The Flanagan Review and the fight against (police) bureaucracy

In a 124 page report on policing that quickly albeit briefly captured media headlines Sir Ronnie Flanagan outlined, in early February 2008, his strategy for improving the future delivery of police services in England and Wales (Home Office 2008). In what is a detailed and potentially challenging assessment of the current malaise which confronts the police service, Sir Ronnie has provided a number of indicators of the new route which he would expect the police service to take for the future. In doing so, however, Sir Ronnie, as Chief HMIC, understandably perhaps, betrays his own professional bias which is reflected in the rather cautious recommendations that come with the Review.