Policing’s wrong turn

SIR – The matter of police reform (Letters, January 19) has arisen on several occasions since the late 1980s, when senior police officers began to be selected largely on the basis of their willingness to implement political agendas rather than their ability to catch criminals.

As chaplain to two different police divisions – one county, one metropolitan – over 10 years, I saw crook chasers passed over for quota chasers. I also witnessed the detrimental effect this had on morale among the rank and file, who no longer trusted their superiors.

In addition, it was the beginning of the precedence of equal outcome, diversity and other such principles over ability and merit – leading to many of the failures that have recently been highlighted. Changing this will, frankly, require a miracle.

Rev RC Paget

Brenchley, Kent