T-A-S-E-R
A 5 Point Manifesto.
by Charles
D. Crichlow
IT
has become abundantly clear that policing within the British criminal
justice system is not working. For decades, trust and confidence in
policing among the UK Black community has been comparatively low and
for good reason. Ministry of Justice data on Race and the Criminal
Justice System has consistently throughout the 21st Century shown
that Black people are unjustly treated. The call from the streets in
the aftermath of the George Floyd murder is, ‘We want Equal justice
under the law’; ‘We want change and we want it now’ and ‘No
Justice No Peace’.
Incrementalism
will not suffice. No longer can we afford to engage in ‘look how
far we have come-ism’ Herein is the outline of a manifesto for a
radical rethink of policing. I believe, that this is what sections of
the public, who have been oppressed by the present system for far too
long, deserve. Upon close examination one will quickly recognise that
these changes will not simply benefit a minority of the population
but the whole of society. I must point out, that the ideas put
forward here, are only the beginning of what will be a long
continuous road towards public safety, protection and equal justice.
No one should have a monopoly on good ideas and undoubtedly others
will bring forth other welcome suggestions. This manifesto is not for
faint-hearted evolutionists but rather for a genuinely radical
rethink of policing in its current form, which I argue is not fit for
the essential purpose of racial justice.
This
manifesto is deliberately brief, so as to make way for more nuanced
and detailed discussion and collective framing of ideas. What is for
sure; is that it’s high time that our political leaders take a bold
and dispassionate look again at British Policing and the Criminal
Justice System. Whilst also resisting the tendency to be seduced by
the awesome power of police leaders to dazzle and seduce with an
overly romanticised vision of policing and focus them on the hard
reality of racial injustice in this nation.
I
therefore set out below, the T-A-S-E-R Model which is based upon the
accumulation of experience over my thirty years (Participant
Observation) as an Operational Police Officer a Community Organiser
and former President of the National Black Police Association. I say
respectfully to those within the policing profession, that it should
not be for you to determine the merits of this manifesto. Instead, it
is for you to work for the public. Since you are supposed to police
with our consent, I implore you to set aside the customary disdain
for anything resembling a usurpation of your power to determine the
policing dispensation. And that instead you pay attention to the cry
for justice which is ringing out loud and sweeping across the globe.
You now have at the very least the opportunity to contribute
something on the right side of history. To think or do otherwise will
see your authority slip even further away and pave the way for future
anarchy.
T-A-S-E-R
MODEL = Transparency Accountability Scrutiny Education Reparation
Transparency.
Transparency
For far too long, the police have been allowed to operate effectively
in secret when it comes to implementing reforms.
They
have effectively been given free reign to ‘mark their own
homework’. This can be seen in terms of duties under the Equality
Act (2010) where the public have little or no insight into how they
operate and how they are monitored.
As
a police officer, I have witnessed first hand the cavalier approach
to these legal duties and the total disregard to its application at
the front line of policing. This has to end. And a new era of Radical
Transparency must be ushered in, whereby the public get to have
maximum real-time insight into how the police, carries out its duties
under the Equality Act. ‘The public is the police and the police is
the public’ has effectively become a brainwashing mantra that
misleads the public and police officers into a romantic perception of
the reality. This has to be addressed by opening up policing, much
more to the public gaze.
I
propose
that unless there is a compelling argument for confidentiality,
police boardrooms where matters of public interest are to be
discussed should be made accessible (via camera) to the public. It
should not be left to the police alone to decide upon the many
aspects of policing activity that in my view can and should be made
transparent to the public. There must be a radical approach to this.
Accountability
Each
and every police officer is invested with extraordinary powers of
discretion, to act in ways that no ordinary citizen can. Therefore
much should be expected in terms of holding them to account for their
actions.
In
far too many cases, accountability is non-existent or is severely
hamstrung by aspects of the very Criminal Justice System that is
intended to protect the public. We have seen many examples of rogue
officers escaping justice or, moreover, being protected by the
organisation. Conversely, good officers have all too often, been
hurriedly forced out of policing in questionable circumstances and
Black officers have disproportionately and inexplicably found to be
in this category.
I
propose that
the application of police Professional Standards be taken completely
out of the hands of the police service and that this is coupled with
a completely independent mechanism for investigating police
misconduct. This would mean the complete abolition of the Independent
Office of Police Conduct and the replacement with something, which is
fit for purpose particularly in terms of racial justice. In addition
there should be a presumption that accountability is a public concern
therefore notwithstanding appropriate confidentiality issues,
questions of misconduct should be answered in public.
