Justice police personnel groups ‘damage crime fighting’

According to one think tank, police forces are diverted from crime-fighting by special-interest personnel groups.

Backed by former Home Secretary Priti Patel, the research warns of the growth of sometimes shadowy personnel networks, representing everyone from pagans to vegans.

The Policy Exchange found that 200 internal groups operated within the police force and some engaged in politics despite impartiality rules.

It said there was little transparency about their membership and activities, with some committees only providing their representatives’ initials.

The Policy Exchange said this could raise concerns about performance or misconduct for rogue officers (stock image)

David Spencer, the former Scotland Yard detective chief superintendent who wrote the report, said: ‘Where personnel networks publicly attempt to influence policing or government policy, they err well beyond the acceptable boundaries of political impartiality required of those involved in the police work.

“The way different staff networks operate is at odds with enabling forces to accomplish their core mission. Given the current crisis in the police force, this cannot continue.’

The National LGBT+ Police Network published an article by a serving sergeant attacking JK Rowling for her stance on transgender issues.

Guidelines on the site suggest that when officers change their gender, their personal information should be deleted and replaced with a new one containing their new information.

The Policy Exchange said this could raise concerns about the performance or misconduct of rogue officers.

The guideline also advocates that individuals who “identify as gender fluid may require two warrant cards on different days to represent their gender” – without addressing the security risk of potential misuse of additional warrant cards.

The National Association of Muslim Police has called on the Interior Ministry to stop calling terrorists Islamists or jihadists, while criticizing “right-wing” people who would object.

The National LGBT+ Police Network published an article by a serving sergeant attacking JK Rowling for her stance on transgender issues (file image)

In a foreword to the report, Ms Patel says it is “deeply concerning” that police pressure groups are competing for attention rather than serving the public.

She adds: “This report clearly shows that all too often the networks of police personnel cross that line and fail to maintain the proper boundaries of impartiality that are so crucial.”

The report will heighten police sense of crisis as one in seven troops take special measures and Scotland Yard admits that two or three of its officers appear in court every week.

Since the establishment of the first staff network in the police force, the Christian Police Association, in 1883, the number of other national groups has grown.

There are now at least 10 associations representing women, black officers, Jewish, Muslim, Gentile, disabled, travelers, people with autism, the LGBT+ community and Sikhs.

Retired Superintendent Dai Davies said: ‘The only lobbying work of these groups should be in favor of their members, not politics.

“The police must concentrate on their core task: catching criminals, preventing crime and protecting the public.”