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Power and Corruption in England's Greatest Police Force: A Long Tail Analysis

Hugo Cox

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Published in NYPD Confidential: Power And Corruption In The Country S Greatest Police Force

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The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS),commonly known as Scotland Yard, is England and Wales' largest police force. With over 43,000 officers and staff, the MPS is responsible for policing London, a city of approximately 9 million people. The MPS has a long and storied history, dating back to 1829. However, in recent years, the MPS has been plagued by allegations of corruption and misconduct.

NYPD Confidential: Power and Corruption in the Country's Greatest Police Force

by Leonard Levitt

4.4 out of 5

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In 2012, the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) published a report that found that the MPS had "a culture of cover-up and secrecy." The report also found that the MPS had "failed to properly investigate allegations of corruption and misconduct." These findings have led to a loss of public trust in the MPS, and have raised questions about the future of policing in London.

Historical and Systemic Issues

There are a number of historical and systemic issues that have contributed to the culture of corruption and misconduct within the MPS.

• Lack of accountability

The MPS has traditionally been very secretive and unaccountable. This has made it difficult for the public to scrutinize the MPS's actions and to hold it to account for its failures.

• Lack of diversity

The MPS has a long history of being dominated by white men. This lack of diversity has contributed to a lack of understanding of the needs of minority communities, and has made it more difficult for the MPS to build trust with these communities.

• Lack of training

The MPS has been criticized for its lack of training on corruption and misconduct. This lack of training has contributed to a lack of awareness of the risks of corruption and misconduct, and has made it more difficult for officers to resist temptation.

Impact on Public Trust

The allegations of corruption and misconduct have had a significant impact on public trust in the MPS. A 2015 survey found that only 37% of Londoners trust the MPS. This is a significant decline from the 63% of Londoners who trusted the MPS in 2012.

The loss of public trust has made it more difficult for the MPS to do its job. Officers are less likely to be able to build relationships with the communities they serve, and are less likely to be able to get information from the public. This makes it more difficult for the MPS to prevent and solve crimes.

The Need for Reform

The allegations of corruption and misconduct have led to calls for reform of the MPS. There are a number of reforms that could be implemented to address the historical and systemic issues that have contributed to the culture of corruption and misconduct.

• Increase accountability

The MPS should be made more accountable to the public. This could be done by creating an independent body to oversee the MPS, and by giving the public more access to information about the MPS's actions.

• Increase diversity

The MPS should be more diverse. This could be done by recruiting more officers from minority communities, and by creating a more inclusive culture within the MPS.

• Increase training

The MPS should provide more training on corruption and misconduct. This training should be designed to help officers understand the risks of corruption and misconduct, and to help them resist temptation.

The allegations of corruption and misconduct within the MPS are a serious threat to public trust. These allegations have led to calls for reform of the MPS. If the MPS is to regain the public's trust, it must address the historical and systemic issues that have contributed to the culture of corruption and misconduct.

NYPD Confidential: Power and Corruption in the Country's Greatest Police Force

by Leonard Levitt

4.4 out of 5