Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Corruption Here Corruption There Corruption Everywhere Madeleine McCann Met Police





A fellow with two neurons bolted together, might come to the conclusion that Madeleine McCann wasn't expected home anytime soon.
 

I don't normally lift entire articles, especially those written by self serving hacks. In this particular instance, that being, assistant editor of the Daily Mail, Neil Darbyshire.

Not that my own reasons for posting the article aren't self serving. Anything that might bring about a road to Damascus moment for those that harbour unwarranted faith in the integrity of  the Metropolitan Police Service, is I think, justifiable. It is specifically in relation to the investigation (sic) into the missing (deceased) Madeleine McCann, that I speak. And lo, the scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he finally saw the true light.

As I say, the article is self serving. So ere on the side of caution when presented with the writer's opinion. Typified in all its glory by the last paragraph.

Tell me how that one has worked out so far. Again in relation to the death of Madeleine McCann.



The shocking truth about police corruption in Britain

It’s a growing problem. But they’re hunting whistleblowers instead
                           Neil Darbyshire 7 March 2015



Imagine you lived in a country which last year had 3,000 allegations of police corruption. Worse, imagine that of these 3,000 allegations only half of them were properly investigated — because for police officers in this country, corruption was becoming routine. Imagine that the police increasingly used their powers to crack down not on criminals but on anyone who dared speak out against them. What sort of a country is this? Well, it’s Britain I’m afraid — where what was once the finest, most honest service in the world is in danger of becoming rotten.

Some of this was revealed in a little-noticed report by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary, which went on to deliver some even more shocking news. Nearly half of 17,200 officers and staff surveyed said that if they discovered corruption among their colleagues and chose to report it, they didn’t believe their evidence would be treated in confidence and would fear ‘adverse consequences’. This appalling lack of protection for whistle-blowers — often amounting to persecution — has become commonplace throughout the public services and creates a climate in which dishonesty and malpractice flourish.

The second report, compiled by the Serious Organised Crime Agency, bears this out. It says there has been a sharp increase over the past five years in the number of police officers dealing heroin, cocaine and amphetamines and an equally startling rise in the number of officers abusing their power ‘for sexual gratification’ — in other words bullying or cajoling suspects, witnesses and even victims into having sex with them.

Just this week, in fact, it emerged that the Met suspended 73 coppers, community support officers and other staff on corruption charges in the past two years. They cited drug crimes, bribery, theft, fraud, sexual misconduct and — everybody’s favourite — un-authorised disclosure of information. Eleven were convicted in court, but what happened to the others? The Met spokesman said rather blandly that some were allowed to resign or retire (presumably with full pension rights) and some were dismissed.

This rise in corruption and the apparent reluctance of police chiefs to fight it is a toxic combination. As ever, chief constables blame lack of resources for not being able to pursue inquiries into claims of malpractice. But what could be a greater priority than ensuring that their own officers are not breaking the law? These same police chiefs seem to find endless funds to pursue ancient sex abuse allegations, chase people who say unpleasant things on Twitter and prosecute journalists.

The vast majority of Britain’s police do a sometimes extremely arduous job with honesty, skill and good humour. But corruption left unchecked can infect entire forces. Anyone who doubts this need only study the lessons of the not-too-distant past.

Forty-five years ago the Times splashed across its front page a sensational story that led ultimately to what became known as ‘The Fall of Scotland Yard’. Under the headline ‘London policemen in bribe allegations’, it revealed a tale.

The story, backed by taped conversations, bluntly accused three Yard detectives of planting evidence and taking back-handers from criminals ‘in exchange for dropping charges, being lenient with evidence in court, and for allowing a criminal to work unhindered’. If it had been just those three rogue officers, the story might quickly have been forgotten. But the tapes hinted at a far more endemic culture of graft and criminality.of corruption that came as a profound shock to a nation accustomed to seeing its constabulary through the prism of Dixon of Dock Green and Z Cars. A leading criminal lawyer of the time remarked: ‘It was like catching the Archbishop of Canterbury in bed with a prostitute.’

