Shooting from the hip flask
I write to you today from a bunker in the middle of headquarters.
As regular readers may know, the chief and the PCC are far from bosom-buddies and have divergent views on a number of topics. Apparently the crisis came to a head when the two decided to go for a drink to rebuild their relationship and start afresh. The chief made the fatal error of ordering the most expensive brandy when the PCC offered to pay apparently the PCC ordered a half of mild. To be fair, recent figures suggest the chiefs approach to violence prevention could have been successful, but I dont think the assaults on his career will be reduced as a result.
A link between higher prices of alcohol and lower levels of drink-related violence has apparently been established, news that will undoubtedly have several cabinet members reaching for a bottle of gin. For those of you with short memories (or a serious whisky collection) minimum pricing was originally seen as a panacea for alcohol-related violent crime. That is until the Government dropped it, with Michael Gove and Theresa May allegedly the ringleaders behind its withdrawal. I think if we see the two staggering down Whitehall, clutching the remnants of a bottle of White Lightning and singing out-of-tune versions of the national anthem well know the reason why.
Speaking of internal tensions, however, it appears the Liberal Democrats are losing the battle to distance themselves from their coalition partners. Apparently Crime Prevention Minister Norman Baker has fired the latest salvo by attempting to force through increases to the costs of a shotgun licence, against the wishes of the Prime Minister.
In this case, however, he might have met his match. David Cameron, not a stranger to a double barrel, is living up to his stereotype of Eton-educated aristocrat and vetoed the idea, allegedly on the recommendation of Owen Patterson, the Environment Secretary. Apparently hell do anything to lower the cost of the badger cull.
I worry that the whole strategy is to appeal to the gun-loving alcoholics throughout the country, as all minorities are being courted ahead of elections next month.
The reduction in crimes of violence was jumped on by a number of politicians and campaigners as a sign that their initiatives had worked. Price might well be a factor, so too might the lack of spare cash among many young people.
It appears the LibDems want drinking and shooting to become the domain of the rich once more. Personally I dont think those two hobbies should really mix although I will bow to the LibDems greater expertise in uneasy alliances.
Yours,
Stitch
stitchley@policeprofessional.com
@SOStitchley