14th August 2009
Open Letter to the Prime Minister
To the Prime Minister,
Firstly, may I say how I appreciate that your job as Prime Minister of this country must, at times, be very difficult, and undoubtedly demanding.
As a Christian, I understand how important it is that those in governance be respected and appreciated. I do, however, believe that in a healthy democracy there should be room for differing views, and that these differences should have legitimate means of expression.
The police forces in the UK have come under sustained criticism in recent weeks. Most notably, there have been official misgivings concerning the policing of protests at Kingsnorth power station and at the G20 summit.
Whilst accounting for the fact that the police have a difficult job to do and multiple pressures upon them, and accepting the large proportion of their work that they carry out to good standard, I feel that it is right that I should write to you with my concerns.
A healthy democracy is based upon both freedom of expression and a proper respect.
I believe that recent events have damaged both.
The report by the IPCC has highlighted that police tactics at protests should be urgently reviewed, yet I am concerned that this will not be sufficient to restore public confidence and trust.
I am sure that I do not need to tell you that once a substantial proportion of the public have lost confidence in the system of governance there are serious dangers of extremism and public disorder.
I, therefore, regard that there is a pressing need for confidence to be restored.
I commend you for your efforts to reform Parliament, yet I feel that it is due time for further action in order to restore public trust in our police.
The reports that have hitherto been published are a welcome step towards that. I believe, however, that the authorship of these reports are too closely linked to the structures that are being reviewed, namely the police and the governing institutions of this country.
I would, therefore, ask that you give serious consideration to a wholly independent review in the form of a Royal Commission into policing in the UK.
I have begun a petition asking you to perform this, which currently has 120 signatories.
I am also sending a copy of this letter to other individuals concerned, and to two national newspapers.
May I thank you once again for the work you do on behalf of this country.
