Suella Braverman Seeks to Redefine the Role of Police in Political Matters
HMICFRS Tasked with Investigating Impact on Policing Efficiency and Neutrality
In a significant move, Home Secretary Suella Braverman has initiated a comprehensive review into activism and impartiality within the ranks of the police force. In a letter addressed to the country’s top policing leaders, Braverman outlined her expectations for the police, emphasizing their primary role in combating crime while steering clear of political involvement.
Her mission is to collaborate closely with policing leaders to ensure that police forces consistently prioritize the concerns of the public.
Braverman has enlisted the expertise of His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) to spearhead the review. The goal is to assess the extent to which police involvement in political activities may be affecting the effectiveness, efficiency, and legitimacy of operational policing in England and Wales. This influence on policing policies, priorities, and practices is under scrutiny.
Politics and Neutrality in Policing
In the policing model of England and Wales, a core principle is the unwavering commitment to political neutrality. This foundation ensures that the police always maintain a position of impartiality when it comes to political matters.
Braverman’s letter to police chiefs acknowledges the commendable dedication and valor displayed by officers daily throughout the nation.
However, she also highlights instances where public confidence in the police has been eroded due to their involvement in contentious issues. This encompasses activities such as policing gender-critical views on social media, conduct at political marches, and officers taking the knee.
Suella Braverman’s Vision for Policing
Home Secretary Suella Braverman articulated her vision for policing in a clear statement:
“The British people expect their police to focus on cutting crime and protecting communities – political activism does not keep people safe, solve crimes, or support victims, but can damage public confidence.”
Braverman’s commissioned review aims to explore whether police involvement in politically contentious matters has a detrimental impact on the overall state of policing. She vows to leave no stone unturned in ensuring that policing acts in the best interest of the British public.
The Scope of the HMICFRS Review
The review led by HMICFRS is tasked with examining various aspects of police involvement in political activities:
- Policies and Processes: The review will scrutinize policies and processes that surpass or contravene the obligations set out in the Equality Act 2010, evaluating how these impact operational decision-making.
- Training and Neutrality: It will assess the quality and neutrality of training associated with the implementation of such policies and processes, along with identifying the organizations responsible for delivering this training.
- Consultation and Decision-Making: The review will investigate how the selection process for groups consulted on policy revisions, the criteria for selecting policies for amendment, and the balancing of views expressed by these groups against others are handled. Additionally, it will scrutinize the consideration given to groups that may be affected by these policies.
- Staff Networks and Political Matters: An analysis of the involvement of staff networks in policy development, their use of police resources and time, and their engagement in contested political matters.
- Public Communication: Evaluating how the police communicate with the public on these issues, including their engagement on social media platforms.
Commitment to Transparency
The Home Secretary has set a firm deadline for the report’s publication, aiming for the end of March 2024. This initiative is part of her broader agenda to promote more common-sense policing, enabling police to utilize their time efficiently while focusing on fundamental tasks.
This review stands as one of several measures introduced by Braverman to realign the police with the priorities of the British people.
Her efforts include reforming Home Office Counting Rules to reduce administrative burdens, implementing the Right Care, Right Person program to minimize mental health callouts, and recruiting an additional 20,000 police officers through the Police Uplift Programme, leading to record officer numbers in England and Wales.
In this endeavor, the Home Secretary seeks to equip the police force with the necessary resources and free officers to address the core concerns of the communities they serve.
Sources: THX News, Home Office & The Rt Hon Suella Braverman KC MP.
