Top Cops and Petted Lips
I read today that the head of ACPO (Association of Chief Police Officers') - Sir Hugh Orde - is unhappy with the Prime Minister.
We know this because Sir Hugh is communicating his displeasure through the press and media - which is an odd way for one of Britain's top cops to behave.
Anyway, Sir Hugh is not best pleased at the prospect of a successful former police officer from America - Bill Bratton - advising the government on how to tackle Britain's gang culture.
He is quoted today in the Independent on Sunday as saying:
"I am not sure I want to learn about gangs from an area of America that has 400 of them.
It seems to me, if you've got 400 gangs, then you're not being very effective."
Perhaps ACPO and Sir Hugh are just a bit hacked off at getting it in the neck from politicians - these past few days - for their widespread criticism of the initial police response to public disorder on the streets.
But Sir Hugh's comments about not wanting to learn from experience in America - smack of a petted lip and someone's nose being out of joint.
After all, the government is also looking to draw on the experience of Strathclyde Police - which set up a Gangs Task Force after a study found that Strathclyde was home to more than 170 gangs.
Now it seems to me that the real issue has nothing to do with 400 gangs or 170 gangs - but what the police should be doing to tackle the problem.
And if there are lessons to be learned from New York, California or Glasgow - or anywhere else for that matter - I expect ACPO and Sir Hugh to be only too willing to listen.
We know this because Sir Hugh is communicating his displeasure through the press and media - which is an odd way for one of Britain's top cops to behave.
Anyway, Sir Hugh is not best pleased at the prospect of a successful former police officer from America - Bill Bratton - advising the government on how to tackle Britain's gang culture.
He is quoted today in the Independent on Sunday as saying:
"I am not sure I want to learn about gangs from an area of America that has 400 of them.
It seems to me, if you've got 400 gangs, then you're not being very effective."
Perhaps ACPO and Sir Hugh are just a bit hacked off at getting it in the neck from politicians - these past few days - for their widespread criticism of the initial police response to public disorder on the streets.
But Sir Hugh's comments about not wanting to learn from experience in America - smack of a petted lip and someone's nose being out of joint.
After all, the government is also looking to draw on the experience of Strathclyde Police - which set up a Gangs Task Force after a study found that Strathclyde was home to more than 170 gangs.
Now it seems to me that the real issue has nothing to do with 400 gangs or 170 gangs - but what the police should be doing to tackle the problem.
And if there are lessons to be learned from New York, California or Glasgow - or anywhere else for that matter - I expect ACPO and Sir Hugh to be only too willing to listen.
