The Plebgate Plotters.
After getting on for 7 years, the Inspector Gadget blog had become an institution in the Blogosphere. A window on the world of ‘canteen culture’; the real personalities behind the bland politically correct sound bites that emanated from the ‘high command’. It was always eminently readable, regardless of whether you agreed with the sentiments expressed.
You could literally feel the frustration of the rank and file as they came off duty, after a night of peeling the newly liberated ladies of their parish out of the gutters, without ever daring to comment on the wisdom of getting that drunk, whilst wearing that outfit; or according the possessor of a ‘cut here’ tattoo, with rings through his nose, ears, and upper lip, the full dignity of ‘If you could step this way Sir’ and ensuring that he slept off his skunk and alcohol imbibement in safety and security before being interviewed to ascertain whether the CPS would even entertain charges of gouging out the eyes of his best friend for calling his ex-girlfriend a slag on Facebook….
Yes, the Police can get it horrendously wrong on occasions, but in the main, the rank and file display a humour, patience, and professionalism in the face of provocation above and beyond the call of duty. ’Gadget’ gave them a place to let off steam that dare not escape within their place of work. He also attracted one of the most motley collection of trolls, would-be coppers, and utter fools on the Internet. Sometimes it was difficult to tell one from the other.
Sometimes subtle, sometimes whimsical – and sometimes blatantly biased; he was at his most vulnerable when he voiced opinions on ‘live’ cases – as he did in the Alfie Meadows case. Alfie, now legally innocent of any wrong doing, in the words of Gadget, voiced before the juries verdict, was injured by ‘friendly fire’ from other demonstrators. It was a phrase totally understandable from the ranks of the Police, forced to stand in a line whilst those who would run an Olympian speed mile from having to do a job which includes finding the head of a baby decapitated during a road traffic accident, hurled blocks of concrete at them – apparently incensed at not having their ‘wages’ raised to the level they thought suitable. The fact that the Police were having to do this whilst their own wages were decimated must have made the frustration even more intense. That phrase, ‘friendly fire’, incensed the leftie commentators, for whom a violent demonstrator can do no wrong.
When Alfie Meadows was cleared by a jury of his peers from any wrong doing, and Inspector Gadget’s blog closed, with all posts removed, in the same week, there were many who sensed a connection. I don’t think so, though.
There was another campaign, with a far higher profile that may have proved to be the ‘end of the road’ for Gadget. That of ≠Plebgate.
Over the past ten days, coinciding with the end of Gadget’s blog, The Independent Police Complaints Commission has implicated a total of ten senior police officers in a ‘complex conspiracy’ to oust Andrew Mitchell from his Ministerial role. The ten officers come from four different police forces; the Metropolitan police, West Mercia, West Midlands and Warwickshire. One of those is Ken Mackaill, chairman of West Mercia Police Federation. The Police Federation, vocally supported by Labour politicians, and media savvy thanks to the Gaunt Brothers, were at the forefront of the Plebgate affair.
I am not suggesting that Inspector Gadget is one of the ten senior officers, on whom Keir Starmer is expecting to make a decision re: charging this week, but he certainly headed the on-line media publication of plebgate, gleefully marketing a series of mugs illustrated above. He was also an enthusiastic supporter of the Federation’s new tactics, having often voiced the opinion that they were not forceful enough in their handling of negotiations over police pay and conditions. With deputy assistant commissioner Pat Gallan following all leads and connections in ‘Operation Alice’ as the Plebgate inquiry has been termed, hosting the blog that made more noise about Plebgate than any other, may just have been too hot a potato to sit comfortably with pension entitlements due in a fairly short term….
E-mails from the Police Federation will have been followed up; who knows ‘who’ they talked to, or how Gadget became so well informed? It is not only Gadget that has gone quiet in recent times, the Gaunt Brothers megaphone Twitter account must qualify as the quietest media communication company on the planet. Not a peep out of them since 4th February.
If it is true that there has been a major police conspiracy to malignly discredit a senior politician for political gain, it will be a sad day for the rank and file police. It is they who will take the flak on the street – the Federation hierarchy and the senior officers will be insulated from it, safe behind their desks.
