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As police in British cities prepared to flood the streets Friday to ensure weekend drinking does not reignite the rioting that swept the country this week, a prominent former U.S. top cop said he was in talks with the U.K. government to become an adviser on calming the violence there.
William Bratton, who as police chief in New York, Boston and Los Angeles built a reputation for quelling gang activity, said he received a phone call Friday from Prime Minister David Cameron asking him whether he would consider becoming a consultant for British police. He said he thanked Cameron for the opportunity and will continue speaking with British officials to formalize an agreement. "This is a prime minister who has a clear idea of what he wants to do," Bratton told The Associated Press in a phone interview. "He sees this crisis as a way to bring change. [3]
Bill Bratton, who headed police departments in Boston, New York and L.A., confirmed that he has been asked by British Prime Minister David Cameron to advise British police on how to address street violence.
Bill Bratton, who headed police departments in Boston, New York and L.A., confirmed that he has been asked by British Prime Minister David Cameron to advise British police on how to address street violence.
Bratton told ABC News he had received a call from Cameron Friday morning asking him to consider becoming a consultant to Scotland Yard. He said he thanked the prime minister for the offer and hoped to come to a formal agreement.
Prime Minister had repeatedly signaled his intention to enlist the aid of Bratton, who as a police commissioner in three major U.S. cities developed a reputation for driving down crime rates and curbing gang activity.
When addressing Parliament about the rioting and looting that began in London over the weekend, he cited by Bratton by name as the kind of outside expert that Britain needed. [4] Before riots flared up in London and hacking scandals were the biggest news coming out of the U.K., one of America's toughest police chiefs told The Daily Beast's Lloyd Grove that he would be willing to lead Scotland Yard.
Bill Bratton, former chief of the NYPD, LAPD, and Boston police departments, nearly got his wish yesterday when Prime Minister David Cameron selected him to be his top adviser on gang violence in Britain's cities. He will expedite plans to monitor gang members between the ages of 14 and 17 and will be a major contributor to David Cameron's foming public review about how to squelch gangs in the country. [5]
British Prime Minister David Cameron again today strongly signaled his intent to bring in former New York City Police Commissioner Bill Bratton to help reshape Scotland Yard.
British Prime Minister David Cameron again today strongly signaled his intent to bring in former New York City Police Commissioner Bill Bratton to help reshape Scotland Yard.
In an address to Parliament that followed days of violent unrest in Britain's cities, and in which he vowed to track down and punish rioters, Cameron made clear his determination to search globally for the expertise needed to solve the crisis in British policing. [6] I will be discussing how we can go further in getting to grips with gangs with people like Bill Bratton, former commissioner of police in New York and Los Angeles.''
Bratton, who is now chairman of Kroll, a risk consulting company headquartered in New York, has acknowledged his interest in the post but declined to comment on it when reached by phone yesterday. He issued a statement responding to the prime minister's remarks to Parliament. "In light of the understandable interest of the British people and their government to address the issues of gangs and gang violence, if asked I would be honored to provide my counsel in any capacity they deem helpful,'' Bratton said.
Bratton also said he would be in a position to discuss his work in reducing gang-related crime in Boston, New York, and Los Angeles, where police relations with diverse communities also improved. "There are many lessons from these experiences that I believe are relevant to the current situation in England,'' he said in his statement. [7]
Bill Bratton, who introduced zero-tolerance policing to New York and turned around crime-ridden Los Angeles, will help ministers draw up plans to tackle gang culture in Britain's cities.
Yesterday the Prime Minister unveiled the first of his plans to tackle gang violence. He said injunctions which let courts ban gang members from gathering in certain places or at certain times of day, which currently apply only to adults, will be extended to children.
Ministers were planning to roll out a pilot scheme covering 14 to 17-year-olds later this year. [8]
Britain said Thursday that it would seek U.S. law enforcement advice on fighting gang violence as the U.K. deals with riots that have gripped several of the country's cities.
