Priti Patel’s growing involvement in policing will hurt the Government

In a column for the i Newspaper, Will Tanner argues against political interference in operational policing, arguing that it can undermine consent and creates enormous political risk. He writes:

“Policing and politics make uncomfortable bedfellows. When politicians interfere with the operational business of local policing, the responsiveness of law enforcement typically declines and lawmakers tend to get their fingers burnt.

The police cannot do their job if public consent is undermined by perceived political interest, and politicians cannot hold the police to account if they are too close to decision-making about priorities, resourcing and recruitment. This is a lesson the current Government should urgently heed.”

You can read the full piece here.