View Full Version : Will the Commissioner keep his word?
Peter Matisse
07-10-2002, 13:06
It must be any day now that the CPS will report on the findings of the investigation into the allegations made against Brian Paddick. I fully expect that the CPS will find that there is no case to answer and that Brian has committed no criminal offence. He has always strongly denied any wrongdoing.
If this proves to be the case then the people of Lambeth have every right to expect the Commissioner, Sir John Stevens, to keep his promise to return Brian Paddick to Lambeth as its Commander. To downgrade the rank of the senior police officer in charge of Lambeth, from Commander to a lesser rank, would rightly be seen as giving in to the tabloid press and the homophobia within the Met.
I have always thought that Sir John was his own man, and it was he who ran the Metropolitan Police. If he is seen to be colluding in the vicious and unpardonable treatment that has been metered out to 'one of its own,' then you have to question all the statements the Met make about embracing diversity within its ranks. If you intend to take an officer of the calibre of Brian Paddick and maybe put him in a job that is designed to fail, because that's what you do with officers who are from minority groups, and gay people are a minority group, then how can you defend the Met from the accusation that it is institutionally prejudice.
If, as the Met claims, the downgrading at Lambeth is part of a rationalisation of the command structure, why has no independent review of Lambeth, by a body not appointed by the police, taken place.
Why has this happened now just as the Borough Commander has been moved from his desk, surely it could have waited until he was returned to his post.
Was this downgrading due to take place anyway at this time, or has it been hastily fudged in an attempt to remove and silence an officer who's ability, community support and effectiveness is an embarrassment to other officers as it highlights their own shortcomings.
Why is Westminster not to be downgraded.
Why, given the increasing problems of drugs and street crime, are the Met not considering upgrading other parts of London, so that many more areas are run by officers of the rank of Commander.
I am a gay man and I have lived in Lambeth for almost twenty four years. Seeing the way that Brian has been treated by the police force he has served so admirably for over twenty years, and the level of homophobia at senior level in the Met, my trust and confidence in the police is virtually gone.
If Sir John reneges on his promise to return Brian to Lambeth then you have to wonder if the old adage is true - Never trust a copper.
What do you guys think.
Mrs Magpie
07-10-2002, 14:47
It feels like the powers-that-be are fobbing Lambeth off with a lesser Police Service. I've spoken to a lot of people about this, and most feel it is shafting Lambeth to save face. Even the handful who are not pro-Paddick think that Lambeth must retain the position of Commander. I have heard that Paddick has been briefed against from within the Met (source: a friend at the Beeb) from the moment that he took command of Lambeth. I hope that Sir John Stevens has full control at the Met. It would be terrible if he doesn't and malign forces within it are calling the shots. We all deserve better than that.
Peter Matisse
07-10-2002, 16:39
Well said Mrs M, I quite agree, we do deserve the best in Lambeth and we have the best in Brian Paddick.
The Met should stop playing politics, they are supposed to serve the community not dump on it.
Anna Key
07-10-2002, 17:13
If they abolish the Commander post and chase Brian Paddick from Lambeth, by cynical and dishonest bureaucratic manipulation, the effect on me will be:
- to sleep slightly less soundly in my bed
- to look over my shoulder a little more when walking in Brixton late at night
- to take a bus where I might otherwise have walked
- to look at the crack dealers and users on Coldharbour Lane with slightly more despair
- to look at Lambeth's beat coppers and wonder if they supported the homophobic, anti-Lambeth, anti-Paddick campaign
- to look at local politicians who failed to object with slightly more contempt.
But what do my views matter? I only live here.
Anna Key
07-10-2002, 17:40
I should have added:-
The next time (which I hope never happens) a young black man dies in Brixton Police Station, or is shot by police on the street or in his home, my expectation that a riot will occur will increase.
This is because we'll be without our top copper's listening and communicating skills and his obvious affection for the people of Brixton.
Peter Matisse
07-10-2002, 20:23
Exactly the point Anna. I don't believe that there is ever any intention for places like Lambeth and Brixton to have the best. We have to fight tooth and nail for it and whatever we lack in Lambeth, we don't lack fighting spirit.
