Daily Times

Security, stability and a peaceful environment are fundamental goals of all states in contemporary world affairs. To achieve these goals, the existence of a competent and professional intelligence system is vital. Intelligence analysis, collection and the information process help law enforcement agencies in protecting national security. Like all other law enforcing bodies, the British agencies face a tough task of maintaining law and order across the country. The recent mistrust between government, communities and the police; controversies regarding the basic function of the border agency and the day-to-day changing strategies of the Home Office proved the fact that some government circles were trying to influence the present security infrastructure of the country. These political attempts and the deteriorating law and order across the country raised many questions. From the Home Office to the border agency, the Metropolitan police to the serious organised crime agencies and intelligence-led policing, every law-enforcing agency has its own agenda and programmes. It was obvious no proper coordination and exchange of information existed during the riots of last year. This culture of policing may create further instability.

The British law enforcement agencies perform different roles in different fields. Intelligence agencies help enforcement of law in many ways but the war in Afghanistan and the Middle East diverted their attention from countering domestic terrorism to international terrorism. The collective failure of the UK police to provide an appropriate and professional service to the communities and to serve citizens because of their colour, culture or ethnic origin has become a hot debate in the national press.

Although the Home Office showed commitment to the Macpherson inquiry for the implementation of an inspection report on police-community and race relations, which clearly warns that the police cannot achieve success without the support of communities, neither the Home Office fulfilled its commitment nor any positive change in the police attitude towards communities occurred. The Home Office, policing-improvement agency and independent police complaints commission receive thousands of complaints from the public against the misconduct of the police department but we see no improvement in the attitude of the police force. Police stop thousands of people in the streets for checking, but no big criminal has so far been arrested. The ‘moral crisis’ at the heart of policing is now so acute that it ought to be a matter of great concern.

The employment of illegal immigrants within the police department as civilian members staff, who perform many functions to assist the police, created many controversies that the virus of corruption had also penetrated the police rank and file. Currently, in England and Wales, a police authority, nine local councillors and eight department members including magistrates are responsible for overseeing each local force. In Northern Ireland, the police service is being supervised by policing onboard and in Scotland each police force is overseen by a local authority. The virus of sectarianism and racism is rapidly spreading in the police department. It is the centre of numerous deficiencies and controversies. To intercept corruption and the entrance of incompetent people into the police department, on November 15, 2012, Wales and England police will have elections in all their sections. Policing experts understand that this will be the biggest shake-up since the establishment of the force. Some government circles view these changes as the empowerment of local communities to decide policing priorities. The Home Secretary has hinted at police reforms to reconnect the police and communities. The National Crime Agency will also be established but will only be operational in 2013. The 2011 spending review of the present government declared 20 percent cuts, which according to the Association of the Chief Police Officers (ACPO), will lead to 28,000 jobs being slashed during four years.

Keeping in view all these changes, one has to suggest that immediate reforms in the COBRA system and its contribution in the national security issue, its achievement technique and effectiveness are necessary. The cabinet committee that deals with major crises such as terrorism or natural disasters should be replaced with a new National Security Operation Centre. Another suggestion is regarding the degree of transparency in the intelligence infrastructure. Accountability must be maintained and there must be some changes in the Intelligence Act 1994 to streamline the activities of intelligence agencies. The UK intelligence community also stands in a difficult situation due to the changing opinions and stances of government and opposition leaders on the issue of national security. It must be borne in mind that intelligence and security (Michael Herman, 2011) are closely related activities because security in many states is based on intelligence assessments. The approaches of the security sector to terrorism should be based on a double balance. First, there must be a balance between the current focus on combating terrorism and the need to tackle other threats. Second, the threat from terrorism must be dealt with in a way consistent with certain fundamental values.

The government in 2009 attempted to introduce some reforms in the intelligence infrastructure and released a few proposals but faced opposition from some political circles. Some government circles supported the idea and suggested that with these proposals the function of the cabinet office would become more effective as it worked together with intelligence agencies, including MI6 and MI5. The Foreign Office, its counter-terrorism department, the Home Office, its counter-terrorism office, department of international development, CID, DIS, RIPA and SOCSA, all play their own specified role to ensure the stability of the country.

The threat of terrorism or violent extremism has not been imported from abroad; it is Britain’s own problem caused by its indirect involvement in South Asia and the Middle East. The flames of the arming of the Afghan Mujahideen, Taliban and dissidents in the Middle East and South Asia that slowly and systematically reached here, warmed the blood of young Muslims. These unnecessary involvements cultivated the seeds of numerous violent security threats. Police and law enforcement agencies are now tired of tackling these threats but due to this self-inflicted crisis, the police weakened its ability to meet these challenges.

The writer is author of Policing in Multicultural Britain, can be reached at zai.musakhan222@gmail.com