Over the next few years, the Obscene Publications Squad was exposed as a tawdry protection racket extracting regular tithes from pornographers and Soho club-owners; drugs squad officers were shown to be running illegal cannabis deals; and half the Flying Squad was in the pay of criminals. These were not the clandestine activities of a few low-ranking detectives on the take. Whole squads were involved and the seniority of some of those taken down at the Old Bailey was shocking. In the words of trial judge Mr Justice Mars-Jones, it was ‘corruption on a scale that beggars description’.

The exposures of these corruption rackets had one thing in common — they were all revealed in the first place by the efforts of Britain’s free press. But these journalists could not have achieved all they did without the help of whistleblowers. Some of these were pornographers and criminals tired of being milked and intimidated, but others were rank and file police officers disgusted by the greed and criminality of so many of their peers.

The tragedy is that 40 years on, honest policemen in a similar position would fear arrest and imprisonment for even approaching a journalist without permission, despite the clear public interest in their doing so.

The police appear to be retreating into a bunker of secrecy and paranoia where all news must be ‘managed’ and freedom of information is considered a threat. On its website — alongside some vacuous rubbish about ‘declaring total war on crime’ — the Met claims to be committed to carrying out its duties with ‘humility’ and ‘transparency’.

Could anything be further from the truth? With its constant leak inquiries, harassment of whistleblowers and journalists, and scandalous misuse of terror legislation to tap the phone records and emails of ordinary citizens, the Met is probably more authoritarian and opaque than at any time in modern history. This culture comes directly from the top.

Being Commissioner of the Met has long been the most difficult job in policing, but there have been some good ones. Robert Mark, the Normandy veteran who cleaned out the Yard’s Augean stables in the 1970s; Ken Newman, a steely, austere man who served in Palestine during the emergency and headed the Royal Ulster Constabulary before re-organising the Met into a modern force; and the thoughtful Paul Condon, whose tenure came to a turbulent end with the Stephen Lawrence inquiry but who was arguably the cleverest of the lot. Each had his strengths and weaknesses but they all knew that a free, well-informed press was a cornerstone of policing in a democracy. Informal contact was generally encouraged, and in more than ten years as a crime correspondent in the 1980s and 1990s, I don’t recall a single leak inquiry or junior officer being disciplined for passing information to newspapers in good faith.

These men had respect for the office of constable — not least because they had all spent years on the front line before rising through the ranks. And they believed that part of their duty of accountability was to keep the public properly informed of what they were doing and why.

The present generation of police chiefs come from a very different breed. Fast-tracked and homogenised from an early stage, they can be difficult to tell apart. Often laden with degrees in law, business and ‘criminology’ accumulated during their police careers, they are more managers than police officers — managers of budgets, managers of public relations and, most importantly, managers of risk to their own careers. They speak in the obscure, vapid jargon of stakeholder engagement, paradigm shifts and proactivity. So much for transparency.

The present Met chief, Bernard Hogan-Howe, is of this ilk. He may develop into a great commissioner but the signs so far have not been promising. He has a pet theory which he calls ‘total policing’ (apparently based on the ‘total football’ played by Holland in the 1970s). It’s mainly harmless drivel about coppers having to play in all positions. But it contains an extremely sinister subtext. Explaining the philosophy a few years ago, he said it meant that ‘no legal tactic is out of bounds’ in the investigation of crime. Reasonable enough, one might think at first glance, but the problem with this catchy little mantra is that it takes no account of proportionality.

One of Hogan-Howe’s first moves after arriving at the Met was to use the Official Secrets Act to try to compel a Guardian journalist to reveal the source of a story about celebrity phone hacking. The Official Secrets Act is meant principally to be used to trap spies, traitors and those who threaten the defence of the realm — not reporters going about their legitimate business. This was a disproportionate and oppressive use of the law.