Every voice counts, no matter how small, no matter how isolated and no matter what the odds are stacked against you. In this matter you have the voices of almost the whole Borough with you not to mention those many voices throughout the country.
agricola
08-10-2002, 03:09
as an aside, how would people feel if Brian was bumped from commanding just Lambeth to the whole of SE area (southwark, lambeth, croydon, bromley, lewisham, greenwich and bexley boroughs), which is also a position that requires an officer of Commander rank?
Peter Matisse
08-10-2002, 07:55
That's a huge job but I would say Brian would be an ideal person. From a self interest point of view that would probably limit the time he could give to Lambeth, and it is Lambeth that needs him at the moment.
In a job like that you would need the support of your senior officers. I have no doubt that ordinary police officers would support him and he would support them, but in my view ordinary police officers are to often let down by thier senior officers, many of whom seem to be self perpetuating bigots.
Since I have been involved in the campaign to get Brian back in Lambeth my view of the police has been changed. I think the root and branch of the Met is strong, healthly and supportive. But the top of the tree is mouldy and cankerous, full of old dead wood and it needs some severe pruning to let in some light and fresh air.
Another thing that occurs to me is that someone may be doing that job at the moment and doing it well. Why move them to make way for Brian just because you want to get rid of the post of Commander in Lambeth for political reasons. That would only cause resentment for Brian and make a huge job even more difficult.
I suppose the real question is whether it's the job Brian wants.
If this goes as expected, and Brian Paddick is cleared, then the issue becomes one about the Met rather than Paddick.
Do they really listen to the people they serve?
Will they stand by an officer who comes under fire, for doing his job, or leave him dangling?
Do they have the imagination to ride with, and indeed exploit, unprecedented support for a police officer?
Or are they simply going to cower in a corner in the face of bully boys in the media or (worse) cllude with a political agenda?
I don't think this only matters for us in Lambeth. It matters across London, not least to police officers themselves. [
Agreed. Lambeth people and Brian are about to be shafted. Goodbye to the developing trust between Lambeth police and the Brixton community. :(
herbsman
08-10-2002, 13:14
Not only was Brians role at Lambeth good for the locals, it was inspirational for the rest of the country. To be able to see a powerful public figure leading and acting for the best of all in the community and not acting for some perceived allegance to so called 'top-brass'.
Mrs Magpie
08-10-2002, 13:22
He is certainly the most skilled communicator Lambeth Division has ever had. People who have never said a good word (both the 'too soft' and the 'too hard' persuasions) about policing in Lambeth tend to be won over by Brian Paddick. If the Met are serious about good community relations, then Brian Paddick should be allowed back at the helm of Lambeth Division. He listens to and cares about the people of Lambeth.
Sir John Stevens promised that if Brian was cleared, he'd come back. I do so hope that will happen as I have always believed Sir John to be a man of his word.
Peter Matisse
08-10-2002, 17:17
You have to wonder sometimes if all the talk about 'community policing' and 'lets work together to stop crime' is anything more than spin, when you look at what they are doing to Brian and this community.
I don't think there is any serious intention to do anything more than contain crime within Lambeth.
Brian's real crime has been success. How stupid would it be to take an officer with 20 years experience of working in Lambeth, who has the trust and support of the majority of the community, and put him in a dead end job just because he is popular and you want to shut him up.
How can you employ a firm of consultants to assess whether there should be a Borough Commander in Lambeth, and then try to move Brian before they report their findings.
Well Sir John can talk the talk, let's see if he can walk the walk and return Brian to Lambeth, like he promised.
He's not going to be returned - it was just on the London news ...
porno thieving gypsy
08-10-2002, 21:34
He will not be returning to his former job. He has been told his new job in the Metropolitan Police will be to implement the National Intelligence Model, a recently-developed blueprint for cutting crime.
News on criminal case to be announced soon :(
more here (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2311365.stm)
Mrs Magpie
08-10-2002, 22:00
wait and see....I have heard no official confirmation of this.....the BBC may have jumped the gun.......watch this space..................