March 25, 2013 at 15:44
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Alas, poor Gadget. I found him refreshingly honest. As for location; like
Copperfield before him, I think I understand where the ‘Ruraltown frolics’ are
derived from.
- March 25, 2013 at 06:56
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I see Jon Gaunt has joined UKIP over the weekend. Re The Gaunt brothers
buisiness tweets, time again they state re plebgate ‘stay with us for us for
the truth’ but failed to deliver. On their buisiness website ‘plebgate’ err
the Police Federation is one of their case studies.
Overnight they seem to have airbrushed out, one the teams long association
with various Police Federations, but there’s a cache.
One minute the Gaunts are proud to tell the world of her connections with
Police Federations and the next it’s reduced to… “She works with a number of
private sector and public clients.” http://www.gauntbrothers.co.uk/about_us.html
As Justice Blair said of Gaunt…’freedom of expression “may not however
extend to gratuitous offensive insult or abuse, nor, we think, to repeated
abusive shouting which serves to express no real content”.’
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March 24, 2013 at 13:50
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I was a keen MOP reader of Gadget, and he and a couple of other police
bloggers certainly opened my eyes to stuff that goes on that I hadn’t known
about, and in particular the existence of a class of people I’ve (fortunately)
never encountered and which I’m very glad the police insulates me from. I was
disappointed to see his blog close, and hope that it was for a good reason
rather than a bad one.
As of now, I no longer know of a good police blog I can read. Any
suggestions?
- March 24, 2013 at 15:21
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This one’s pretty revealing:
“Living in a different world”
A joint review of disability hate crime
released today details the findings of a joint inspection by HM Crown
Prosecution Service Inspectorate, HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and HM
Inspectorate of Probation”
http://www.acpo.presscentre.com/content/default.aspx?NewsAreaID=2
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March 24, 2013 at 16:40
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@Moor
Followed your link – so the police have finally signed up the
the DDA ……! I liked ‘everyone has the right to live their life free from
abuse’ ! fortunately they used the word ‘live’ as the same principals do
not obviously apply to the dead ……which leads me nicely into the link to
‘Mistakes were made’ – yet another review into the late Mr S ! (Sorry Anna
I always get to sneak him back in somehow ….!) Found it interesting that
it cites ‘an entry on an intelligence ledger held by the MPS Paedophile
unit in 1964 – especially the bit about it’s lack of’ provenance’. More
interesting avenues to pursue ! Back to Disability hate crimes or any
crimes for that matter, imagine officers needing training to ‘ask people
about their disabilities’ ? All those bloody pointless training courses –
maybe some copper should start a blog !
- March 24, 2013 at 17:17
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Presumably, after the scoping operation, Yewhoo, the makers of Little
Britain will now be arrested on Historical Incitement charges…..
BBC in the frame again……….. They are clearly at the root of all
evil……..
- March
24, 2013 at 17:46
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The met could commission the services of a psychic medium for their
next trawl/study/review etc etc. That way, more ‘victims’ could have a
‘voice’ !
- March 25, 2013 at 11:49
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There’s a good blog written by retired officers from Surrey Police called
‘Old and Bold’. It keeps up to date with lots of Police related topics plus
some unrelated humourous matters which are often ‘in-jokes’. There is no bad
language or insults allowed and you have to register in order to comment
(prove service in Surrey Constabulary/Police) but it is available to be read
by anyone. The majority of contributors openly use their real names, while
others use their old nick-names, and are thus easily identifiable to each
other. I was put on to it by the father of a serving Surrey Police officer
(my old force does nothing like this) and I am now an avid reader. Why not
have a look at that?
- March 24, 2013 at 13:08
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I am humble PC pleb (or radiator-hugger as Melvin likes to point out) and a
regular contributor to Inspector Gadget.His posts were excellent and very
accurate.I can see why the public might not like what they read on there as
our humor can be a bit close to the mark sometimes,but it’s the way we are.I’m
sure firemen/soldiers/nurses all do the same but with less publicity….
