tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7451795692810208788.post3754266312906822911..comments2023-05-11T13:16:53.422+01:00Comments on 'Ville Views: Invitation to Tim GarbuttJames Maskellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15441611588943798565noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7451795692810208788.post-11126554112359036532009-03-15T09:45:00.000+00:002009-03-15T09:45:00.000+00:00Hello JamesI have just been writing a letter in wh...Hello James<BR/><BR/>I have just been writing a letter in which I mentioned "Versions of Reality".<BR/><BR/>Your post brings it back to mind. The letter mentions a Canterbury Law School seminar on "Versions of Reality" at which mature students, retired senior police including anti terrorist officers, admitted they had never heard of Sean Garland (This was before Panorama upgraded his publicity).<BR/><BR/>An agog young law lecturer had to tell them he was the architect of the IRA terrorist strategy plan.<BR/><BR/>How could these police have performed their duty properly when for all of their service they were unaware of the Terrorist Plan and capability ?<BR/><BR/>I rather think that this same versions of reality issue is at the heart of your challenge to Tim.<BR/><BR/>Is his version of reality a rather over prescriptive one ?<BR/><BR/>Has he merely picked up and extrapolated beyond reason a trend that should never have developed anyway ?<BR/><BR/>We are a Constitutional Monarchy. The Crown (people and monarchy) are the guvnors. Government is our servant. The Crown is source of authority for policing and independent admin of justice so that a balance exists by which the Law is independent of Government and can hold any person accountable.<BR/><BR/>In most people's version of reality now police are employees of a police force managed by a Chief constable who is told what to do by the Home Secretary. <BR/><BR/>What you are objecting to is the expansion of that concept which seems to be Tim's version of reality.<BR/><BR/>If the Home Secretary can tell police what to do and police are a managed service (given orders as opposed to being charged with duties) then everyone can be told what to do by a prescribing government.<BR/><BR/>I agree with you James but suggest that in your argument you have not gone sufficuently back to the basics ... which generations of British fought to create as our way of life. The balance and separation of powers.<BR/><BR/>Having said that Tim has to be congratulated for putting his head above the parapet.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com