Two in the wrong bed

I am going to post something here that comes from http://worldwearydetective.blogspot.com/. I've not hidden it as a link because I want to emphasise that it comes from a serving police officer. Talking about the way things are in his own force. One that has a mixed background of worthy and gallant service together with the dark edges of corruption. That corruption reached very high in the force - London is a rich city and there were some very tempting offers flying about. I knew many Met officers in the early '70s just as the clear-out started and was privy to much that was wrong. What I never heard then - and I suspect never happened then - was the suggestion that police would or could be used for overt political ends. That is very worrying. A turkey for the DI is one thing but allying the politicians with the law enforcers open the door into a very dark and foul-smelling room. This is what our detective says:

Political Police & The War On Terror

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Peter Clarke, the head of Scotland Yard's Anti-Terrorist Branch, has recently made a speech stressing the unprecedented threat from terrorism. He has made reference to a number of persons awaiting trial, and plots that the police have prevented.

The timing of this speech is interesting. Tony Blair's latest efforts to introduce new terrorism legislation has passed through the Commons recently, and is due for debate in the Lords shortly. What better support for New Labour than the cautionary words of Britain's most senior anti-terror police officer?

Offences under terrorist legislation are wide ranging. Which offences are the persons on remand accused of? What plots have been stopped? More detail can be revealed to the public without compromising police operations. As is usual in terrorist matters, the word of those charged with countering the threat to national security is expected to be sufficient for the public to support our political leaders.

Tony Blair continues in his efforts to introduce the offence of glorifying terrorism and moots an offence of indirect encouragement of terrorism. He is now making use of his supporters within the police service to drum up support for such controversial measures.

The terrorist threat to this country has increased by 70% since the invasion of Iraq. This is the unofficial figure used by the Anti-Terrorist Branch, Special Branch and the Security Services.

I hope this officer does not attract the attention of his seniors to his blogging. We have seen others on his force who have been warned off because of their honesty in their blogging life.