2007-02-20 22:57:08 · 12 answers · asked by A True Gentleman 5 in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
I though someone would claim that the People and the Government are the same thing. Looking at the percentage of the electorate voted for New Labour at the last election proves this to be utterly untrue.
2007-02-20 23:08:29 · update #1
.In Glasgow - I think that the Police are a Law unto themselves...no better than a private security firm... who charge communities for policing...an example ..Dennistoun - Reidvale housing association gets charged £15K for 750 hours so that 2 Police Officers will Patrol (sit in their car & eat Doughnuts) on a Friday & Saturday night... so what is the Council Tax paying for ?
Have you read about Sir Willie Rae Strathclydes Top Cop ...he says he cant get by on half a Bi££ion... if only he would cut back on the amount he spends on Mercedes AMG Traffic cars ...maybe he could have cash to catch real criminals..
But I suppose at the end of the day ...they are government finger men.
2007-02-20 23:14:57 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 4⤋
In England and Wales the police derive their powers from the Queen but are appointed by the Chief Constable .The chief constable is appointed by the police authority not the government.Policy is decided by the chief constable and it is the police authorities job to make sure that they get the money to run an efficient police force.HM Inspectors of constabulary inspect the forces and if he finds they are efficient then the government gives the police authority money known as the police grant approx 50% of cost.The police act decides on the conduct of constables but does not dictate policy.The metropolitan police are different in that their police authority is the home office though again the commissioner is supposed to dictate his forces policies and procedures.
The police authority is made up of local councillors,GPs etc.
I am amazed who anyone who claims to be ex police doesn't know all this perhaps they slept a lot at training centre.
In view of the set up the police in England are most probably one of the most independent of government or local authority control in the world and should be serving the Queen and her people not the government.
2007-02-21 04:47:14 · answer #2 · answered by frankturk50 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Technically, my primary allegiance is with the Queen as that is the oath I made when I join the Police service. However, as she doesn't pop into my area that often, I do the next best thing and look after her people - AND Police Officers are not allowed to be politically biased.
2007-02-21 11:43:20 · answer #3 · answered by ragill_s1849 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
That is a false dichotomy - the government are the peoples representatives, duly elected. How can the police have allegiance to any other body? By definition, it would be non-representative.
Having said all that, the oath I took was to serve my sovereign lady Elizabeth, in the office of constable, to preserve the peace of her majesty's realm and protect, without malice or favour, the person and property of her majesty's lawful subjects.
2007-02-20 23:04:30 · answer #4 · answered by Avondrow 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
The role of the police is to provide public protection but they are servants of the Government (specifically the Home Office) that hires (and occasionally fires) chief constables. Therefore, the answer to your question must be the Government.
Best wishes, J
2007-02-20 23:02:27 · answer #5 · answered by sirjulian 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
i like lord g answer, why dont scots engineers biuld a scotts police car and keep the economy in scotland instead of paying the germans for their mercedes. The police should be taken away from politicians influance, and come under military control. we are more likely to get loyalty to the people rather than politicians.
2007-02-21 23:14:42 · answer #6 · answered by trucker 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Without fear or favour, malice or ill will, well and truly serve our sovereign lady, the Queen - part of the oath they take - so their true allegiance is to the Queen first - make of that what you will as the Queen is politically controlled by government!
2007-02-20 23:03:19 · answer #7 · answered by jamand 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
They swear allegiance to the Crown and the serving government of the time
2007-02-21 02:27:04 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
The government and even more so when we become a police state. The government is meant to be a servant of the people but its getting the other way round
2007-02-21 00:42:10 · answer #9 · answered by vdv_desantnik 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
The British police are supposed to be non political. Their primary allegiance should be to uphold the law.
2007-02-20 23:01:15 · answer #10 · answered by Barbara Doll to you 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