Scrutiny
Hand
in hand with a new Radical Transparency so too must there be a new
era of Super Scrutiny. At present we have an extraordinary state of
affairs, whereby police forces either have little or no scrutiny, of
how they implement the legal requirements of the Equality Act and yet
they get to pick and choose who is deemed appropriate to scrutinise
their work.
The
current system of inspection by the ‘Her Majesty Inspector of
Constabulary’ is completely inadequate. I have seen at first hand
how the police are able to very easily ‘pull the wool over the eyes
of HMIC’ - a toothless tiger. Police and Crime Commissioners whose
role is to hold the Chief Constable to account on behalf of the
public have been fantastically ineffective in terms of racial
justice. Many of these PCC’s are hopelessly incapable of performing
this task not only due to competence but many are ideologically
driven.
I
propose
the establishment of a completely independent body of highly
professional and competent scrutineers in the field of equal justice
with the necessary powers to ensure compliance. Their remit will
include identifying disparity and ensuring police compliance with
equality duties and its own equality strategies.
Education
From
Training to Education, there is ample evidence to suggest that police
forces are not capable of recruiting, training and developing the
workforce, the public and the whole of the system required for equal
justice to flourish. Policing has recently been placed on a more
professionalised footing, whilst this is a welcome step it is not
enough.
I
propose that
the recruitment and development of all police personnel should be
taken completely out of the hands of the police force and placed in a
framework of Education rather than simply regimented training. A
genuine new ethos of Education for Public Service should be the goal
where Police Forces will become genuine Police Services. This should
include every aspect of current training including and particularly
‘Use Of Force’ training. This should not in anyway signal a pivot
towards privatisation of any aspect of current policing functions but
rather to establish new ways within the public realm, of improving
policing. The College of Policing has been a signal failure in terms
of its 6 remit, particularly in regard to race equality, it has
simply come to reflect and replicate the racial hierarchies that
exist within policing. Moreover it represents a huge waste of public
money that could be put to better use. The same applies to many of
the institutions, which represent policing from top to bottom.
Reparation
In
order for any of this manifesto to be implemented, the current police
force and justice system must come to reckoning with its past and
therefore genuine reparative racial justice must be brought about.
Whole
communities have been criminalised labelled and brought to ruin by
institutional racism not just by hostile policing but by an entirely
hostile environment in terms of education, housing policy, health and
generally towards the presence of Black people in the United Kingdom
who were brought here to work, build and be used as was the case
under Colonialism and Enslavement. Indeed, the roots of some of the
crimes, which have plagued the Black community, particularly those of
a seriously violent nature (often framed as so called ‘Black on
Black’ violence) can be located in the legacy of a history of
violent oppression. These ‘chickens are now coming home to roost’
and all the tough talking about ‘rioters’ and ‘thugs’ will
not drown out the voices of those who have a just cause and demand
for reparatory justice.
In
short, reparatory justice is the first and necessary step toward
equal justice. Any attempt to build a future upon the unquestioned
foundations of the current broken system will prove to be an exercise
in futility and we will be back here again. The backlash to the
current movement has already begun and the need for courageous
leadership is palpable. Failure to take the necessary steps will
prove to be a concession towards those who benefit from the privilege
of status quo and the advancement of white supremacy. We have seen
and heard that the call of ‘white silence is violence’ thus,
political cowardice is also violent and must be called out loudly.
This brief manifesto is submitted / launched at the Windrush
Defenders – ‘Burning Work: In the Wake of Windrush’ Conference
(22.06.2020) however, this is a public document and will be open to
much wider conversation.
Charles
D. Crichlow 21.06.2020
A
former police officer with 30 years service. President of National
Black Police Officers Association from 2009-2013.Graduate of
Manchester University School of Law with a Masters in criminology.
Served as Independent Special Advisor to Tutu Foundation review into
institutional racism.
Quotes:
(“...pay attention to the cry for justice which is ringing out loud
and sweeping across the globe. You now have at the very least the
opportunity to contribute something on the right side of history. To
think or do otherwise will see your authority slip even further away
and pave the way for future anarchy.”)
(“We
have seen and heard that the call of ‘white silence is violence’
thus, political cowardice is also violent and must be called out
loudly.”)
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