The blue team really hit the news last week with an incident at the formal opening of the Windsor wheel. Without repeating the press coverage, a nasty fight broke out and was prevented from getting worse by the brave intervention of two of my colleagues.
What was most noticed by those involved – which by the end of the incident, included me – was the lack of police, and what seemed to be an age before anything happened. In fact, it was only when I asked one of my colleagues to flag down a police car that was driving around, that an officer came out to speak to the witnesses and victims.
It was such a contrast to the situation I found in Hammersmith and Fulham, where additional 24/7 policing has been paid for by Westfield/H&F Council/others. We part fund 4 additional PCSOs but the TVP doesn’t ask us where they are to be deployed, and when we ask, we are told that they are used to boost the existing force, and that they are very grateful.
It must be time for increased accountability, in this area of public expenditure. Crime is usually at the top of the “issues” list, yet it is extremely difficult for elected politicians (whether local or national unless they’re the Home Secretary) to make any change in policy or direction. That’s not to say that neighbourhood policing is bad, or that NAGs don’t work, or that the police don’t care ; it’s just that we haven’t got the power to change anything – despite paying for policing services through local taxes.
The incident took place some time after this picture was taken (I took this photo when on the wheel) – behind where the train was parked towards the coach park.