Britain said Thursday that it would seek U.S. law enforcement advice on fighting gang violence as the U.K. deals with riots that have gripped several of the country's cities.
Bratton, whose resume includes top cop jobs in New York, Los Angeles and Boston, said in a written statement that he would "be honored" to assist the British. Since the riots first started, London's Metropolitan Police have been widely criticized for its slow and inadequate response. The situation has deteriorated to the point where citizens are forced to stand guard in front of their homes and businesses because of the lack of police presence. For the first time, its deputy assistant commissioner admitted Thursday that the force did not deploy enough officers to control the outbreak of violence early on in the riots.
[9] Bratton left the Los Angeles police in 2009 and is now a private security firm executive.
As Britain's Parliament took up an emergency debate on the riots, Cameron told lawmakers he would look to cities like Boston for inspiration, and he mentioned Bratton as a person who could help offer advice. Bratton had said in a statement Thursday that he would be "pleased and honored" to provide services and counsel in any capacity, adding that he loves London and has worked with British police for nearly 20 years. After a week of violence, police in London said Friday they have charged almost 600 people with violence, disorder and looting over the deadly riots in the capital alone. [2]
British Prime Minister David Cameron, speaking to Parliament about the recent riots in London, said street gangs were partly to blame and he will consult with former Los Angeles Police Chief William J. Bratton to tackle them.
British Prime Minister David Cameron, speaking to Parliament about the recent riots in London, said street gangs were partly to blame and he will consult with former Los Angeles Police Chief William J. Bratton to tackle them.
[10] Now that perceived link will be solidified as reports claim that British Prime Minister David Cameron will confer with William Bratton, the former police chief of both New York City and Los Angeles. [11]
NEW YORK (AP) -- William Bratton, who as police chief in New York, Boston and Los Angeles built a reputation for quelling gang activity, is in talks with the British government to become an adviser on calming the violence there, he told The Associated Press on Friday. [2] "I want us to use the record of success against gangs some cities like Boston in the U.S.," said Cameron. Before he became police commissioner in New York, and later chief of the Los Angeles Police Department, Bratton was the top cop in Boston. [6] "I also believe we should be looking beyond our shores to learn lessons from others who have faced similar problems," Cameron told Parliament. "That is why I will be discussing how we can go further in getting to grips with gangs with people like Bill Bratton, former commissioner of police in New York and Los Angeles." Bratton, now overseeing a private security firm, said that while L.A. had a large number of gangs, only a small proportion of them were responsible for violent crimes. [10] In a respectful atmosphere in the House of Commons, Cameron set out the government's proposed response to the riots.
NEW YORK (AP) -- William Bratton, who as police chief in New York, Boston and Los Angeles built a reputation for quelling gang activity, is in talks with the British government to become an adviser on calming the violence there, he told The Associated Press on Friday. [2] "I want us to use the record of success against gangs some cities like Boston in the U.S.," said Cameron. Before he became police commissioner in New York, and later chief of the Los Angeles Police Department, Bratton was the top cop in Boston. [6] "I also believe we should be looking beyond our shores to learn lessons from others who have faced similar problems," Cameron told Parliament. "That is why I will be discussing how we can go further in getting to grips with gangs with people like Bill Bratton, former commissioner of police in New York and Los Angeles." Bratton, now overseeing a private security firm, said that while L.A. had a large number of gangs, only a small proportion of them were responsible for violent crimes. [10] In a respectful atmosphere in the House of Commons, Cameron set out the government's proposed response to the riots.
The major legislative action he set out was a change to the law to allow the police to force people who they suspect of being involved in criminal activity to remove face coverings.
There'll also be a review of whether social networks should be shut down when they are being used to plan crimes.
In terms of the police, Cameron praised their bravery while criticising their tactics on the first few nights of the riots. The Prime Minister also made clear that he'll be seeking advice on dealing with gangs from Bill Bratton, the former New York and LA police chief. This will add to the talk that Number 10 is keen to see Bratton brought in to run the Met.
[12] The comments below have not been moderated.