Similarly, legislation designed to combat terrorism and serious crime, such as the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act, is used with alarming frequency by Hogan-Howe and other police chiefs to snoop on the internet and phone records of law-abiding citizens. This is the tactic of the police state. Not so much total policing as totalitarian policing.

Naturally, the ‘total policeman’ also favours more armed officers on routine duties, more Tasers and the mainland deployment of water cannon to disperse rioters, despite the fact that its use in Northern Ireland tended to inflame tensions rather than cool them. He also favours police officers being taken off the electoral roll and not wearing their uniforms on the way to and from duty shifts.The rise in Islamist terrorism has increased the threat level for soldiers and the police and sensible measures must be taken to combat that. But just as great a threat was posed over 30 years by the Provisional IRA and its offshoots without panic reactions. Hogan-Howe appears to be taking the police away from being a service and back towards being a coercive force. This is starkly demonstrated by the pursuit of journalists in the wake of the baleful Leveson inquiry. It has been driven to the point of absurdity, with up to 200 officers involved at one time and dozens of hapless hacks put before the courts, some on the flimsiest of charges.

All this has wider implications for the integrity of the police. One of the consequences of a heavy-handed police leadership stretching the law and using their power to bully and intimidate is that rank and file officers are encouraged to think they can do the same. Once ordinary officers start abusing power, a culture of semi-criminal behaviour becomes normal and whistleblowers are treated not as honourable but as traitors.

Judging from the recent reports, this may already be happening to an alarming degree around the country. The lessons of history suggest that if police chiefs are serious about neutralising the threat of corruption, they will need the help and support of the press. They will only get it if they start talking to journalists — instead of looking for reasons to arrest them. Spectator

Neil Darbyshire is an assistant editor at the Daily Mail. He is a former deputy editor of the Daily Telegraph, where he was crime correspondent for many years.

30 comments:

Anonymous said...

Might I bump this forward from a previous thread? To me it says everything.

Martin Roberts (email exchange with Himself):

"By the by...whereabouts in the Grange 'remit' should one look for authorisation in respect of branching out to 'investigate' supposed sexual assaults committed within the Portuguese Algarve? Was that paragraph redacted? The more likely interpretation..is that those mysterious (as in previously unreported) attacks had fuck all to do with anything, much less 'point zero' and the imaginary abduction of Madeleine McCann."

But these attacks(?) "need dealing with" said DCI Redwood, vis a vis his search for the truth of what happened to Madeleine McCann.

Could it not be clearer? Was it ever Redwood`s belief that his "investigation" might one day be exposed to the scrutiny of a court? Or was he assured that such a time would never come? (Was he not assuring as much himself?)

Agnos (for want of a better name!)

Himself said...

Glad you've chosen a handle, it helps me no end. Unless the content is in a very specific style, (which it is as it happens)I have no way of differentiating one anonymous from the other.

Could it not be clearer? Was it ever Redwood`s belief that his "investigation" might one day be exposed to the scrutiny of a court? Or was he assured that such a time would never come? (Was he not assuring as much himself?)

If it wasn't then, perhaps it was after he read this. And I'm sure he would have done, it is after all, human nature to do so.

Extremely handy and simple if you want to quote the text of a third party. (As my italics)

http://cms.about.com/od/maintain-your-cms-website/a/Write-In-Html-Bold-Italic-And-Links.htm

Himself said...

Pray pardon, I forgot the link.

http://onlyinamericablogging.blogspot.com/2014/11/detective-chief-inspector-andy-redwood_11.html

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the links. You can spot a not techy!

I believe you're right, he/they will have read. They know what they're involved with. Hence the pity that more people aren't able/willing to see what is happening.

Agnos

Anonymous said...

I went back to some of the Leveson testimony that would have coincided with the Bell Pottinger "contract". It`s sickening.
This is a Lisa O`Carroll report from the Guardian. Kate details the traumatic effect of being separated from £500,000. (Mccannfiles.com)

Often they (the photographers) would spring out from a hedge so they could get a startled look so they could attach "frail" or "fragile" (to the headline), she said. She added that her daughter Amelie, who was 2 at the time, told her she was scared.

