President of the PSA, Nick Smart, has commented following the John Harris Memorial Lecture delivered by MPS Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley and Deputy Commissioner Dame Lynn Owens. The lecture was delivered to the Police Foundation on Wednesday 18th September 2024.
Nick Smart, PSA President: “The position taken by the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner of the Met, aligns closely with that of the PSA, and was discussed at length in my recent conference address.
“Many of the vast challenges facing policing today, stem from problems that are not of our making, and not in our power to change, yet determine the effectiveness of our service, the relationship we have with the public, and our reputation.
“From the outdated structure we work in – a model designed decades ago to suit a different world, to the crippling underinvestment we have experienced – resulting in a £3.2bn deficit, and the unfair, divisive accountability systems we are governed by – sometimes leaving officers facing years of investigation for simple mistakes - we are not given the chance to deliver the policing our communities deserve.
“On our structures – it’s clear that the majority of policing leaders feel that the 43-force model is not fit for purpose and was designed for policing a completely different society with entirely different demands on police. Conversations need to happen now, to define and understand the best model for delivering the right policing for communities today and into the future.
“On accountability – we fully believe in the highest standards and the need for efficient scrutiny. We do not believe that officers should feel scared to do their job, and when decisions are taken with the best possible intentions, this should be recognised. It is essential that the recent accountability review leads to real change, felt by the workforce and leading to positive outcomes for communities. This must happen soon.
“At conference, I outlined these many challenges in detail, setting out some very clear asks of government:
Nick Smart, PSA President: “The position taken by the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner of the Met, aligns closely with that of the PSA, and was discussed at length in my recent conference address.
“Many of the vast challenges facing policing today, stem from problems that are not of our making, and not in our power to change, yet determine the effectiveness of our service, the relationship we have with the public, and our reputation.
“From the outdated structure we work in – a model designed decades ago to suit a different world, to the crippling underinvestment we have experienced – resulting in a £3.2bn deficit, and the unfair, divisive accountability systems we are governed by – sometimes leaving officers facing years of investigation for simple mistakes - we are not given the chance to deliver the policing our communities deserve.
“On our structures – it’s clear that the majority of policing leaders feel that the 43-force model is not fit for purpose and was designed for policing a completely different society with entirely different demands on police. Conversations need to happen now, to define and understand the best model for delivering the right policing for communities today and into the future.
“On accountability – we fully believe in the highest standards and the need for efficient scrutiny. We do not believe that officers should feel scared to do their job, and when decisions are taken with the best possible intentions, this should be recognised. It is essential that the recent accountability review leads to real change, felt by the workforce and leading to positive outcomes for communities. This must happen soon.
“At conference, I outlined these many challenges in detail, setting out some very clear asks of government:
- Invest in police and show us the value we deserve
- define our mission to prevent us taking on work that does not belong with us
- look after our people – their wellbeing is critical, and
- listen to us – no one knows policing better than the workforce.
“There are also challenges that are in our gift to change, but will take wholesale support to influence in a meaningful way. We agree that waiting for government intervention has not resulted in the change we need, and taking proactive steps forward as a Service is long overdue.
“We need to be able to deliver policing that works by making changes that have been needed for years, with the support of our communities and all our stakeholders. Our association will be fully behind efforts to do so.”