It would be a toss-up as to which is the most famous policing unit in the world -- America's FBI or Britain's Scotland Yard. If the measure used was how often either got a mention in films or books the FBI would probably win, because America makes more films and prints more books because of its greater population numbers and financial strength.
In America the policing structure is more individual. Each city has its own city police and small towns are policed by a local Sheriff and deputies. Outside that jurisdiction, the law is applied by state police, but when a crime crosses over a state line it becomes the responsibility of the FBI. A purist might describe them as the " National Police ".
Both the FBI and Scotland Yard serve as the best equipped entity to which all levels of policing appeal when investigating exceeds their resources. They have research laboratories and the most advanced science because they are funded on a national level. It is usually the aim of gifted local police to be recruited by the elite FBI or seconded to Scotland Yard.
The world is watching with astonishment as events unfold within America's FBI. The man who occupied the chair where J Edgar Hoover once sat and was the FBI boss was peremptorily sacked - by President Donald Trump - and he has the power to do that without the need to state a reason.
James Comey featured prominently during the recent presidential election. He was praised and feted by candidate Trump when he surprisingly reopened an investigation into Hillary Clinton - Trump's opponents - use of unrestricted emails during her time as Secretary of State - and many people believe that this helped Trump achieve an unexpected victory.
Comey was also being even handed. He angered the new president when he continued an investigation into claimed liaisons by Trump's subordinates with high officials of the Russian government who it is claimed interfered to swing the vote in Trump's favour. Comey had recently requested more resources to take this probe deeper.
In the eyes of many people Trump has just used his power of office to openly and blatantly close down an investigation into what might be an illegality under American law. The man at the very top of American law enforcement has been turfed out of office and it is very hard to imagine whoever replaces him insisting on continuing that enquiry.
What is even more astonishing. I seems that the President of the United States of America is going to get away with it !
No doubt the Democratic party will kick up a fuss - but they are in the minority in both houses. It is hard to imagine the Republican majority taking the steps that could result in a Republican president being forced to leave office.
What else seems astonishing - is the mute acceptance of how this issue was resolved by the American people. In other parts of the world, vast crowds might have gone to the barricades and protested in the streets, but it seems that Trump's hundred days in office have been so bizarre that the people are mesmerized into blank acceptance.
That is not a good indication of what may yet be to come !
No comments:
Post a Comment