Money well spent. Mrs McCann left the hearing looking "frail" and/or "fragile".

Agnos

Himself said...

Bonjour my techy friend.

Good quote, nicely picked up on. I'm sure I shall make use of it. (In the very near future)

"frail" and/or "fragile" Or woe, we mustn't forget woe.

http://themccanngallery.blogspot.com/2010/03/daily-mails-kate-mccann-gallery-of-woe.html

Same thing I guess.

I stumbled across this when looking for the Woe Gallery.

http://themccanngallery.blogspot.com/2010/03/review-by-uk-police-nonsense-or-thin.html

Anonymous said...

Bonjour Himself, italics, no less!

And such woe indeed. Perhaps she should avoid hedges.

I wasn't aware of Alan Johnson's little oar in this. (I'm sorely tempted to add a rejoinder to that, but better not!)

Agnos

Himself said...

The very near future then.

https://twitter.com/TeddyShepherd/status/576359638997815297

It all helps, a bit here, a bit there.

Anonymous said...

It makes for one hell of a juxtaposition! And clearly Bell was getting no complaints from his "clients" at the time it was happening.

I'll keep chipping in when I can!

Agnos

Anonymous said...

The things you find yourself reading because of all of this:

https://www.app.college.police.uk/app-content/investigations/european-investigations/#joint-investigations

On joint investigations it states:

When considering whether to establish a JIT, investigators, prosecutors and/or judges from the member states, together with delegates from Europol and Eurojust, should have a ’round table’ discussion about the relevant matters at the earliest opportunity, before any formal process or agreement is prepared.

(No mention of Ambassadors BTW!)

The nature of such agreements can be seen here:

https://www.europol.europa.eu/sites/default/files/council_rec_on_jit_agreement___march_2010.pdf

It`s all pretty mundane as it happens; however it`s interesting to see that these agreements are set within strict time limits. (Exit stage left?)

I don`t know how this will be received in Rothley, but many people seem to forget that there are still 4 Arguidos constituted in Portugal. It is their DNA that OG has made repeated appeals to obtain; and it is properties associated with them that they have wanted searched.

I`m certainly not gonna start counting chickens just yet!

Agnos...again

Himself said...

I don`t know how this will be received in Rothley, but many people seem to forget that there are still 4 Arguidos constituted in Portugal. It is their DNA that OG has made repeated appeals to obtain; and it is properties associated with them that they have wanted searched.

Which tells you all you need to know about the validity of Operation Grange.

Not forgetting the, I was about to say, the subservience of the PJ, but I think that might be unfair. Shall I just say politics, both UK & PT?

Anonymous said...

Himself,
Yeah, some top level arm twisting I think, and Hogan-Howe finally has his JIT. That was clearly the priority facing DCI Wall. In principle maybe a good thing; at least it ends the Rogatory circus. But in practice.....well?

The PJ will lose whatever leverage they might have been able to exercise, and the Met get the freedom of the city (Lisbon that is).

Fool that I am, I'm willing to hold out a small flame of hope. Wall appears to have made this a JIT in a matter of weeks; whereas Redwood failed miserably over the course of 2 years! Perhaps she brought something new to the table?

Or more likely, the PJ themselves just want rid?

Agnos

(It's the hope the hurts!)

Himself said...

Hope is the worst of evils, for it prolongs the torments of man. Nietzsche

Anonymous said...

And he wasn`t wrong.

Wiki: As an officer of the foreign service, an ambassador is expected to protect the citizens of his/her home country in the host country.

You don`t say.

Current Uk Ambassador to PT being the fast tracked Kirsty Hayes.

Wiki again:
from 2002 to 2005, she served as Private Secretary to the British Ambassador to the United States; first Sir Christopher Meyer

Oh.

Not in the loop?

