Madam, - I have read for a second time the excellent recent article by Denis Bradley on the urgent need for a Police Authority to take control of An Garda Síochána (Opinion & Analysis, August 19th). Mr Bradley speaks of the poor structures, indiscipline and, worst of all, the lack of moral and professional leadership in the force. He goes on to speak of greed, ambition and the cronyism which exists between certain senior officers and politicians of all parties.
I served in the London Metropolitan Police for almost 30 years, at station level and for a time in a branch at New Scotland Yard. In the early 1970s there was an epidemic of corruption at all levels in the CID. The media reported that the West End of London was beyond control as strip joints, prostitution and obscene literature shops enjoyed unfettered freedom. Questions were asked in parliament as to why this lawlessness existed. The police seemed unwilling or unable to act.
In the midst of all this Robert Mark was appointed Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police. He was given a dual mandate: to investigate corruption in the force; and to reform the CID and impose discipline on the force.
While serving as an assistant commissioner, Mr Mark had had the good sense to cultivate the friendship and trust of another assistant commissioner, James Starritt. Mr Starritt hailed from Co Derry, had served in every rank in the Metropolitan Police and was near retirement. He was a no-nonsense policeman and a strict disciplinarian. It was no surprise when he became deputy commissioner and was given the task of investigating corruption in the CID.
Mr Starritt agreed to stay on two extra years and was given a free hand to choose the investigating teams and get on with the job. Meanwhile the commissioner set about imposing discipline on the force and reforming the CID. In Robert Mark's words, the CID was a force within a force.
As a result of Mr Starritt's investigations four senior officers went to prison along with 10 or 12 officers of various ranks. Over 3,000 CID officers were returned to uniform duties and an amnesty was introduced whereby CID members could resign rather than be prosecuted. The commissioner also introduced a scheme whereby an officer due promotion in the CID had first to serve at least two years as a uniform sergeant in another division.
The events in Donegal depicted in the report of the Morris tribunal bear many similarities to what happened in London in the 1970s. Not only is a strong police authority required to take control of the Garda, but the urgent appointment of an outsider as commissioner to give the force moral and professional leadership is long overdue. In England today each of the 43 police forces has an outsider as chief constable. Surely Mr Michael McDowell or the next Minister for Justice must seriously consider appointing an Irishman serving in a large English force to be the next commissioner. I know of at least three or four such officers who by a process of cross-fertilisation could reform the structures of An Garda Síochána and impose discipline.
One has only to look North and see how a strong police authority and a reforming chief constable in the person of Sir Hugh Orde has given the PSNI a new beginning and a spirit of order and discipline. - Yours, etc,
JOHN F BANNON, Ballymoney, Co Antrim.