Clunk click

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has been reported for not wearing her seatbelt while travelling to Westminster for the State Opening of Parliament. An ‘eagle-eyed’ television viewer dialled 999, and the call went through to her local force, West Yorkshire Police, whose spokesman commented: “I cannot stress enough that the 999 number is for emergencies only.” He is right, he cannot; callers will continue to misuse the system with abandon, as like the Royal Family it has become a tradition. In any case, he is avoiding the issue. He should instead have reminded callers that the Queen is immune from civil or criminal proceedings, and can please herself in this and other more serious matters. An unnamed but dedicated loyalist on the British Monarchy website posted: “The Queen is careful to ensure that all her activities in her personal capacity are carried out in strict accordance with the law.” This statement is extremely supportive and patently untrue. This is yet another example of falling standards. Queen Elizabeth I was never reported for any form of traffic offence, although she reigned for a mere 44 years, and probably dealt with minor complaints in a firmer manner (execution). Other commentators have pointed out that the offence took place in London, not West Yorkshire, and should have been disregarded by the Metropolitan Police Service. Had the caller been put through to the South Yorkshire switchboard, they would have been rewarded with a carefully worded apology, passed on to the police and crime commissioner who would have suspended the latest chief constable, whoever that may be. Ultimately one cannot blame the Queen for failing to follow up any advice offered by Jimmy Savile, look at where that got us. Meanwhile, riots, terrorism and cybercrime escalate as the police struggle to respond to increasing demand with decreasing resources, never an easy task. Fourteen police officers have been injured and four people arrested in a protest over the death of a young father following a traffic stop. Campaigners claim that he received serious injuries, allegations that have been challenged by the Independent Police Complaints Commission after a post-mortem. Why let the facts get in the way of a good protest? Elements of the press seemed to expect, and encourage outrage in the hope of, violent demonstrations to the recent tragedy at Grenfell Tower, but so far they have been commendably peaceful. This perhaps because the police have, in that incident, as in so many of late, clearly been heroes rather than villains. Cuts to public services are now being seen in the same light as savings in cladding high-rise buildings, they start off as protection but end in tragedies, and very expensive tragedies at that. Finally, a baby born in the Chiswick police station yard in London has been named Bobby. Mother Rebecca Fox was in labour and racing to hospital when she realised her baby was coming sooner than expected. Her mother pulled into the station’s car park where, with the help of a police officer and support staff member, Bobby was born. A doctor who happened to be passing checked Rebecca and her baby over before they were taken to hospital by ambulance. To find a police officer, support staff member, doctor and ambulance is something approaching a miracle, particularly in a London police station yard. The child will in later life be grateful to have been named ‘Bobby’, rather than ‘Chiswick’, ‘Yard,’ or ‘Insignia’. Yours, Stitch