Accountability has all but collapsed in this country, and the unceremonious bundling out of Britain’s top police officer has done little to restore due process in the scrutiny of major public figures.
At least he has been called to account, which is more than one can say about many others who have presided over public disasters. No senior official was held to account for the loss of two computer discs containing the bank account and other sensitive data of half the entire population, nor the senior MOD officer who lost a lap-top containing the details of 600,000 potential recruits to the armed forces. The permanent secretary at DEFRA responsible for the computerised farm payments fiasco which cost taxpayers over £300 millions was actually soon after promoted, as was Cressida Dick the Met Operations Director the day that Jean Charles de Menezes was shot dead by police. After the Iraq War no debate was held in the House of Commons with a vote at the end to hold the Government, and in particular Tony Blair, to account for Britain’s involvement in the war. Enormous over-spends of taxpayers’ money on tax credits (£2bn), the Olympics (£6bn) and Government IT projects (£10bn plus) have never led to anyone being held publicly responsible. The bankers who destroyed several banks and now threaten entire economies have so far escaped unscathed – usually with a monstrous pay-off bonus. The list goes on and on.
Britain is now an irresponsible society. Sadly, now that Ian Blair has been removed, the manner of his going has undermined any idea that proper procedures were being restored. The political skulduggery behind his ousting and the unilateral action taken by the Mayor rather than the joint decision of the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA)have seen to that. There was clearly a case against Ian Blair – the Menezes killing, the slow-burning accusation of racial discrimination in the Met, and the award of police contracts to Blair’s close friend – but these required full and balanced assessment leading to a final judgement by the Home Secretary and the MPA. Parliament also should hav e been keeping a close eye on the management of policing in London through the Home Affairs Select Committee. In the event, the political macho of an inexperienced and ambitious Mayor has set back the cause of accountability still further.

Bookmark to: