His words should strike a chord with anyone concerned with police accountability. British policing – built around notions of policing by consent and independence – is the latest core public service to come under threat from the creep of privatisation during times of austerity. Police Authorities in Surrey and the West Midlands have embarked upon procuring private firms to carry out certain policing activities, in response to budget cuts they’re currently facing. It’s the start of a billion-pound process which could apply to all forces.
Although private companies won’t be able to arrest people or use force, it seems they will be allowed to assume traditional activities including investigation and detaining suspects. Such an unprecedented transfer of powers raises huge questions of legitimacy, transparency and accountability. How will complaints against private contractors be handled? Will arguments of resources and expediency lead to an extension of these powers? British policing revolves around public service – not profits and margins. The outsourcing of crucial police tasks to the highest bidder is serious cause for alarm.
We’ve already seen just how disastrous the privatisation of core public services can be. In October 2010, Jimmy Mubenga died after being restrained by poorly-trained G4S guards during a deportation attempt. Removing people from the country is never straightforward, but at the very least those undertaking removals must be suitable for the role, properly trained and accountable. G4S management clearly didn’t feel sufficiently bound to ensure staff were up to the job. The contract has since passed to fellow private security firm Reliance but we fear little has changed – Medical Justice continues to report injuries sustained during removals even now.
The eyes of the world were upon us
during the Olympic Games and clearly – to his credit – the G4S fiasco was enough to make the Defence Secretary think again. Let’s hope
those responsible for our police service also take stock and opt to leave crucial
policing powers to those with the proper professional training. Handing such
roles over to non-policing individuals is a slippery slope that, as recent
history has shown, can
result in tragedy.
