Against Britain’s two-tier policing
by Michael Phillips, Artillery Row:
Street preachers should not be arrested for offending people.
I was once told by a former police officer that when he was an officer, he was always the bad guy. People he arrested thought that he was the bad guy, the victims of crime that he was not able to help thought that he was the bad guy, and the defence lawyers that gave him a hard time in court and accused him of corruption thought he was the bad guy.
Understandably he quit, because it’s not an easy job. However, there’s no getting away from the fact that while policing is not easy, it would be quite wrong to change policing to ensure an easier life.
Every police officer takes an oath at the start of their career:
I do solemnly and sincerely declare and affirm that I will well and truly serve the Queen in the office of constable, with fairness, integrity, diligence and impartiality, upholding fundamental human rights and according equal respect to all people; and that I will, to the best of my power, cause the peace to be kept and preserved and prevent all offences against people and property; and that while I continue to hold the said office I will to the best of my skill and knowledge discharge all the duties thereof faithfully according to law.
So, it follows that there must be no two tier policing. There should be no group that has preferential treatment by the police such that it would be a violation of the oath.
However, this was not John Dunn and Shaun O’Sullivan’s experience.
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