OK, so Jacqui Smith's long overdue plan to cut police paperwork is not quite post-bureaucracy in action. But any move in this direction should be welcomed.
Here's where it should start: with "encounter" forms. At present any police officer who asks someone to account for their behaviour or whereabouts must fill in and file one of these daft foot-long forms - for every person they speak to. There is no requirement to respond, but the form must go in.
Imagine the scene: a shop window is broken. Within seconds intrepid PC Bloodhound of the Yard is on the scene. Assessing the facts in a single glance, he quickly asks a group of local teenagers where they have been and if they have seen anything.
"Er, naff off", says one. "I know my rights" says his mate. The others just walk away. Bloodhound now has to spend half an hour wondering how to describe accurately the appearance and ethnicity of every youth he has spoken to.
Back at the station his sergeant wearily checks forms from the previous day. Meanwhile the culprit, long since gone, sits back in his armchair and toasts the Home Office with champagne.
Recent Comments