Ex-police chief warns cops to ‘cut the c**p’ with social media gimmicks or public will lose trust
Ex-North Yorkshire Deputy Chief Constable Peter Walker slammed the actions of several forces who suffered 'a lack of common sense' when indulging in online stunts as crime rates in their areas rocket
A FORMER police chief has warned cops need to “cut the c**p” when it comes to social media gimmicks - or face losing the trust of the public.
Ex North Yorkshire Deputy Chief Constable Peter Walker hit out after The Sun revealed officers were patrolling with painted nails to highlight modern day slavery.
His comments came after Avon and Somerset Police officers were blasted for wearing nail varnish as a 19 per cent rise in violent crime was revealed.
Mr Walker warned: “Quite properly, people are asking themselves: ‘Haven’t the police got anything better to do?’ You can paint all the rainbows you like on the side of the patrol car, but the job is to put crooks in the back seat.
"Every officer not tasked with patrol or detective work means the demand is greater on all who remain. The message came back to ‘cut the c**p’ and focus on the issues that meant the most to the majority of people.
"The true irony of all this is that last month Andy Marsh, the Chief Constable of Avon and Somerset Police, sent a joint letter with Sue Mountstevens, Police and Crime Commissioner, to Nick Hurd, the Police Minister.
"They claimed their force was at 'tipping point' because of the cost savings they had to make. You couldn’t make this stuff up."
Although he thinks there are "great" examples of using social media, such as uploading snaps of vehicles that have been seized, he said other examples which "lack in common sense" could compromise respect.
"Many public sector organisations have quite properly identified the communication opportunities offered by social media, and there are some great examples of getting it right.
"North Yorkshire, my old force, do that all the time, their updates punctuated with pictures of vehicles seized for having no tax or insurance, or whose driver has been found driving under the influence of drink or drugs.
"Many other forces also have great output which contributes to the mission: reducing crime and keeping people safe.
"Within this, there are bound to be campaigns that fall flat. Most have been well-meaning, but lacking in common sense.
"At a time when respect for authority has dwindled in society, there is a fine line between engaging the community and compromising the dignity of public office upon which respect is built."
One of the officers who took to the dodgems included £80,000-a-year Chief Superintendent, Darren Downs. He later posted online about the “fantastic afternoon at the fair”.
Mr Walker also said: "Another issue is the question of whether the police can really afford to be adding on frills when they are facing both budget cuts and increased demand.
"There is no doubt that cuts in spending at the Home Office have affected both the police’s capacity and capability."