I
wish him well and hope he’s just retired and not been arrested.
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March 24, 2013 at 13:49
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The trouble with Gadget in recent times was not the humour or the true
comments on today’s crappy society and the job of policing things that are
ridiculous; but that it promulgated sheer ignorance about why the current
SMTs have to focus on political correctness and spend 50% of their time
being risk managers. All down to the compensation culture and civil justice
system – not because ACPO likes it. And its not the fault of the police
lawyers either, who fight tooth and claw on behalf of the police but find it
an uphill battle when old time sergeants and inspectors refuse to move out
of the dark ages. And don’t get me started on the incitement to whinge and
complain about working conditions and pay that is absolutely fine for the
actual responsibilities and work involved. It may be less favourable than it
was in olden times but so it is for everybody, and although there are some
lovely coppers who have been in the job a long time, theirs has been a bit
of a sinecure for a long time, and all good things must come to an end.
- March 24, 2013 at 11:30
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A very interesting situation it will be interesting to see how it pans out.
I think that the politicians (a pretty disgusting lot!) should worry that
there was a general belief that he had either said the pleb bit or that he
thought it.
Surely the arrogance of a man who wished to leave the main gate to a secure
area at a time of terrorist threat open longer than necessary is mind
bending.
Reminds me of the behaviour of MPs in the House when demonstrators showered
them with powder – and instead of standing fast until it was proven that there
was no bio / chemical threat left the chamber. Thus potentially putting others
at risk.
Are these people not briefed on appropriate behaviour?
I was an avid reader of Gadget (and before him the Female one whom has also
gone off air she gave a more gentle view but the message was the same)). They
both gave a really interesting window on their world. After forty years in
what was initially the public service, but later privatised I can understand
the frustrations. Good leadership and management should have resolved at least
the operational ones. Certainly in my part of the world policing has lost much
public confidence – but most individual officers appear to be trying to do a
good job against the odds.
I can imagine that the senior management must have been mounting the mole
hunt of the century I noted that several recent posts appeared close to giving
leads to investigators and I did wonder how long Gadget could remain
undetected.
Interesting times!!!
- March 24, 2013 at 13:04
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“Surely the arrogance of a man who wished to leave the main gate to a
secure area at a time of terrorist threat open longer than necessary is mind
bending.”
Oh please, not the bogeyman terrorist again!
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March 24, 2013 at 11:27
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When I read Wasting Police Time by Copperfield. Later a book by ‘Inspector
Gadjet’ they both displayed huge frustration in police ranks about Political
Correctness flowing down from the upper ranks. Racial awareness training and
humungous PC aspects of being a PC. All that form filling. Reorganisations
meaning longer distances to travel to charge someone of a crime or secure them
for the night. I realised how disatisfaction in the ranks grows into attempts
to allegedly discredit a senior minister for swearing…..is anyone surprised?
Using the PLEB word that I naively thought was not all that derogatory;
bearing in mind its Roman origins. Crafty use of the media to spread the word,
and bingo a huge media orchestrated fuss over not a lot. How could HE use the
word PLEB, while tastefully attired in cycle clips, and riding my dad’s old
‘sit up and beg bike’? Why wasn’t he wearing a trilby?’
- March 25, 2013 at 09:22
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You forgotten that it all started with his big ego demanding that the big
gate be opened. The big gate was to be opened only when vehicles came along,
and big ego should have known and respected this. The coppers stand between
those who work in Downing Street and evil folk with evil intent. Big ego
denied the pleb word but refused to repeat what he actually said. Did he
threaten their careers? Video was released a long time after, edited and
with no sound.
And it was a girly bike.
- March 25, 2013 at 11:07
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I thought it had been established that the original press information
supposedly came from Joe Bloggs – a member of the public, who was later
revealed to be a member of the Diplomatic Police…………..
I think Anna may be on the right track.
- March 24, 2013 at 11:23
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I’m glad its gone anyhow. Used to be ok but on the few occasions I looked
in most recently I thought it was the pits.
