping out racism, misogyny, homophobia, and

> even 'institutional corruption' that you will

> still find individuals who secretly or amongst

> friends foster those ideas.

Yeah but if Kwik-Fit is institutionally racist it's unlikely to result in anyone being shot in the head. Not the same at the Met. Dick was in charge of the operation in which Jean Charles de Menezes was killed at Stockwell tube station, and about which the Met repeatedly lied. (Many of the supposed details that people "remember", like that he was wearing a heavy jacket or leapt the turnstile, were lies made up by the Met). She should have been fired - instead she got the top job.

Spartacus Wrote:

> Sad to see a leader respected by rank and file

> being ousted by someone who's repeatedly failed to

> deal with youth knife crime in the capital.

Odd to see the most senior police officer not being blamed for failure to prevent and solve crime!