Originally posted by Mrs Magpie
wait and see....I have heard no official confirmation of this.....the BBC may have jumped the gun.......watch this space..................
I think the Beeb have got it right. CPS report tomorrow.
Peter Matisse
08-10-2002, 22:53
This may be an attempt to devalue the CPS report which will clear Brian I am sure.
He is not there yet. And if I were Sir John Stevens I would think twice about forcing Brian into a job he does not want.
The outcry may well cost Sir John his job.
Mrs Magpie
08-10-2002, 22:55
Brian has always said that his bottom line is Lambeth and coming back to Lambeth when his name is cleared . I have heard nothing from Brian Paddick that his position has changed. We can't expect him at this stage, when new news is breaking (and particularly news that is news to him) to comment.
Caspar Hauser
09-10-2002, 05:32
'If these charges are not proved, Commander Paddick will return to his duties.'
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir John Stevens, March 2002
How can anyone in London sleep at night, knowing that the man responsible for their security, Commissioner Sir John Stevens, is nothing more than a liar !
Strikes me the new job is a clever ploy, it is too high profile to either be refused or classified as a demotion, but is also a political straijacket and the kind of job that is primed for failure and subsequent scapegoating :( I think the establishment has Paddick well and truly set up here!
jema
freethepeeps
09-10-2002, 07:21
Guardian story today (http://www.guardian.co.uk/crime/article/0,2763,807314,00.html)
Independent (http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/crime/story.jsp?story=340933)
I share the outrage expressed above and as a newbie here, would like to ask what is being done to respond to the announcement and how can Brixton residents become involved?
Stobart Stopper
09-10-2002, 09:02
It's a shame but whatever the Lambeth residents do they are wasting their time in trying to get the Commander back. I know how the system works. Once a decision is made at the top, it sticks. This will undoubtably reverse the relationship with the public and the police in Lambeth by about 20 years. The one person who was able to talk to people, to listen and to really understand the problems of the area is now unable to do anything.
The bosses at the yard do not want this- they want someone who sits in an office saying "Yes, sir." like a frigging brown-nosing robot. The moment a senior officer shows any sign of being human, they stitch him up.
Sorry, I am ranting but I am a bit pissed off over this.:mad:
Mrs Magpie
09-10-2002, 10:47
Those who want to join the campaign to reverse this decision go to www.lambeth4paddick.org
Peter Matisse
09-10-2002, 23:13
We are not wasting our time trying to get Brian back. The Met has never had to deal with a sitiuation likes this, it does not know how to deal with a situation like this. It is responding in it's usual heavy handed, leaded footed way. We have it rattled and it is making mistakes.
Don't give up !!! Brian is not neither should we!!!
Stobart Stopper
10-10-2002, 06:41
Ok, I was a bit pissed off yesterday. Maybe there is a chance, if enough of you can get together and make your feelings known then maybe they will allow him to return to Lambeth. However, the restructuring thing could make it all very difficult and they will try their hardest to keep things as they are. You have a huge fight on your hands but never say die!
Streathamite
10-10-2002, 20:21
Well said Peter-the fightback starts NOW, and it's down to US. PM me anyone with ideas/news/views of actions we can take.
detective-boy
11-10-2002, 19:39
As Cmdr Paddick has not been suspended, just moved administratively to another job temporarily, and especially as his post has not been filled by someone else (his deputy is looking after things), there is nothing to stop his being returned to Lambeth even before the investigation is complete.
That said, it would be unlikely as it would appear inconsistent - take him away, send him back ... I think the best bet is to hope enquiry to be done as quickly as possible (and, unfortunately, these things do have a habit of dragging on ... and on ... and on ...).
Originally posted by me on 28 March on the Keep Paddick Campaign thread.
I went on to say I thought that if anyone would send him back it would be John Stevens ... ah, well, another disappointment!
