Public confidence in police damaged, says MP

CONFIDENCE in the police has been damaged by a series of controversies, a leading MP has warned.

Keith Vaz, chairman of the Commons home affairs committee, said the public’s perception had been hit by a “dangerous cocktail” of scandals.

They include the critical Hillsborough report and Andrew Mitchell “plebgate” row, a senior MP has warned. He said this had been underlined by cuts in England and Wales.

Mr Vaz told the BBC: “I believe we have the best police force in the world and the work that is being done up and down the country is cherished by local people. But recent events, the Andrew Mitchell issue, the results of the Hillsborough inquiry and the fact that 26 out of the 43 police forces do not have a permanent chief constable – all these factors come together and become a dangerous cocktail.

“Taken together, this is an important moment and I feel we need to be very clear over what the police’s responsibilities are in the 21st century.”