Out of 60 million plus people here in the UK, Mr Cameron has decided to choose an "advisor" from America eh! Bill Bratton hasn't come up against EU Law though has he? Particularly its Human Rights Laws. As long as he is just an 'Advisor' and does not don a British Bobby's Uniform or is appointed Chief of all British Police for to do so would be contrary to our Constitution and THAT has been trashed enough already by British Governments since 1972-AND LOOK WHAT A MESS WE ARE IN NOW BECAUSE OF THAT. All this Country REALLY wants Mr Cameron, is a Prime Minister that can actually Govern this Country by its own Common Law Constitution and not laws written by foreigners on mainland Europe. It is not much to ask is it and after all IT IS INDEED THE LAW OF THIS LAND. - The Truth Teller, West Midlands, England, 12/8/2011 17:21
What he did in the U.S. was adopted the British Police methods. Bringing this man or any American cop here is the last thing we need. The American police I have come into contact cause more trouble because of their in your face attitude with everyone - as a friend of mine and American police officer said they are trained to treat every single person they meet as someone who is about to kill them. [8]
Now David Cameron is turning to the man who is credited with restoring law and order in the city - former LAPD chief Bill Bratton - dubbed a "US Supercop" by the British newspapers. At one point he was apparently being considered for the job as Britains top policeman, the new Commissioner of Londons Metropolitan police. [13]
Britain has often turned to Boston police for lessons in recent years, noted the British consul general in Boston. Paul Evans, who was Boston's police commissioner from 1994 to 2003, caught the eye of former prime minister Tony Blair and after his tenure went to London to run the Police Standards Unit in Britain's Home Office; he later focused on criminal reduction efforts. His predecessor here, William J. Bratton, has also advised police in Britain.
Now David Cameron is turning to the man who is credited with restoring law and order in the city - former LAPD chief Bill Bratton - dubbed a "US Supercop" by the British newspapers. At one point he was apparently being considered for the job as Britains top policeman, the new Commissioner of Londons Metropolitan police. [13]
Britain has often turned to Boston police for lessons in recent years, noted the British consul general in Boston. Paul Evans, who was Boston's police commissioner from 1994 to 2003, caught the eye of former prime minister Tony Blair and after his tenure went to London to run the Police Standards Unit in Britain's Home Office; he later focused on criminal reduction efforts. His predecessor here, William J. Bratton, has also advised police in Britain.
Two years ago, Queen Elizabeth II awarded him the honorary title of Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. "Boston is a place that we Brits look so often for links, whether it's in business or innovation or research. Also in this area of policing, it's an area that we Brits have looked in the past,'' said Phil Budden, the British consul-general in Boston. In recent weeks, speculation has swirled that Bratton is a contender to become the new commissioner of Scotland Yard, following the resignation of Sir Paul Stephenson amid allegations that surfaced in the News of the World phone-hacking scandal that his officers had taken bribes. [7]
Cameron also said that the review into what could be done to stop gangs would involve Bratton and produce a report in October.
When Bratton was New York's police commissioner in the 1990s, his reign saw major crimes fall by 39 per cent and murders fall by 50 per cent. When he headed up the LA police, Bratton saw crime reduce for six consecutive years, including a 24 per cent drop in murders.
Known for his blunt speaking, on one occasion when police had shot at a car containing teenagers that then crashed and the occupants were killed members of the public said that he should control his officers.
[14] Now that will be rushed forward and will cover more parts of the country. Mr Cameron also announced yesterday that he has set up a review into what can be done to stop gangs.
Mr Bratton, 63, will be a major contributor to this review, which will report back in October.
As New York's police commissioner in the 1990s, the'supercop' introduced a ground-breaking policy under which officers cracked down hard on even the smallest infringements to deter people from carrying out bigger crimes. This led to major crimes falling 39 per cent, with murders down 50 per cent, during his time in charge. Another crucial factor was his introduction of sophisticated data analysis techniques. At weekly meetings, officers tracked crime patterns on computers so they could target problem areas. [8]
Bill Bratton - described by some as "America's most fearsome policeman" after he brought zero tolerance policing (and crime data analysis) to the streets of New York and sorted out crime in Los Angeles - is to advise the coalition government on tackling the problem of gang culture in the UK.