The project about whether there should be a Commander in Lambeth stems from the fact there wasn't to start with - there was a Chief Supt (Simon Foy), two Superintendents and about seven Chief Inspectors (a couple of them detectives). When that was compared with the county force of, say, Warwickshire, which has less coppers, less budget, less crime and far less aggravation than Lambeth and yet is run by a Chief Constable, a Dep Chief Constable, two Assistant Chief Constables (equivalent to Commander), and god knows how many Superintendents and Chief Inspectors, it was realised there was a discrepancy.
So, when Simon Foy moved on, they put a Commander (Brian) in, along with some more Supts (including a detective) and Chief Inspectors.
They're now reviewing it. It could go either way, would not like to guess (though in my professional opinion what they have is about right and Warwickshire (and the numerous other little forces like it) should be merged or delayered.
The existence of the project is entirely transparently being used as a red herring to distract from the fact Brian has been moved into a non-job (it's a project which should be handled by a Det Supt at most) as he's been a naughty boy and to show him who is boss.
If you want him back you need to find out first if he want's to come back (he may have accepted his fate privately). If he does and he wants your support then the only option is on the streets I'm afraid. Get the same mix of Lambeth people you got to the public meting and take the line "WE, the people, tell you, our servants, how we wish to be policed".
It is still meant to be "policing by consent" here after all
(PS Ask Brian Moore when he last nicked someone (who wasn't a copper) - seems like he's trying to nick a bit of our Brians "man of the people" stuff!)
Peter Matisse
12-10-2002, 08:11
Thanks for your post Detective Boy.
Brian Moore, whilst on his way home in plain clothes, arrested a man outside Brixton station for trying to sell him cannabis. He got into trouble and had to ask members of the public to help him make the arrest. In some reports in the media it was said the man had a knife. I beleive that the cannabis turned out to be oregano and the man was charged with fraud.
Delia Smith will shortly be appointed to Lambeth to rid the streets of the menace of culinary herbs.
The more I think about it the more that Brian Moore arrest stinks of being a PR stunt. Brian Moore seems OK, but he ain't no "man of the people".
I'm not ready to say "Brian is dead, long live Brian".
The other one is much better.
I keep thinking about that "East of Acre Lane" event. I can't imagine any other police officer standing up and being so honest after having really thought about his response to that book. Very impressive.
I will not be posted to the intelligence job until 1 November, or the end of the discipline proceedings if that turns out to be later. The "independent" review of the ranks and support structures on boroughs, including whether there should be a Commander in Lambeth, is about to start and will take 4 weeks.
Stobart Stopper
12-10-2002, 13:56
Stay strong, boss! And keep on wearing that Gucci suit, it looks good!
;)
Good to see you back, detective boy. Sorry to hear you've left your job (on another thread) - that's quite a turmoil, but your life will settle down and you'll be better for it in the long run.
Thanks for that info Brian.
I don't think we should fall into the trap that demanding Brian Paddick's return means dissing on Brian Moore. They're not related, not least because there is no saying that Brian Moore would automatically step into the job if Brian Paddick didn't come back. And indeed, Moore's made a good fist of the job in diificult circumstances. Nor has he attempted to air brush Paddick out of the recent police success's in Lambeth (see last PCCG meeting - 18 Sep 2002: Paddick’s contribution acknowledged (http://www.lambeth4paddick.org/html/latest.html) )
I think the Paddick v Moore false polarity is something both Stevens (in his TV piece) and Hoey are trying to set up. They know that a lot of significant players in the community would back off appearing to undermine the officer acting in the post.
Meanwhile, someone's stirring it here:
Paddick hits out at government crime policy (http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/crime/story.jsp?story=342075)
The comments "have only just emerged" ie the day before the MPA disciplinary panel meets. Aconference on police reform at the RCA? Shum mishstake shurely...more like the RSA. Poor journalism or inept, malign briefing?
Peter Matisse
14-10-2002, 07:02
Brian Moore has had a difficult time in keeping things together.
He has also has 102 more officers, and £1.25 million pounds in extra money than Brian had whilst he was in charge.
Whilst it is not a competition thing, if he is not doing the job for the community then he should be criticised.
If we let things slide just because we do not want to offend Brian Moore then the situation in the community gets worse.
It seems to me there is a creeping move to say why do you need a Commander in Lambeth, Brian Moore is doing alright.
