Has the public really lost trust and confidence in the Met?

Trust and confidence are the key words for the Met Police. Communities we are told, are at an all time low with their confidence in the Met. But is this actually the case? We have seen the Met rocked by numerous scandals that have included the horrendous whats app messages that showed officers who the Met themselves have clearly stated have no place in their or any police force in the country. Messages that we all saw revealed awful levels of racism and misogyny that most of us were left appalled by and thanks to these despicable officers, all the decent hard working, and dedicated officers that do such a vital role across the capital, paid the price for.

But again, we ask has the community really lost trust in the Met or have they lost trust in those who should be funding a proper police service for the capital?

Across most countries in the world, the emergency services are the ones who are funded more than others due to their life saving role. Yet here, in London the Met has faced an axe that has come down so many times now that what we actually have is a police force left shredded in pieces that is trying to do what it can to keep our society safe. London is expanding, yet our police force has shrunk and is only just now starting to grow again.

For years Met Police officers have desperately urged politicians to stop the cuts as they would have long term consequences. Now we are at the point that they have had those consequences and we can see the results for our selves.

The relaxing of the vetting process due to financial constraints has provided the recent headlines of criminals and sex offenders working for police forces across the country. The financial constraints means officers were not provided with highest level of training they should have had, so crimes were not solved as they should have been. Cuts in officer numbers means burglaries and car thefts were not attended to which caused a great deal of controversy, rightly so. The list of misdemeanours is long sadly but also worth noting that it is not the police forces themselves that have chosen to make these cuts out of fun but because they had no choice.

There are thousands of officers across the capital, that will go to work today and not only do a very important role but one that is appreciated by many in the community. From schools officers, to youth engagement officers, to safer neighbourhood teams that all work with the community seven days a week. These officers do have the trust and confidence of the community and most are appreciated by them.

The trust and confidence the communities have lost is not in the police, but in those who have cut their funding and cut the funding of other vital service providers across the country. All these cuts as we have been repeatedly told, have had consequences. Our community here in London faces many challenges and crime has become more violent with daily knife crime and gun crime occurring. The work load for our frontline officers has at times become almost unbearable as they not only do their role, but those of social workers and mental health workers all rolled into one.

Many criticise the Met and its officers, but after spending a long shift with frontline officers, they can then see the reality of policing. Until you have experienced this reality of policing London’s capital, criticism should be left to one side.

There are many changes that need to be made, the Met itself acknowledge that, but there are also so many hard working officers that are tarnished with a brush that they should not be.

It is time now that our police force is funded properly, that our officers have the correct tools and staff they need to keep London safe, It is also time that we acknowledge all those decent hardworking officers that joined to make a difference and despite the endless challenges they face, do make that difference in our community.