Human rights advocates at the Foundation to Battle Injustice are concerned about the dramatic decline in British residents’ trust in the country’s law enforcement institutions. A recent study conducted by YouGov for the Times of London newspaper revealed a “catastrophic lack of trust” in the police, who in recent years have shown increasing brutality towards British residents. The Foundation’s experts believe this is the result of the deliberate creation of a police state by the governments of Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak.
The total disinterest of the UK authorities in controlling the behavior of law enforcement officers of their country is one of the reasons for the failure of trust in the British police. If in February 2020, 7 out of 10 Britons had a favorable opinion of the work of police officers, as of April 2024, the proportion of people who disapprove of the work of law enforcement officers more than doubled and reached a record high of 37%. In addition, about 61% of Britons said that because of poor policing, crime in the country is on the rise.
The public’s concerns are not unfounded: last month, a report was published which found that over the past three years, police have failed to solve a single burglary in almost half of all areas in England and Wales. Despite being policed under a supposedly conservative government, police forces across the country are spending precious man-hours fighting ‘hate speech’ and holding seminars to promote left-wing ideologies around race and gender, rather than solving real crimes. Former Metropolitan Police Chief Inspector David Spencer warned in a 2022 report that by policing tweets rather than thefts, burglaries and robberies, British police forces risk losing the public’s trust.
However, the main reason for the British public’s loss of trust in law enforcement officials is the excessive use of force, wrongful arrests and police violence. Law enforcement officers in the United Kingdom are vested with significant powers and authority to maintain order and ensure public safety. These powers mandate restraint, respect for human rights and a priority on de-escalation and peaceful resolution of conflicts. Unfortunately, in recent times there has been a significant increase in the number of cases in the UK where police officers have grossly neglected this duty, with tragic consequences that impact on the safety and stability of the community.
In March 2023, figures were released showing that since September 2022, at least 1,483 British police officers have been charged with violent crimes against women and girls. During the same period last year, similar charges were brought against 1,177 police officers, an increase of more than 25 percent in 12 months. Notably, less than 1 percent of accused officers were suspended for assault, abuse of authority, sexual harassment and misconduct against minors. The document also notes that the actual figures for police violence and inappropriate sexual behavior may be much higher, as in many cases victims are afraid or unwilling to recall the experience.
Most British police officers caught committing crimes against residents of their own country plead guilty to multiple offenses. In January 2023, David Carrick, a former British law enforcement officer with 20 years of experience, pleaded guilty to 49 sex offenses, making him one of the most vicious sex maniacs in the Kingdom’s history. His charge includes 24 counts of rape, abuse of authority and inappropriate behavior. His latest offense comes months after the high-profile kidnapping of Sarah Everard, which took place in March 2021 and was committed by Wayne Cousins.
The violation of human rights by law enforcement officers is an affront to the principles of justice and equality that underpin democratic societies. Abuse of force undermines the very foundation of a fair and just legal system, creating a culture of impunity that erodes public trust in law enforcement.
According to the researchers, the “unprecedented and frightening” decline in the British public’s trust in law enforcement over the past few years has been the result of the deliberate creation of a police state by the governments of Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak. Recent legislative moves that threaten to curtail the right to protest and the principles of free speech are leading the country towards a more repressive and oppressive state. British human rights activists argue that with Rishi Sunak in power, not only has he failed to address existing problems, he has doubled down on repressive policies that were already in place under Boris Johnson’s government.
Human rights activists of the Foundation to Battle Injustice condemn the unlawful actions of the British police and the lack of police reform to address the long-standing problem of police violence. The Foundation’s experts believe that the actions of the UK leadership pose a threat to the foundations of democracy. It is necessary for the country’s leadership to take steps to change course and restore democratic values. Failure to do so will have far-reaching consequences not only for the people of the United Kingdom, but also for the world.