Police and Justice Bill

Search as I might in all sources available to me, I can find no justification for asserting that particular criterion. It does not bear examination or stand up to scrutiny for me, although it did for the former Home Secretary. I have to say to the Minister, who I see is assiduously making notes, that although I can offer him sympathy in his new job and welcome him to it, I cannot offer him support—he will not get it from me. We were told that there was to be no money, so the forces were supposed to change livery, get new equipment, reorganise themselves and restaff new establishments with no money. We asked about the police precept—we heard about that earlier—and were told that it would take care of itself, but will it? After last Thursday, I do not suppose that that will be very much the Labour party’s problem in the next five or 10 years if what we experienced in the south happens in the north. We were told much later that the money would be provided. ““Ah, fine,”” said I, when I returned to this country after duty abroad, ““They’ve found the money. Okay, that’s another one of my arguments gone, so I’m a little weaker than I was before.”” However, I was told, ““Yes, Frank, but there’s no new money.”” I asked where the money would come from. I was told that it would come from the Home Office, and when I asked where the Home Office would get it from, I was told, ““Oh, they’ll find it somewhere,”” but then we heard about the financial problems with the Home Office. The whole situation is approaching a fantasy. Walt Disney ought to make an epic on this one—it is absolutely crazy. I have tried to conduct my arguments through correspondence, so I have quite a large file. I have also had to argue with some policemen who seem keen for the changes to go through, although I must say that they are the ones who think that they will get the top jobs. I hope that the Minister will take this point seriously and make it his business to watch the interview with the chief constable of West Mercia in a recent episode of ““HARDtalk”” on BBC News 24. The interview will give him great cause for a rethink. There was a man who was special branch and had anti-terror responsibilities, with a remarkable record and a force with an astonishing track record on policing efficiency. He was really given a hard time by Stephen Sackur—he was not on a soft hook at all—but gave a great account of himself, as have many police officers throughout the country who object right from their roots to the form of the reorganisation. It is not that they are against reorganisation—they will go for it if it is needed. However, they are professionals. They are right into policing and have spent their lives doing it, although the previous Home Secretary and the Minister have not, as I have not. I am not an expert. The only thing that I am an expert in is mediocrity.