Daily Times

The Constitution of Britain is composed of laws and rules that create institutions and maintain the relationship between the state, individuals and among all institutions. The law is enforced by law enforcement agencies that tend to be limited to operating within a specific jurisdiction. In the UK, there are numerous policing organisations and their private partners struggling to enforce law and maintain order but everything is not going in the right direction in the policing community and community policing system. Relations between communities and the police are strained as they do not trust each other in the fight against terrorism, extremism and serious organised crime. In the last three years, the UK’s law enforcement strategy is in deep crisis as frustration continues to exacerbate the pain of the police department, home office and policing intelligence agencies. Terror-related incidents increased, Islamic State (IS) recruited and radicalised elements returning to the UK by the day, and the issue of illegal immigrants have all started causing torment for the authorities.

Prime Minister (PM) David Cameron recently authorised an investigation into the illegal funds of UK-based extremist jihadist groups, while Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond dramatically revealed that more than 600 radicalised Britons had been intercepted going for jihad to Syria. “Approximately 800 have made it through since 2012, with half of them still thought to be inside the war torn country,” Philip told The Telegraph. The Metropolitan Police are facing unprecedented difficulty in dealing with these jihadists and racism across the country. In 2011, the failure of the Metropolitan Police to manage and control criminal gangs and their violent actions on the streets of London raised serious questions about the competency and credibility of the force. To improve the operational capability and remove the prevailing misunderstanding regarding the police force, Mr Tom Winsor had been assigned the task of conducting an independent review of police officers and staff remuneration and conditions, which was published on March 8, 2011.

The home secretary once admitted that the home office had implemented the majority of Mr Tom Winsor’s recommendations, and further added that there were holes that needed to be tackled. After a thorough consideration and deep investigation of the case, Mr Tom designed the modern police pay structure, which could not succeed. Police officers are still unable to manage their kitchens and mortgages with the shallow monthly amount they receive. The two years freeze on pay increments and hour allowance could not bring change to the minds of many officers. Mr Tom Winsor’s proposal to encourage young people to join the police force also proved ineffective. There is fear that foreign intelligence agents or criminal gangs may possibly infiltrate the police department by applying for employment. In his 1,000-page report, Mr Tom maintained that the roots of policing lie in a working class structure. This perception enraged thousands of police officers. Against these reforms, on July 24, 2012, the Police Negotiation Board did not agree to some proposals relating to pay and conditions, while Mr Tom Winsor’s policing reforms faced strong opposition from some institutions and specific circles.

In 2010, the coalition government in Britain announced a 20 percent reduction in the police budget over a period of four years, which prompted frustration within the force as many police forces began to consider outsourcing key service areas to the private sector to save money. In July 2012, the failure of the G4S in maintaining the Olympic’s security generated negative debate in print and electronic media. The debate noted the inability of private security agencies to help the police in maintaining law and order in the country. In my recent book, The Crisis of Britain’s Surveillance State, I have often indicated that private security companies have not adhered to national interests; their interests are with the money they are paid for. After reading these disappointing sagas of failed law enforcement strategies, one can understand the fear and irritation of our law enforcement agencies from the fact that due to their shrunk financial recourses, terrorists and foreign espionage networks across the country are making trouble.

The police department and home office maintain different priorities, while the priorities of intelligence agencies are quite different from both as they want stern action against domestic and international terrorist networks inside the country. Criminal gangs and Muslim extremists openly challenge the authority of the police and stab innocent citizens in the streets. The police are unable to tackle these outlawed criminals with empty hands. Corruption in the police department is a matter of great concern for the home office and Scotland Yard as well. In 2014, 3,000 allegations against the UK police were levelled but only 1,500 were investigated. The performance of the government’s prevention strategy has been very poor during the last two years. Law enforcement agencies are still unable to infiltrate into the networks of foreign terrorist groups operating in the country. Some research reports recently highlighted a countrywide operation of foreign sponsored, serious organised crime and human trafficking networks in conjunction with spy networks challenging the authority of law enforcement agencies.

Edward Snowden exposed the inability of British agencies to intercept radicals joining Islamic State (IS). Hate crime, extremism, criminal gangs’ networks and the presence of foreign intelligence networks across the country have threatened the lives of British citizens. Everyday, we experience new incidents of violence and terrorism but British law enforcement agencies (though well-equipped) have been unable to respond professionally. To manage law and order, and effectively counter domestic and international terror networks, the government needs wide-ranging security sector reforms. Britons still need to learn and manage forces with a professional streak. Closing hundreds of police stations may further deteriorate law and order across the country. There are some laws that remain ineffective while the government security threat level is at an all time high, but it has also been unsatisfactory. The prime minister has shown little interest in the deteriorating law and order in the country. The performance of police officers needs deep improvement and the police department needs a professional and educated police force. In view of the violent threat from IS and extremist groups in the country, Scotland Yard has doubled the number of armed police patrol. The Met will also boast a 400-strong specialist squad of firearm officers. The Scotland Yard chief, Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, recently announced that he was increasing the total number of trained marksmen by 600.

The writer is author of The Prospect of Nuclear Jihad in Pakistan can be reached at zai.musakhan222@gmail.com