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March 24, 2013 at 10:19
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Presumably the 10 senior officers are all acpo / common purpose
apparatchiks ?
- March 24,
2013 at 09:57
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Oh, and the Alfie Meadows saga hasn’t ended. Now that inconvenient trial is
over, watch for a damages case brought against the Met.
*gets popcorn*
- March 24, 2013 at 09:48
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But many politicians and “very senior ranks” will rejoice at IG’s demise if
only because of his ability to highlight their asinine decisions affecting
police effectiveness.
- March 24,
2013 at 09:55
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The ‘Daily Mail’ will happily take up any slack, I’m sure!
- March 24, 2013 at 09:45
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A view from the continent permits a huge panorama, Anna. How wonderfully
hyperopic.
- March 24, 2013 at 09:59
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I’m a damn sight closer than if I was in Aberdeen – which wouldn’t
apparently bring forth your xenophobic comments…..
- March 24, 2013 at 10:24
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I hope you are unaffected by snow blindness, dear. Do explain how you
justify smearing me as a xenophobe without first Gadgeting my comment.
- March 24, 2013 at
10:30
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Why else would it make a damn bit of difference to you where I was
writing my blog from. I am British. I am interested in the British
political scene. I do get fed up with the snide comments regarding the
fact that I live in France.
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March 24, 2013 at 10:47
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Can these finely crafted comments be from the keyboard of the one
true Melvinator?
- March 24, 2013 at 10:56
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Oooh a sensitive piece of skin, brushed inadvertently. I usually
accept the good intentions of most folk until I know better but tender
my apologies for that, old girl. Speaking of smearing campaigns,
Gadget ran these with great enthusiasm and manipulated ‘facts’ in a
cowardly and malicious manner. The blog embodied all that is
contemptible of self serving and corrupt public services; stifling and
blocking fair and polite criticism, yet wishing to present itself as
accessible to all. I can personally testify that the blogger published
many comments which purported to have emanated from my server but were
in fact, totally fabricated by Gadget. Your sympathies for this minx
are understandable from a fellow blogger. However Gadget was a
systematic liar who brought UK police into disrepute, courting libel
with professional advice.
Better to keep warm and safe when the weather cannot support
skating on thin ice, Anna.
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March 24, 2013 at 13:10
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Anna, how jolly dare you criticise the self-proclaimed King of the
Internet?
- March 24, 2013 at 13:14
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The spam filter appears to be on steroids this afternoon – which
is unfortunate since it is 21 degrees here, and I am sitting in the
garden with a good book….
If you find your comment saying
‘awaiting moderation’ – it is not you, Askimet has been at the magic
mushrooms and I’ll let you out every time a cloud goes
over….
Back next cloud…
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March 24, 2013 at 14:06
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You really know how to rub it in, don’t you, Anna? Feeding the
chickens here in our garden this morning the snowdrifts came over
my boots!
The only problem I had with Gadget was that he never
did seem to realise that it is Government that is the enemy, not
whoever it is that forms the present one.
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March 24, 2013 at 14:59
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Gosh, were it not for the terrible state of the Euro I would
envy your chilled pinot gris in the solace of les jardins de
Raccoon.
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March 24, 2013 at 20:28
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‘…I can personally testify that the blogger published many comments
which purported to have emanated from my server but were in fact,
totally fabricated by Gadget.’
Oh Suuure!! More likely the more obnoxious side of your split
personality coming to the fore…
What a twerp.
- March 25, 2013 at 09:00
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I almost read one of your many limericks so accept my gratitude to
be spared ‘poetic’ insult, PC Frankie.
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March 25, 2013 at 18:59
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The one, the only Melvinator!
With the brain from a rusty
Kelvinator.
A paranoid soul…
Making mischief’s your goal
Be
careful… I may be The Terminator!
- March 25, 2013 at 20:09
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To be frank, I never saw that coming.
Now you will leap to mind
should the occasion arise when I have need of five nonsynchronous
neurons.
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March 25, 2013 at 22:24
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Glad to be of assistance Melv…
{ 35 comments }