Please Tell Me I’m Dreaming

Last updated on November 16th, 2023 at 09:45 pm

Last updated on November 16th, 2023 at 09:45 pm

Somebody, or several somebodies, will disagree with me on this, and that is fine, but maybe you could please tell me I’m dreaming, or maybe it’s a nightmare.

Today I heard some news about Deputy Chief Constable Maggie Blyth.  I don’t know very much about her and she may well be the nicest person on the planet, I have no particular issue with her as a person, but I have a huge problem with what she represents.

She has recently been appointed as Deputy CEO at the College of Policing, and in their Press Release the College have said this

Maggie joins us from the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC), where she was National Police Lead for Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG)

Maggie’s 30-year career has focused on protecting the public

So far, so good you may think.  However, the piece continues,

Starting out in the Probation Service, she went on to specialise in youth justice. Maggie was responsible for setting up the first youth offending team arrangements in 1998 and took a leadership role at the Youth Justice Board for England Wales from 2000 to 2005.

She worked for local government child protection services from 2006 to 2016.

And there we have it.  A slap in the face with a wet cod (IMHO, other fishes are also available) to all serving, and dare I suggest, former officers.

She has SEVEN years service.

In my day you would be lucky to get to Inspector in 7 years, but Maggie is a produce of the Direct Entry Supernintendo programme.

Once again this is merely my opinion, but it tends to reinforce the way in which policing is heading.  No place for career officers, short term contracts, much reduced Pension bill.  I would most certainly be out of place.

When the NPCC had this slide in one of their presentations, you don’t need me to tell you where policing is headed