Justice Denied

"Watching the BBC executives, what struck me was the condescending tone in all replies to questions about their responsibilities."

This week, two strands of inquiry came together on Tuesday, exposing the arrogance and contempt for justice that resides in Britain's institutions. 

In the first instance, MPs grilled past and present BBC executives over the Bashir affair. They focused on the use of forged documents to groom Princess Diana into giving that infamous interview. 

Second, the Daniel Morgan Independent Panel delivered a report slamming the Metropolitan Police. Morgan, a private detective, died in a south London car park with an axe to the head in March 1987. At the time, he was investigating links between corrupt police and gangland figures. Five investigations by the Metropolitan Police failed to find his killers. It's now becoming clear why.

Watching the BBC executives, what struck me was the condescending tone in all replies to questions about their responsibilities. They refused to accept any criticism for what happened around Bashir. Nor would they apologise to the whistle-blower who they ruined. 

Instead, when cornered, their response was "I can't remember", "I don’t know", "We can't find the documentation," and "You don't understand how things work". I came away with the impression that 'things work' without any checks and balances at the BBC. And how dare anyone question them? After all, as self-appointed arbiters of all the news, they are above reproach. 

Meanwhile, according to the BBC narrative, Bashir was a lone rogue reporter who deceived the entire editorial team and senior management. Yet, even when they knew Bashir had lied, they rehired him as their chief religious affairs correspondent. Praise the Lord!

The trashing of the Metropolitan Police also noted a haughty attitude and dismissal of people. The Panel observed how the victim's family faced sneers and rebuttals by Met officers as they pursued a three-decade campaign for justice. 

I suppose if members of the Royal Family struggle to get the truth, what chance do ordinary people have? Thus, it's a testament to Morgan's family that their tenacity achieved so much against officials intent on protecting reputations. 

The Panel, led by Lady O'Loan, found evidence of bent coppers scuppering the murder investigation. Inappropriate links between the media, police and organised crime abounded. Brown envelopes stuffed with payoffs are reminiscent of the corruption Hong Kong experienced in the 1970s. In London, detectives sold confidential information to the underworld and the media. 

In the years after the murder, various Met leaders, including the current Commissioner, Cressida Dick, stand accused of hindering investigations. Lady O'Loan finishes by asserting the Met is 'institutionally corrupt'. Note the present tense. 

They can add that to their 'institutionally racist' tag. This broad-brush epithet is odd because elsewhere in the report, it’s stated that the vast majority of police officers in the Met are honest. So why tar everyone with the same brush? 

No doubt Commissioner Dick will hang on. Because, having participated in the execution of an innocent man in 2005 and survived that, this is but a minor blot on her record. This incident joins a litany of pratfalls that would have seen any other official go. Yet, for reasons unknown, Commissioner Dick retains her job. 

Doubtless, Commissioner Dick will be facing further questions in the coming days and months over the failure of her officers to investigate the activities in the UK of convicted paedophile Jeffery Epstein. As this Channel 4 documentary makes clear, there are issues worthy of further study. Only a deeply suspicious person would suggest that any of these events are linked.

Even so, what does it say about public life in Britain that Commissioner Dick continues as the top cop? Meanwhile, at the same time, the BBC is again dodging accountability. Nothing to see here, move on. 

Does it seem time for the UK to consider a Hong Kong-style independent commission against corruption? Because the evidence is mounting that the UK police are incapable of addressing the issue of in-house corruption.

The ICAC had a painful birth and bumpy ride at times, but Hong Kong is a less corrupt place as a result. Whether the UK has the political will to tackle these issues is another question.