It's not a level playing field and people should be aware of this.
Speak out if you have a point to make.
Caspar Hauser
14-10-2002, 07:17
Originally posted by pooka
Meanwhile, someone's stirring it here:
Paddick hits out at government crime policy (http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/crime/story.jsp?story=342075)
The comments "have only just emerged" ie the day before the MPA disciplinary panel meets. A conference on police reform at the RCA? Shum mishstake shurely...more like the RSA. Poor journalism or inept, malign briefing?
Here is a transcript of the lecture at the RSA (it's a pdf document).
Police reform - meet the new Bill? (http://www.thersa.org/acrobat/tx05_170902.pdf)
Casper: As ever, Mr Diligence!
Meanwhile, Lambeth has shown a 39% drop in street crime, January to September, vindicating Paddick's strategy. This compares with 11% across London overall and just 18% in the next highest borough (Westminster).
Announced on the day the MPA are meeting to consider disciplinary issues around a set of bought allegations against the architect of this success - says it all.
BBC Report here (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2327539.stm)
He has also has 102 more officers, and £1.25 million pounds in extra money than Brian had whilst he was in charge.
Interesting, I didn't know that. There are noticeably more police on foot in central Brixton in the last few weeks, and subsequently less hassle from itinerent oregano salesmen and travelcard traders. The eight (count 'em) standing around the tube this afternoon looked deeply bored though.
From my notes from the last PCCG meeting, the number of additional officers June 2001 to Sept 2002 was 140.
The extra money is a one-off for anti-crack measures, from the Home Office. It was initially £1.25m but was then increased to £1.54m. But, that is to be spent by both the police and the local authority, and other agencies (about 5% is earmarked for treatment oprions for prostitutes associated with crack houses, for example). From memory, I think 40% of the total was additional police spend, mostly on overtime.
The annual budget for Lambeth police is around £40m.
IntoStella
14-10-2002, 23:25
Originally posted by pooka
The extra money is a one-off for anti-crack measures, from the Home Office. OK, so maybe it is a pure coincidence that this money and all these extra beat officers became available after Brian Paddick had been sidelined. :confused:
I completely take your point that a ''Battle of Brians'' is not the issue -- and must not become the issue -- but I find the way things have unfurled more than a little dubious in places.
Well, I'm don't think there's anything sinister here. The extra officers are part of the London wide extra recruitment and only bring Lambeth up to its establishment figure.
The crack money is (I believe) from a UK wide Communities Against Drugs initiative.
In the 2001 Budget an extra £220 million was allocated over three years for the Communities Against Drugs Programme. This funding is specifically designed to help local communities mobilise against drugs
Source (http://www.pm.gov.uk/output/Page5406.asp)
detective-boy
17-10-2002, 20:38
I totally agree, it shouldn't turn into a "Battle of the Brians".
Brian Moore is a very competent, experienced and able police officer. He has substantial detective experience and undoubtedly brings a lot to Lambeth when dealing with crime problems and operations.
But we all have strengths and weaknesses, and personal styles and beliefs, and his are very different from Brian Paddicks.
The question is "What is best for Lambeth?". Only the people of Lambeth know that. Perahps we should have elected police chiefs after all!!
Peter Matisse
18-10-2002, 06:15
The whole point about Brian Moore is that the Met are trying to sell him as another Brian Paddick and he is not. They will say look at the figures he is doing just as well as Paddick. The whole point is he has more officers and more money. Regardless of how that money came to Lambeth he still has more money.
He himself has said that he is following the procedures that Paddick laid down. He is bringing nothing new to the job and he does not have the experienec of 20 years spent working in and around Lambeth.
Stop being so PC and wimpy !!
It's about the best for Lambeth and that is not Brian Moore !!
He may be moving the dealers from Coldharbour Lane now, are they being arrested ? Or just moved to another area.
The figures do look good but he has more officers and more money.
It's not a level playing field and nobody should forget that.
This man is responsible for controlling armed checkpoints on the streets of Lambeth and cannot tell the difference between oregano and cannabis.
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