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7. BUT MEMORIES ARE SHORT AND THE SITUATION HAS PERHAPS CHANGED AND ONE MUST EXPECT SOME CRITICISM, ESPECIALLY FROM THOSE WHO SEE DANGER OF THE POLICE BECOMING TOO POWERFUL, AND THOSE WHO HABITUALLY MAKE THE POLICE THEIR BUTT. NO DOUBT THE PSEUDO-LEGAL ARGUMENT WILL ALSO BE USED THAT AN EXECUTIVE OFFICER LIKE THE COMMISSIONER SHOULD BE KEPT CLEAR OF THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS. THOUGH THIS WOULD BE ILLOGICAL SINCE THE SAME APPLIES TO ALL OTHER OFFICIAL MEMBERS, PERHAPS A SPECIAL CASE OF SORTS COULD BE MADE OUT AGAINST MEMBERSHIP BY THE COMMISSIONER. HOWEVER, AS AGAINST THIS THERE IS THE PRECEDENT ABOVE.
8. NEVERTHELESS ON BALANCE I AM ANXIOUS TO MAKE THIS APPOINTMENT
BECAUSE:
(A)
IT IS NOT ACCORD WITH THE PRINCIPLE OF OPEN GOVERNMENT THAT THE HEAD OF SUCH A LARGE DEPARTMENT, WHOSE ACTIVITIES INEVITABLY COVER A SIGNIFICANT AREA OF THE POINT OF CONTACT BETWEEN GOVERNMENT AND GOVERNED SHOULD NOT BE IN LEG CO WHERE HE MAY BE SUBJECTED TO PUBLIC QUESTIONING BY UNOFFICIALS AND EXPLAIN HIS POLICIES AND ACTIONS TO THEM. (B) SLEVIN HIMSELF HAS RESPONDED WITH VIGOUR AND IMIGINATION
TO THE OBVIOUS NEED TO REORGANISE THE POLICE FORCE AND, IN PARTICULAR, TO RE-SHAPE ITS ATTITUDES TO AND CONTACTS WITH THE PUBLIC. IT WOULD ASSIST HIM IN THIS PROCESS TO HAVE THE ADDED PRESTIGE OF MEMBERSHIP OF LEG CO.
9. I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT THE MOST EFFECTIVE ANSWER TO CRITICISM WILL BE THE EVIDENCE OF SLEVIN'S PERFORMANCE IN LEG CO, AND THE DEGREE OF OPENESS AND COMPETENCE WITH WICH HE RESPONDS TO QUESTIONING. A GOOD DEAL THEREFORE DEPENDS ON WHETHER HE HIMSELF FEELS UP TO HANDLING THIS DEGREE OF PUBLIC EXPOSURE. PERSONALLY I THINK HE WOULD DO IT VERY ADEQUATELY, BUT BEFORE SOUNDING HIM I WOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR CONFIRMATION THAT YOU WOULD HAVE NO DIFFICULTY IN APPROVING THE APPOINTMENT IF I DECIDED TO PROCEED WITH IT.
10. SINCE AN ANNOUNCEMENT SHOULD BE MADE BY 14 OCTOBER AT THE LATEST I WOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR AN EARLY REPLY.
MACLEHOSE
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