There was a time when institutions such as the police and the armed forces enjoyed a certain level of respect and admiration. The sound of a siren or glimpse of a uniform would send shivers down the spines of wrongdoers and leave average Britons proud of their crime fighters and freedom protectors. Yet why, especially in the 21st century, does Britain face an escalating law and order crisis? The so-called 'good guys' are no longer feared and cherished in equal measure. Instead they are increasingly considered untrustworthy and inept. Whilst politicians ceaselessly pronounce that crime figures are dropping, newly released data highlights how the prison population currently stands at an all time high - 85,578 - and Britain was named as "one of Europe's crime hotspots".
Three recent events have - to say the least - hindered the previously felt appreciation towards the police and armed forces. First up, there were the mysterious deaths at Deepcut Army Barracks. Then came the insufficient News of the World phone hacking inquiry, followed swiftly by the tragic death of Ian Tomlinson. All ghastly episodes that have severely diminished the publics trust in what was formerly a treasured establishment. When you heard previously of obnoxious youths arrogantly taunting the police or military, your first instinct was to judge, 'Disrespectful little hooligans'. Regrettably, my reaction nowadays has swung. I would be more inclined to assess their views more sincerely. This is the saddening reality facing us today. And these feelings can all be traced back to three unpleasant incidents involving our respected boys in blue and camouflaged men of steel.
Whilst the armed forces cannot be blamed for the wars currently taking place around the globe, our veneration of them is affected by their day-to-day actions. When we hear of unlawful activity or corruption - reliably fed via Wikileaks - is it any wonder the esteem for which we once held them is in fast decline? The disturbing antics of Deepcut shall forever tarnish my view of the military. In the years 1995-2002, four young Privates were found dead, all suffering gunshot wounds, on the grounds of Deepcut Barracks in Surrey. The Army claimed they were all suicides, but subsequent ballistics tests prove otherwise. Private Geoff Gray was found with two deadly gunshot wounds to the head. As leading forensic expert Frank Swann states, "It can't be done". How can an individual shoot themselves twice? Moreover, an individual was reportedly seen running away from the scene of the crime, yet no further inquiries were made.
Similarly, the death of Private Sean Benton was strangely deemed to have been a suicide. He was found with five bullet wounds to the chest. Ballistics tests conclude that four of the bullets were fired from a distance. Unless Private Benton was a reincarnation of Stretch Armstrong suicide seems an unrealistic explanation. Either way, the police's investigation was far from satisfactory and were it not for a leaked report in November 2004 revealing how there had been 150 allegations of abuse from within Deepcut Barracks, it is highly unlikely that the public would be aware of these appalling atrocities. These events helped trigger the public's distrust in both the military and Britain's police force. For as far back as many can remember, the police have been riddled with allegations of corruption. Hollywood has even created an inclusive genre, solely concerned with the problems relating to establishment malfeasance; Serpico and The Offence being prime examples from the 1970's.
Whilst police corruption is neither new nor surprising, it has been abhorrently underscored via the disturbing News International disclosures. Senior Metropolitan Police officials have been accused of accepting payments for providing newspapers with exclusive information regarding confidential cases. Former News of the World editor Rebekah Brookes revealed in 2003 how she had authorised payments to the police in return for juicy gossip relating to high profile criminal stories. Despite these shocking revelations, no further action was taken notwithstanding the fact that this was - and remains - an illegal practice. During the MP's questioning of Sir Paul Stephenson earlier this month, he unearthed how one quarter of the Met Police's press staff had - at some point - worked for Rupert Murdoch's News International. This allowed the public to make up their own minds as to whether the relationship was far too close for comfort or not.
Ian Tomlinson was an innocent, hard-working newspaper vendor going about his usual business on the 1st April 2009. Little did he know that this was to be his last day. Whilst walking home from work he was struck with a baton and pushed forcefully to the ground by a policeman who had been on duty during the same days G20 summit protests. Mr Tomlinson had neither provoked nor threatened PC Simon Harwood yet was beaten and bullied by a man supposedly committed to defending and upholding the law. Lies and blatant cover-up attempts were made by the police in order to avoid serious repercussions. Thankfully, all these cover-up efforts have been exposed and justice may well be materialising. But what are the long-term consequences? When the police turn around and condemn misconduct, there is an air of hypocrisy surrounding the denouncement. When the military states how they are fighting for their country, there is an air of hypocrisy surrounding the assertion. Why were they not fighting tooth-and-nail to extract the truth surrounding the deaths of fellow countrymen Benton, James, Gray and Tollinson?
In this universal climate of protest and mass dissent - just look at the student riots of last year - we need our police force and military to be honourable and trustworthy. Instead, we live in a time when law enforcers are as unlawful as the criminals they are locking up. Are our crime fighters returning to the bigoted days of Dirty Harry Callaghan; when officers of the law saw nothing wrong with a racist slur or a casual punch-up? The public have had enough. A wind of change may be fast approaching. No longer can the police and armed forces get away with murder. Politicians - equally as corrupt - must take a stand and realise, sooner rather than later, that they are public servants. After all, all these individual institutions (military, police and parliament) are supposed to represent us and act upon our concerns. Well here is food for thought: sack every bent copper, discharge every crooked military personnel and exclude every dodgy politician from Westminster. Replace them with the millions of honest, moral, unemployed members of society and watch as the nation gets back on its feet...
...it's just a thought.