Trust.

This Plebgate fiasco betokens a deeper and more disturbing malady at the heart of British policing - we have lost trust in their veracity. Underpinning a civil society is a need to trust what the police say and do. This trust has been eroding over many years, but by and large has held up. I think this is a watershed moment in the history of policing. When a conservative home secretary comes out publicly against a decision by the police, its time to take note. In addition even The Times has now raised questions about trust in them. When a serving member of the British government Andrew Mitchell can be 'stitched-up' like this - what hope is there for the black working class kid on a council estate? The prime minister has added his voice to the controversy by saying in the House of Commons today that Mitchell was "owed an apology". The Police Federation - the trade union of the rank and file officers has lost touch with public opinion by supporting their officers. The recent disclosures of a police cover-up following the Hillsborough disaster is the most obvious example of their collective failure. When I was a copper in Soho in the 1960's, changing evidence was endemic. I refused to be part of it and was cold shouldered be my colleagues as a result. Systemic corruption was one of the reasons I left. So what has happened over recent years comes as no surprise.