In the wake of the new government’s cuts – modest and insignificant though they are – it was to be expected that those being cut would squeal somewhat. And squeal they do.
Britain’s most senior anti-terror officer John Yates has sparked a political row after he warned spending cuts would increase the risk of attack.
My immediate response to such an outburst would be; “evidence, please”.
There are plenty of places where there cuts may be made without affecting front-line security – and, frankly, I have become weary of the perpetual cries of “terrorism” used to justify illiberal laws, police intrusion into our daily lives and outright bullying of the citizen. So colour me unimpressed by Yates’ petty little outburst. Sure, there is a risk that we may be subjected to an attack. There always was. There always will be. This does not justify the heavy-handed approach taken by the previous administration and it does not follow that cutting back on useless bullying of the populace will increase that risk.
This is textbook rent seeking and the Cleggerons need to be firm in dealing with it.
Cabinet Office Minister Francis Maude reacted angrily to Assistant Commissioner Yates’s comments, accusing him of “shroud-waving” and “alarmism”.
Quite. Jolly good.
Naturally, the dinosaurs responsible for the mess we are in react somewhat differently.
But Labour’s Alan Johnson warned “we will all be in greater peril” if anti-terror operations are scaled back.
Again… Evidence, please.
The Times said Mr Yates described the planned cuts as “eye-watering”.
And there was me thinking that they were rather modest. However, there’s plenty of fat that can be cut without causing the slightest moistening of the eye.
Now, given that Sir Hugh Orde is so very worried about the levels of policing in this time of austerity, I can only assume that he would be thrilled were the government to withdraw all of its funding for ACPO—money which will, in any case, only be spent on champagne for Hugh and his buddies—and, instead, directed that cash to frontline policing.
See? Get rid of ACPO and save wads of cash without touching the front-line. What’s not to like?
He was reported to have made the comments at a private meeting during the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) annual conference in Manchester on Thursday.
Ah…
Exactly!