Agnos

Anonymous said...

http://www.gofundme.com/Legal-DefencePJGA

Tom R

Other than what they'd been told by the parents, the media didn't know what had happened to Madeleine or who was responsible for her disappearance but they still advertised the McCanns private limited company and, though there was no evidence of abduction, they actively encouraged the public to donate their hard earned money to a couple of strangers. Over the years stories have changed, lies have been told and vast sums of money spent on libel lawyers and numerous public relations companies. The parents actually made a £500,000 payment to Bell Pottinger to keep them on the front pages of every paper, every day, for a year and then complained of press intrusion. Don't blame people for doubting their story and asking questions. If there's one thing the public hate, it's being lied to.

Anonymous said...

I believe that Bell Pottinger was paid to protect Mark Warners worldwide, valuable childcare licence.

Anonymous said...

I believe that Mark Warners nanny was minding Madeleine in apartment 5A when she fell off the sofa onto a tiled floor, smashed her head & sadly died.

Himself said...

Based on?

If Madeleine died from a simple accident, there would be no need for a cover-up.

Unless . . .

Unless the McCanns couldn't afford to have Maddie's body autopsied for "unrelated reasons."

Anonymous said...

I believe the McCanns were terrified of an autopsy being done & Warners did not know this when they offered the McCanns & Tapas group mega money to say that no Warner nanny was minding Madeleine in 5A.

Anonymous said...

I believe, as previously stated in my last reply that the McCanns were terrified of an autopsy being done ( due to long term sedation, etc) & Warners did not know this information when they offered the McCanns & the Tapas group mega money to say that no Warner nanny was present minding Madeleine in apartment 5A when she died.

Anonymous said...

I believe that Madeleine died on Sunday evening & that Bell Pottingers Crisis Management team were employed very early on by Warners to assist with the coverup of their nanny minding Madeleine in apartment 5A on that fateful Sunday evening. Warners had too much to lose by this revelation, their valuable worldwide childcare licence & reputation. The McCanns had too much to lose if an autopsy was done (unknown to Warners) & it became a win, win situation for all concerned when the mega money deal was done.

Anonymous said...

I believe that Lord Bell has boasted of his contacts in Government & that he was paid to keep the McCanns version of their story in the newspapers. Warners are a client of Bell Pottingers PR company... join the dots. Regards from Universe.

Anonymous said...

I believe... by Universe

Anonymous said...

I believe that the 3 Mark Warner nannies, Cayriona, Amy & Charlotte wrote their police statements under duress with Warners pressuring them to give Warners version of events only. Later they & the Tapas group found they were in too deep & would face purgery etc charges if they now told the truth. Pact of silence. .. W. B. Universe.

Anonymous said...

I believe that apartment 5J was used for short term storage of Madeleine's body in the fridge there from Sunday evening. Access to this apartment was provided by Warners in conjunction with Pottingers Crisis Management Team. ...W.B. Universe.

Anonymous said...

I believe that Warners & their Pottinger Crisis Management Team phoned Robert Murat.

Anonymous said...

I believe that Warners phoned Murat to rush to PDL to have him offer his translating services to the up-comming police investigation to keep Warners informed of what the police were learning etc.

Himself said...

Whereas I am by no means disparaging your beliefs, I fancy you need to elaborate as to why you believe such, because otherwise, your beliefs without reasoning, don't progress us any further.

Take this statement of belief for instance:

I believe that apartment 5J was used for short term storage of Madeleine's body in the fridge there from Sunday evening. Access to this apartment was provided by Warners in conjunction with Pottingers Crisis Management Team

Which begs the question. Do you have a source for apt 5J, other than this blog?

Anonymous said...

The reasoning behind my beliefs of what happened to Madeleine are based on elaborate research of many years to help get justice for Madeleine & Mr. Amaral. You are obviously on another wavelength from me, sadly, so I will leave you in peace.

Himself said...

AS you wish. But thank you for stopping by and gracing us with your opinion.