This week, the charity CrimeStoppers, which receives anonymous tip offs from the public, launched a new hotline – for people to report corruption and abuse by police officers. It’s part of a drive by the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Sir Mark Rowley, to ‘expose those who have undermined the Met’s integrity’ following a series of scandals which have shattered confidence in the force and left it in ‘special measures’.
Sir Mark says he employs 3,000 officers who can’t do their job properly because of health, performance or misconduct concerns, including 500 who are suspended or on restricted duties. About 100 are allowed to work only in backroom roles. ‘It’s completely mad that I have to employ people like that as police officers who you can’t trust to have contact with the public, it’s ridiculous,’ the Commissioner told the BBC.
His frustration is understandable. The reasons are more complex.
Traditionally, to get a job as a police officer was to get a job for life.
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