Police should unite in face of PC Dibell murder (From Clacton and Frinton Gazette)

Police should unite in face of PC Dibell murder

4:00pm Wednesday 12th September 2012 in News By James Dwan

THE police service across the country has been urged to unite in the face of the murder of off-duty Clacton police officer Ian Dibell.

The comments came after proposals for experienced people to be able to enter the police service as superintendents were branded as a costly excess by police chiefs.

The Government plans to launch a consultation on bringing in direct entry to the police service this autumn.

But Derek Barnett, president of the Police Superintendents' Association of England and Wales, said the move would cost hundreds of thousands of pounds and bring an "operational risk".

He urged officers of all ranks to unite, pointing to the murder of PC Dibell, who was shot after intervening in an incident close to his home in Redbridge Road on July 9.

"This is not the time for the service to divide and become introspective," he said.

"Ian was murdered not because he held the rank of constable, he was off-duty.

"What happened to Ian could have happened to any police officer, regardless of rank.

"But what unites us is that each and every one of us, from chief constable to the newest recruit, holds the noble office of constable."