2008-08-16 It's not like The Bill

This is an OK book to read on holiday - broken into a series of short chapters it's easy to pick up and put down after reading a few sides. In terms of content it's pretty superficial stuff. The 'insight' into criminal activity doesn't come until well over half way through, and if you are looking for a bit more depth there is better biographical material available e.g. Wensley Clarkson on Kenneth Noye and all the others. The picture you get of the Met. and police in general is not flattering and just confirms most people's opinion that this bunch of dinosaurs has been getting away with it without proper scrutiny for ever. The list of police blunders seems endless - (the most damning comment on the Lawrence Inquiry report that the police was riddled with institutional racism overshadowed the parallel observation that it is institutionally incompetent as well). The culture of fiddling expenses - drinking for England on and off duty, silly pranks, manipulating overtime car allowances and fiddling early retirement all seem to be accepted as part of the culture. Still, it's a dirty job and perhaps it's worth turning a blind eye. You just hope the police never get the opportunity to really get going with powers like some of the eastern European lot.