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Inside Scotland Yard: Assistant Commissioner speaks with LSST students about provisions of an efficient and effective police service

Kunal Chan Mehta

By Kunal Chan Mehta | Article Date: 30 May 2022

 
(l – r) Ancuta Racasan, Kunal Chan Mehta, Cassandra Davies, Zsofia Borbely and Nicoleta Covaci
 

With a 30 year – and counting – police career, having received the Queen’s Police Medal and the respect of thousands of frontline police staff, what’s to say but a big thank you to Assistant Commissioner Nick Ephgrave – the individual with one of the biggest jobs in British frontline policing.

Although one of the safest buildings in the country, LSST students were understandably nervous as they entered Scotland Yard – the headquarters of the Metropolitan Police. Why? They were about to interview one of Britain’s most senior and experienced police staff on a series of sensitive subjects on youth crime and violent crime.

Inside Scotland Yard: (l – r) Zsofia Borbely, Nicoleta Covaci, Kunal Chan Mehta, Assistant Commissioner Nick Ephgrave, Cassandra Davies and Ancuta Racasan
 

As Mr Ephgrave enters the interview room the students stand up formally as a sign of reverence for someone they instinctively and confidently feel inspired by. ‘He has a strong leadership presence and demonstrates focus, compassion and integrity,’ said Zsofia Borbely, a Business Management student at LSST’s Wembley campus. ‘It is precisely this that allowed us to resonate so well with him during our interview.’

Mr Ephgrave, the third Assistant Commissioner LSST students have had an audience with over the last several years, dedicates himself to the highest values of policing professionalism and performance. He does this amid having a solid vision of taking policing into the future.

 

 

Discussing the insightful interview, Nicoleta Covaci, a Health and Social Sciences student at LSST’s Elephant & Castle campus, said: ‘We were all privileged to be able to ask a variety of questions about youth crime and violent crime. We all felt assured that the issues raised were taken seriously. Only through strong Scotland Yard leadership and civic support can the right changes be brought about.’

Media training by Kunal Chan Mehta (centre) before interviewing Assistant Commissioner Nick Ephgrave. (l – r) Zsofia Borbely, Nicoleta Covaci, Cassandra Davies and Ancuta Racasan
 

Police purpose and provisions

Much of the academic literature on UK policing is – and remains - beset by methodological difficulties. Nearly all inputs and outputs to measure police effectiveness, efficiency and legitimacy are problematic (see Higgins and Hales, 2016). This is because of the wide variety of police work and because crimes prevented are not wholly measurable in terms of what could have occurred next. You can only measure the measurable.

All of us are united in one purpose: We all want excellent policing that we can trust and have complete confidence in. We all want the provision of an efficient and effective Police Service. However, too often, the good and heroic work that our police officers accomplish goes wholly unrecognised and unnoticed.

Get involved

LSST students are currently creating anti-knife crime posters and student-led webinars on the topics above. To get involved, please email ancuta.racasan@lsst.ac.

Police careers

There are various ways to join the police across the UK, depending on your work, life, and educational experience. The Met is recruiting now and welcomes applications from people of all backgrounds, visit www.met.police.uk/newpcs for more information about the role and how to join. For other police forces visit www.joiningthepolice.co.uk.

Reference

Higgins, A. and G. Hales (2016). Police effectiveness in a changing world: Cutting crime in the 21st Century: Informed proactivity in the midst of social and organisational change. London, Police Foundation.

 

Please email the author of this article kunal.mehta@lsst.ac for any questions or comments on this article.

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