Police leader who hid during terror attack ‘should lose knighthood’
The police chief does not deserve to wear the same uniform as Pc Keith Palmer, whom he failed to protect
SIR CRAIG MACKEY should be stripped of his knighthood and Queen’s Police Medal for failing to help Pc Keith Palmer during the Westminster terror attack, a police leader has suggested.
Deputy Commissioner Mackey, who will retire from the Metropolitan Police in December, sparked outrage when he told an inquest he had locked himself in his car when he saw jihadist Khalid Masood attacking his colleague outside parliament.
The former Chief Constable of Cumbria Police said his first instinct had been to act but he had hesitated because he was wearing shirt sleeves and had no equipment.
Now in an extraordinary attack, a Police Federation leader – who represents rank-and-file officers – has accused Mr Mackey of failing in his basic duty as a policeman.
Insp Matt Webb, who is the chairman of the Sussex Police Federation, said Mr Mackey’s actions on that day were “unforgivable”.
Writing in The Daily Telegraph, Mr Webb said: “The reported actions of the Deputy Commissioner are in no way a reflection of the valour and sense of duty of the officers I work alongside, whom I represent, and who I am proud to call my friends.
“Neither do they mirror the countless acts of bravery shown by officers on a daily basis across the UK.
“When it becomes clear that someone – and especially a fellow officer – needs assistance, it does not matter in what position you find yourself. The whole ethos of being a copper is that it is the right thing to go to their aid.”
Mr Webb added: “He should consider his position: not retire in December but go now, because he does not deserve to wear the same uniform as police officers across the country. He should be stripped of his Knighthood and QPM.”
Sir Craig, 54, was knighted in the New Year’s Honours and received the Queen’s Police Medal in 2009. He announced his retirement in July and will leave the police service in December after 34 years.
But there are mounting calls for the Metropolitan Police to refer his conduct during the Westminster terror attacks to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.
Mr Webb said: “He may be a Deputy Commissioner but first and foremost Sir Craig should remember he is a police officer, and whenever he leaves his office he faces the possibility that he will come across an incident or situation in which he has a duty to intervene.”
His comments came as three police officers were honoured at Buckingham Palace for their bravery during last year’s terror attacks. Pc Wayne Marques, who was stabbed repeatedly as he fought off terrorists at London Bridge, and Pc Charlie Guenigault, who received serious injuries after running towards the attackers, both received the George Medal for their valour.
Mr Marques, of the British Transport Police, said: “For me, nothing was done for a medal. We did what we needed to do at the time.”
Spanish banker, Ignacio Echeverría, who was killed as he tried to help a woman being attacked, was posthumously awarded the George Medal. His father, Joaquin Echeverría Alonso, collected the honour on his behalf.
‘He should consider his position: not retire in December but go now’
Ijoined the police to try to make a difference. After 28 years’ service I’m still trying to do the right thing: to try to help those who are unable to help themselves; to protect the vulnerable; and to stop those intent on causing harm from being able to do so. That sometimes means doing the hard thing or putting yourself in danger, but the clue’s in the title: it is the right thing, so other options are wrong. In return, I expect those above me to lead by example, to show the way.
Sir Craig Mackey failed in that duty. His actions – to lock himself in his police car while watching the Westminster terror attack unfold – have angered and frustrated the vast majority of officers. For many this is only the latest betrayal, after feeling that both cuts to numbers and shrinking real-terms wages have gone largely unchallenged by the top brass.
The reported actions of the deputy commissioner are in no way a reflection of the valour and sense of duty of the officers I work alongside, whom I represent, and whom I am proud to call my friends. Neither do they mirror the countless acts of bravery shown by officers on a daily basis across the UK.
When it becomes clear that someone – especially a fellow officer – needs assistance, it does not matter in what position you find yourself. That’s the whole ethos of being a copper. What sort of example do the deputy commissioner’s actions set to the officers below him? How are they perceived by both police officers and members of the public?
Quite rightly, the public look to us when they feel vulnerable or need protection. The expectation is that any officer will, if necessary, put him or herself between an individual and an attacker. Police officers are rightly proud that this is how they are viewed, and it has been made abundantly clear to me over the past few days just how angry the rank and file are that such a senior officer has undercut this perception so badly, and then sought to justify his actions.
Sir Craig has said he did not have his radio or protective vest with him. One might ask why. I know of colleagues who have been threatened with discipline for finding themselves without protective equipment, or even for neglect of duty for failing to intervene in a situation in which they were needed. Sir Craig should remember he is a police officer first and foremost, and whenever he leaves his office he faces the possibility that he will come across a situation in which he has a duty to intervene.
At Pc Keith Palmer’s inquest this week, Sir Craig said: “If anyone had got out, the way this Masood was looking, anyone who got in his way would have been a target. I think anyone who came up against that individual would have faced serious, serious injury, if not death.” But the right thing to do would have been to get out and at least try to help. Yelling at Masood might have diverted his attention, helped other officers intervene, given others more time to get there. Stepping up, rather than driving away, might have made a difference to Pc Palmer. Senior officers must be better than this. When the circumstances dictate, they have to be able to walk the walk as well as talk the talk.
After the London Bridge attack, Sir Craig said, of Pc Charlie Guenigault, an off-duty officer who confronted the terrorists, receiving serious injuries as a result, that “there was no such thing as ‘off duty’. That summer night in Borough Market, Charlie ran towards the terrorists, putting himself in danger to protect the public... Helping, supporting, running to the aid of the public or an injured colleague, putting others before ourselves, showing courage and compassion. These we humbly call our values.”
The worrying truth is that, despite everything he has said before and after that day, Sir Craig failed to live up to those values and to the oath of office he took at the start of his career. He failed to do all he could to protect others, including his fellow officer, he failed to do the right thing and he failed to respect the office of Constable.
He should consider his position: not retire in December but go now because he does not deserve to wear the same uniform as police officers across the country. He should be stripped of his knighthood and Queen’s Police Medal. No matter what he did to receive them, he has let himself and the service down with his inaction that day, and that – in the eyes of many truly brave officers
– is unforgivable.
Inspector Matt Webb is chairman of the Sussex Police Federation