Metropolitan Police Federation

'Witchfinder General' rap for Complaints Commission chief

The Metropolitan Police Federation has refrained from comment about the events surrounding G20.

This has now changed thanks to the totally irresponsible decision by Mr Nick Hardwick, Chairman of the Independent Police Complaints Commission, to share with The Observer newspaper his views of what is still an on-going investigation.

Keen, apparently, to don the mantle of witchfinder general, Mr Hardwick discusses some selective aspects of G20 and passes lofty and withering judgement on London's police officers.

Does Mr Hardwick have words of praise for officers who worked more than 25 hours at a stretch with no more than a two-hour break?

He does not.

Does Mr Hardwick comment on the provocation which officers faced throughout the event?

He does not.

Does he have any words of congratulation to the thousands of male and female officers who showed incredible restraint and bravery during the event?

He does not.

What he does do, inexplicably, is castigate the police for "expecting trouble" which, he says, was "unacceptable".

Presumably Mr Hardwick would like all officers, everywhere, to take off their protective equipment because they should not expect trouble.

Mr Hardwick also took the opportunity to resurrect the pro-hunt demonstration in Parliament Square, following which officers were cleared by a court of law of wrong-doing.

He hints darkly that the officers were lucky, and if only he could have found a bit more evidence than he actually did…

If Mr Hardwick is personally affronted by the acquittal of officers in these cases, one can hardly have confidence in his independence.

Is this man an impartial investigator of complaints against the police or a grandstanding anti-police campaigner high on taxpayers' funds?

His job is - or should be - to consider the evidence for or against misconduct dispassionately and then present his findings to the proper authorities, such as the CPS or the coroner.

It is not to peddle his personal views and beliefs about policing in the press at the first available opportunity (he also implies that police consider themselves not to be public servants, which most officers rightly regard as slanderous).

We sense he needs some urgent publicity. After all, he does tip the wink to the Observer that is touting for the IPCC to be given more powers and taxpayers' money.

Mr Hardwick's behaviour totally belies his claim to impartiality. We have now formally complained to the IPCC - although we have no idea who investigates complaints against the Complaints Commission - and written to the Home Secretary and Justice Secretary about his deplorable behaviour.

We wonder what method of public order policing Mr Hardwick might like to see substituted for the current model in use in England and Wales.

Water cannon? Officers scurrying around the capital trying to arrest people only after criminal damage and looting have occurred? Or perhaps he would like see them sitting in comfort with a cup of tea out of harm's way watching CCTV images in the hope they can identify criminals later?

We would like to remind Londoners - as he does not - that the Met polices thousands of public events every year which are peaceful and have happy outcomes for everybody.

Meanwhile, we will continue to support all our members throughout the various investigations and reviews associated with G20.

We should point out that we will continue to decline to comment on individual cases of alleged misconduct.