Report on the Dialogue on 15th May 2006

between

David Strang, Chief Constable, Dumfries & Galloway Constabulary

and

Tom Cuthell, Minister of St Cuthbert's Church, Edinburgh

After training as an engineer at university, David Strang joined the police force in London because he wanted a job working with people. Rising through the ranks of the Met, he saw at first hand the problems affecting cities and it brought home to him the broader aspects of modern policing. He believes it is vital that society understands the root causes of problems and takes positive steps to tackle them, rather than just focusing on judgement, condemnation and punishment. A supporter of early intervention he also has a strong belief in the importance of communities in helping this, and is a strong believer in restorative justice. Interestingly, he sees alcohol as a bigger problem today than drugs, citing its greater availability and misuse.

David gave frank answers to questions about corruption, stressing the importance of integrity in police work, especially when it impacts trust. He also dealt openly with issues such as cases where police might be tempted to take matters into their own hands to get a conviction because they know the person involved is definitely guilty - a concept described as "moral perjury."

Moving to Edinburgh as Assistant Chief Constable in the late 1990s, David had responsibility for policing some high profile events, including the Millennium celebrations. In 2001 he was appointed Chief Constable of Dumfries and Galloway, where he is a strong supporter of community projects.

On a more personal level, David was open about his Christian faith and how it informs his work. He was quick to point out that he serves people of all faiths and none (as OASIS does). A natural optimist - seeing the glass half full rather than half empty - he has a strong belief in the redemption of people and the role that the police and the justice system can fulfil in encouraging this. His views on leadership were particularly interesting and relevant - leadership is about recognising and affirming the talents of others - and this is a particular aspect of his work he enjoys.

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