Bill Bratton - described by some as "America's most fearsome policeman" after he brought zero tolerance policing (and crime data analysis) to the streets of New York and sorted out crime in Los Angeles - is to advise the coalition government on tackling the problem of gang culture in the UK.
Cameron named the outspoken Bratton in the House of Commons when he made his emergency statement on the government's response to the riots.
[14] Mr Bratton, the former New York and Los Angeles police chief, is credited with dramatically reducing crime after the 1992 riots on LA. The burning buildings, looting, and clashes with police in Britain this week have brought back some vivid memories in Los Angeles. [13]
Los Angeles Police chief Bill Bratton, left, monitors a rally where legalization of millions of undocumented immigrants living in the United States supporters are marching on Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles, California. [4]
Bratton was credited with reducing crime in Los Angeles following the devastating riots of April 1992. That conflagration was sparked after four police officers were acquitted on charges that they brutally beat black motorist Rodney King. [11] Mr Bratton was forced to resign from the force in 1996 as city officials investigated the propriety of a book deal he had made while in office.
Los Angeles Police chief Bill Bratton, left, monitors a rally where legalization of millions of undocumented immigrants living in the United States supporters are marching on Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles, California. [4]
Bratton was credited with reducing crime in Los Angeles following the devastating riots of April 1992. That conflagration was sparked after four police officers were acquitted on charges that they brutally beat black motorist Rodney King. [11] Mr Bratton was forced to resign from the force in 1996 as city officials investigated the propriety of a book deal he had made while in office.
He took over the scandal-plagued Los Angeles police in 2002, and again helped turn the city around. Under his leadership, crime there dropped for six years in a row, including a 24 per cent fall in homicides which relieved the city of its title as America's murder capital.
Just a month into the job, he was confronted by demonstrators angry at the deaths of two teenagers in a car which crashed after police had shot at it. [8]
"Looking at the pictures coming out of London really brings back memories of what happened here in Los Angeles 20 years ago," said Commander Andrew Smith, then a Los Angeles Police Department street officer. He showed me a photograph taken on the day violence erupted in 1992 - a little faded but clearly showing him standing in the middle of the road holding a shotgun upright in one hand, burning buildings all around him. "I see a lot of parallels with the behaviour of the rioters in London - they did the same things here then - and we learned a lot of lessons. [13]
"Looking at the pictures coming out of London really brings back memories of what happened here in Los Angeles 20 years ago," said Commander Andrew Smith, then a Los Angeles Police Department street officer. He showed me a photograph taken on the day violence erupted in 1992 - a little faded but clearly showing him standing in the middle of the road holding a shotgun upright in one hand, burning buildings all around him. "I see a lot of parallels with the behaviour of the rioters in London - they did the same things here then - and we learned a lot of lessons. [13]
One observer told BBC that, as in the British riots, in Los Angeles, the lone incident led to widespread violence by many other disaffected people. "They were Latinos, poor whites, they were just hooligans of all sorts hit the streets along with black gang members and all sorts of people out doing burning and looting and rioting and general thuggery on the streets of LA," said Joe Hicks, a former civil rights activist in Los Angeles. "You get a lot of clowns and fools and idiots in any society, who are just laying in wait for the chance to do what they do."
[11] "The beating of Rodney King was simply the catalyst," said Joe Hicks, a former civil rights leader who led a multi-cultural organisation to help repair communities in the aftermath of the riots. It began in a black neighbourhood but, as was the case in the United Kingdom, many different people joined the riot.
"They were Latinos, poor whites, they were just hooligans of all sorts hit the streets along with black gang members and all sorts of people out doing burning and looting and rioting and general thuggery on the streets of LA," he said. "You get a lot of clowns and fools and idiots in any society, who are just laying in wait for the chance to do what they do." [13] ...read more
