Yahoo News The way the Government treats our emergency services is shameful
I am the wife of a serving Metropolitan Police officer. My husband is a wonderful man who always wanted to be a police officer, even at a very early age. At the age of 22 he left home to attend Hendon police training for 20 weeks, followed by two years “on job” training with tests every three months. He worked hard, but he enjoyed his job. He loved being able to help people, even when he saw the worst things life could throw at you.
Over the years I have watched him become more and more disillusioned with the politics of his employment. The conditions the police are being told, not asked, to work in have deteriorated dramatically over the years. For instance, there used to be a canteen in every police station working 24 hours a day to cater for officers at any time. Then as belts started to tighten across the country as a whole the police had to do the same, shutting canteens in a lot of stations, then all but one station in the Met. Photographs started to appear on social media and newspapers showing officers having breakfast in everyday establishments with sarcastic comments about robberies going unsolved while they enjoy a cup of tea. This is just a minor detail in the grand scheme of “cost-cutting”.
It also disrupts family life. I know “this is what he signed up for”, but in recent years further cost-cutting has caused rest days to be cancelled with very little or no notice. Family plans are cancelled, friends are let down. You get too good at making excuses for not attending events.
Yesterday was the state opening of Parliament. Years ago I would have been so proud of my husband being asked to be part of this. Now I’m a nervous wreck waiting for him to let me know he’s OK, praying for a peaceful day in our capital city. His uniform, which once a reassurance, now makes him a target. Police officers fainted yesterday because they were unable to get a drink as it would have meant leaving the post and there was no support to make sure this didn’t happen.
Next year my husband is “retiring” from the police having served 30 years. This was not the original plan. He was going to carry on until he was 60, now we are counting down the days. This makes me so sad. Sad because he doesn’t love what he does now. Sad because I believe this is happening across all the emergency services across the country. Recent days have made the Firefighters in the Kensington area heroes. They always were, but it takes a tragedy like Grenfell to show how they risk their lives every day to help the public.
The reason I am writing this is when you meet a police officer please bear in mind they are probably there having received very little training (they learn on the street now), they get paid less than an office worker, they get verbally abused by the public and let down by their senior officers, the Police Federation and the Government. Try just saying thank you – I guarantee you will make their day.
Name and address supplied
Inequality in the UK is so obvious
So, the Queen opens Parliament and returns to Buckingham Palace, followed by her security detail in a separate car. Followed by the crown, in its own car and then, you’ve guessed it, yet another car for a sword. Meanwhile nurses go to food banks, people have nowhere to live etc. This country is sadly out of balance and we desperately need change.
D Leddy
Ottershaw
There is no point to Tory austerity
Ruling the Tory benefit cap unlawful, High Court judge Mr Justice Collins pointed out “real misery is being caused to no good purpose”.
Theresa May’s entire government in a nutshell.
Sasha Simic
London
We must find out who is accountable for the mistakes made at Grenfell
After the resignation of the chief executive of Kensington and Chelsea Council calls are growing, in a rather unfocused way, for politicians in the borough to resign.
This would clearly be appropriate, in due course, if any have made specific errors contributing to this tragedy. But I would suggest a further criterion for resignation, irrespective of where ultimate responsibility may lie for the disaster at Grenfell Tower. Any Kensington and Chelsea councillor who made excessive, doctrinaire and continuous points, championing the political virtue of cutting council tax in this richest of areas, rather than investing in key services and infrastructure, should consider their position, or have it considered for them.
Of course such an approach to accountability, if sharply focused, is transferable to the responsibilities and actions of Westminster politicians as well.
John Gemmell
Birmingham
A Brexit solution
May I offer a solution to the tangled mess that is Brexit, the EU and the island of Ireland?
Britain has done the dirty work in questioning the European project – with a very dramatic outcome which was not desired by many – but it was important that it was questioned. Now Ireland and Britain could collaborate in proposing a special joint-membership status with the EU as “Large Island Nations”. With our common language, shared history, cultural similarities and island geography this makes sense. As joint “Large Island Members” the border in Northern Ireland could be managed internally.
As part of the new membership deal Ireland and Britain could renegotiate with the EU on a number of fronts:
Fishing rights on the British and Irish coastlines. This would particularly help Ireland’s indigenous fishing industry on the western seaboard which has all but died due to the straightjacket of the EU’s fishing rights.
Immigration control (from non-EU countries) into Europe. A quota system is needed for refugees. No single country should disproportionately have to take the burden. The problems that had built up in Calais (for Britain) were very real.
The EU must put in place budgetary measures to support countries where there is an inward flow of migration (within the EU) and an associated demand on social services.
A dignified solution can be found. Britain and the EU could hold their heads high after a fractious period in their relationship. No divorce (for now).
Alison Hackett
Dublin
We now know, a year later, why Brexit happened
“Brexit: Anti-immigrant prejudice major factor in vote, study finds” (News, 22 June).
Well I’m blowed, whoda thunk it?
Eddie Dougall
Bury St Edmunds
