Article by Terry Tozer
| The latest Home Secretary, John Reid, has recently announced cuts in police numbers and an increase in community wardens, to a predictable reaction from the Police Federation. They do not like it. Are they right to be concerned or is it just old fashioned protectionism? For some years now the Police Federation has been openly critical of the various plans to introduce either local police or community wardens, as some are called. Their objection has been based on the fear of two tier policing. One may argue, and some politicians have, that traffic wardens were criticised for similar reasons once and they are now accepted and do a satisfactory job at a much lower cost. A fully fledged police officer in Britain is an expensive employee and there is little doubt that number 10 would like to cut the cost of constables who are performing what the government considers to be jobs they are overqualified for. So, just what is wrong with two tier policing anyhow? Why not have cheaper, less well trained people, just driving around and checking up on doors and windows? The Spanish example can provide an insight into life with more than one kind of police service. They have up to seven, depending where you live. Spain did not set out to design the police system that they now have, it just evolved, but there are still plenty of lessons to learn and pitfalls for the unwary. In Catalonia, where I live, there are five general police forces plus the port police. The other day I saw another one, the Guardia Comunitaria. I have asked the locals about this one and they have never heard of it. Which is a hint at the problem. The main Spanish forces are. The Policia Nacional, the Guardia Civil, the Guardia Urbana, Policia Local and in Catalonia, the Mossos D’Esquadra. The Policia Nacional are probably the closest comparison with the police in Britain, except they have just handed over most of their work to the Mossos D’Esquadra in Catalonia. They retain the anti-terrorism role here, however. The Guardia Civil were the much feared, military style, police who used to wear the hats that turned up at the back. Allegedly so they could lean against a wall without tipping it over their eyes. They were Franco’s eyes and ears during the days of dictatorship and disliked by much of the public. It is not surprising that they now perform the limited role of policing international borders. How well this fits in with the Policia Nacional’s role in anti terrorism is not clear. The Guradia Urbana tend to be seen as traffic police but, as with all police in Spain, they wear guns, carry riot sticks and look pretty effective. Policia Local may be found at pedestrian crossings during school time, guns, sticks and all. They seem very like the Guardia Urbana but they are different forces, the latter being formed in the mid 19th century. The port police are, not surprisingly, only concerned with matters in and around the public and commercial ports. However, I saw an officer of the Policia Portuaria arrest two bag snatchers in Barcelona recently and so I deduce that they tackle whatever comes their way. This is often the only way to work out who does what as the city’s excellent website and directories have little information on these confusing arrangements. One thing at least is clear. I am not the only one who is puzzled. The Catalans, born and bred under the system, do not understand it either. The Mossos D’Esquadra are the Catalan Police. The oldest in Europe, Los Mossos were originally created by King Felipe’ 15th in 1714 to keep an eye on the Catalans. He feared – with some justification - that they were inclined to form an alliance with their neighbours, the French, and leave Spain. Some say they are still trying. Los Mossos have now taken over all police work from the Policia Nacional in Catalonia, except for anti-terrorism and, of course, the international borders. These, you remember, are the responsibility of the Guardia Civil. Confused? Well, the point is well made I think. Just to add complication, each police force has its own emergency number, as do fire and ambulance. There is a general emergency number - 112 - but Catalans tell me they may not always connect you to the police force you need. Who can blame them? And if we remember a period of confusion in the British emergency call centres not so long ago, it is easy to imagine problems in the UK too, if the system is altered. Whilst Dr Reid is not proposing a similar structure to the Spanish, which evolved over centuries, he is beginning a process that will undoubtedly evolve of its own accord. Once cost savings are recognised, how long will it be before more and more duties are transferred to the Community Warden? The potential for problems is well demonstrated by the case of a British visitor who was robbed in Barcelona recently. Peter had his English car’s tyre punctured, on the move, by two men on a moto. When Peter stopped a lone man on a moto also stopped and offered to help. Soon afterwards Peter spotted another man exiting his car, clutching a handbag and mobile phones. The moto rider sped off, picked up his accomplice and they were gone. Fortunately someone was nearby with a mobile but which number to call? After some debate somebody remembered that Mossos D’Esquadra was 088. They arrived swiftly enough, having already done a sweep of the area looking for the two men. They took details and advised that a statement was necessary, especially if Peter wanted to claim on his insurance, which he did. Then followed two days trying to find a police station that would take the statement. The nearest was Policia Local. No, they were not trained to take statements. The Guardia Urbana could but the crime was not reported to them and so he must go to the Mossos D’Esquadra. Starting again the next day he found a Mossos office but was told he would need to wait at least four hours as they were overworked, due to their increased responsibilities. Eventually he found an office of Los Mossos that dealt with him swiftly and pleasantly but it was a harrowing 24 hours. I doubt such a system is proposed for Britain but we should be wary of splitting responsibilities. Peter described the situation as “A jobsworth’s charter.” Whatever the real reasons behind the new Home Office plan, it is hard not feel that it is a search for cost saving rather than effectiveness. Also, whatever criticism we may level at the Spanish situation they cannot be criticised over manpower. The police are a highly visible force here, whichever clan they belong to. The arrest of the bag snatcher that I witnessed was a classic example of the benefit of having police on the streets. The officer was there and visible. The witnesses simply ran to his car, gave him the information and pointed out the criminals. He gave chase successfully and the job was done. Perhaps Dr Reid will say that the savings will enable him to put more patrols on the street but will they have the power of arrest? Will they be able to take witness statements? Will they be able to turn on the blue light and dash through the traffic? If so, is this really the role of community wardens? Maybe we should simply call them police officers? |