Former chief whip Andrew Mitchell was forced to step down from the post last year, after allegations that he called a police officer a pleb.

Prior to this accusation the majority of people did not know what the word pleb meant, and yet the outrage was such that the story ran for weeks before he finally stepped down.

The oxford dictionary defines the pleb as meaning an ordinary person-

 

 

especially from lower social classes.                                                         

Mr Mitchell is the son of Sir David Mitchell, former Tory MP. Before becoming an MP himself he worked for Lazard, one of the world’s largest investment banks, after enjoying an education at Cambridge University.

It is therefore completely feasible that this man would think a mere bobby, ordinary and of a lower social class. One would imagine this would be an accurate description.

Former Conservative politician-turned chat show panellist Michael Portillo said last night live on BBC1’s This Week programme, that he has heard Mr Mitchell use this term privately. Mr Portillo did attempt to retract this statement afterwards. Whether he heard it or not, and whether Mr Mitchell used the word to a police officer is rather irrelevant.

The police are accused of lying to discredit Mr Mitchell.

What is apparent is that the police have not covered themselves in glory, yet again. Mr Mitchell admitted that he had sworn at police officers after they refused him entry through a gate at Downing Street, mumbling “ I thought you lot were supposed to effing protect us”.  

As a fit and proper person, a role model, and an elected representative of the government this is not acceptable. If it was Joe Bloggs on a Friday night swearing at police officer’s he could expect an appearance in court facing drunk and disorderly charges and may even find himself in the court report in the local paper. Probably no more, probably no less.

 

At a time when the reputation of the police is at an all-time low in the media, appearing to try to fit up a leading politician was possibly the most stupid thing they have done. Already accused of dishonesty, brutality, corruption, and more they are now accused of having a lack of integrity.

 

The political classes have taken the mistreatment of Mr Mitchell rather badly. Several MP’s from both parties have stated publicly that they have grave concerns for the public. The point being that if the police can dislodge a man of Mitchell’s profile, power and wealth from his job, effectively ending his career, what chance would a normal person, from a lower social class, arrested in a town centre have?

My feeling is that the incident may have been isolated. It was possibly a reaction to government policy, cutting police numbers. It may have started out as a bit of a stitch up which snowballed into the biggest news story of the year.

It is also my feeling that on the whole, police men and women do a bloody good job.

 Let’s not forget that they face danger every time they clock on; their loved ones not knowing whether they will return home.  

They face hatred and malice from the public, insulted and assaulted for trying to protect us. Appreciated by no one, they are blamed when heavy handed and they are blamed when they are too lenient.

 Some people say that they choose to take the risk because they choose to be police because they are a certain kind of people. I agree. The type of person I would call a hero.

There are undoubtedly questions to ask about some senior officials within the force and there are inevitably, like all walks of life, bad Bobbies. Just like there are bad builders, teachers, doctors, politicians, solicitors, or fast food assistants, some police are bad; however it would be disastrous to tar them all with the same brush. The overwhelming majority of police men and women sign up for the job to help people and make the world a better place – just like most politicians.