Tony Garside gathered his cabinet together for the first time following his TV debut. Plans were drawn up to implement the actions he had spoken about to the nation. The basis of those plans had been established by the military chiefs some time earlier. Major General Alfred Keatson was a long time advocate of a hard crackdown. He and his civilian police counterpart Commissioner James Reynolds were of like minds on this. Both were invited to Tony’s inaugural meeting.
‘Gentlemen’ he started ‘welcome. I have brought you together today firstly to introduce you to each other and secondly to agree a plan that will deliver what we promised the people of this nation. It will not be easy; we have effectively introduced martial law, well, almost. There will be no curfews, not yet anyway. I know General Keatson and Commissioner Reynolds are fully behind what I announced in my TV address.’ They nodded their agreement.
As the introductions started Gerry Small, a prominent right winger, sitting opposite the acknowledged leader of the group interrupted ‘shouldn’t we have got royal assent for this Tony?’
Tony Garside was not expecting any challenges but was prepared. ‘I informed the King last week, just as the outgoing party were clearing their desks. He was of course very reluctant to allow such, what he called, extremely strict and severe measures to be forced on his subjects. But I convinced him that if we had to sort out the mess the country was in there was no choice. I also told him that he and his family were in grave danger by staying here and urged him to make other arrangements. They are currently on their way to Antigua and arrangements have been made for their ongoing protection.’
‘Surely the army and the police could protect them here; we can’t effectively exile the royal family, can we? There will be a massive outcry from the public for sure.’ Gerry sensed he was treading on dangerous ground. He agreed with the promise to remove corruption and clean up the streets but was unsure that containment pens and increased powers of arrest were the right approaches and now the eviction of the monarchy.
‘Gerry my friend, we are all going to have to bite the bullet on many things in the short term. But I can assure you as soon as we have some semblance of order then the Royal Family can return, that’s of course if they want to. As to the way we are going about this difficult task, I am assured by General Keatson and Commissioner Reynolds that it is the only way.’
Gerry was not convinced.
Garside continued ‘General, will you give us all a run down on your plans?’
‘Of course, Sir.’ The General was beaming. He was fulfilling his long-held dream of using his troops to “instil some damned discipline into those layabouts roaming our streets” as he would often assert. He stood and directed a screen presentation pointing out strategic elements of his plan as he spoke. ‘Our first objective is to move three regiments of my engineers into the capital and start to erect the containment pens. These engineers will be protected by some of our finest ground troops while they set about their task. 2nd Infantry Brigade will despatch its battalions to the major cities and towns outside the Capital to maintain order in the event it gets out of hand. My staff have a rolling strategy to install containment pens in each of the major conurbations outside the city. Once they are established, I will hand over to the Commissioner for him to start his arrest phase. I will now pass you on to my colleague to brief you on his arrangements.’
Garside was pleased. ‘Thank you General, when do you propose to start?’
‘As soon as you give the word Sir.’
‘Commissioner?’ Garside gave the nod to the police chief.
‘As soon as I get word from General Keatson that the pens are ready for use I will give the green light to my senior officers to lift the major offenders. We have had a rather long list of these for some time. The lift squads have been trained and are ready to go...’
Gerry Small interrupted ‘excuse me for interrupting commissioner. When these people are “lifted” will they be given a reason for their arrest, will they have access to legal representation and how will they be catered for in terms of food and bedding, etc.?’
Tony Garside jumped in before the Commissioner could answer. ‘Gerry, we’re dealing with a serious breakdown of order here. We are not; I repeat not going to make the same mistakes as previous governments have for the last 20 years. There will be no more running to Strasburg crying human rights violation. No more slaps on the wrists by a weak judicial system and no more do-gooders trying to excuse the behaviour of lawbreakers as not their fault.’ Garside rested both hands on the table in front of him and leaning directly towards Gerry Small said, ‘do I make myself clear Gerry?’ His fixed stare left Gerry in no doubt that his challenge was not welcome.
‘As to the treatment of these individuals, they will be treated firmly but fairly. There will be no abuse or cruelty. They will have their freedom removed, they will be uncomfortable and they will be exposed to all those who they have abused. As soon as they can demonstrate they have renounced their earlier behaviour they will be released. Commissioner, please continue.’
‘My officers have been getting trained in snatch and lift techniques for several years so I have every confidence that they will carry out their task efficiently. Once the public sees some of the ringleader rioters in the pens, public confidence will improve. Our first task will be to eliminate the riotous behaviour. Following that, we will target serial burglars and known anti-social activities. It may be that the pens might not be sufficient deterrent for some of these individuals and prison may be the only option. I assume Sir that the courts will be sitting during this process?’
Garside answered firmly, ‘yes they will Commissioner but only if those courts demonstrate the same resolve as you and your officers will be showing. If there is a hint of the judiciary giving out soft wrist slaps or community service orders to those who should be locked up then locked up they will be.’
Gerry Small interrupted again; incensed by the idea that Parliament was prepared to override the decisions of the courts. ‘Surely Tony we cannot do this without seriously damaging what is left of this democracy. I cannot stand by without voicing my deep concern about what you are proposing.’
Garside leaned across the table directly facing Gerry Small and this time spoke slowly and deliberately. ‘Your concerns are noted but let me make myself absolutely clear Mr Small. It is not a proposal it is an order that I have the authority to give with the full backing of our military staff and police. If you or anyone else in this room is opposed to it, then they had better leave now.’
Gerry stood up, ‘then you have my resignation Sir with immediate effect. I will formerly write to you this evening. I promise you this, though; I will oppose what you are doing from the benches with all of my might.’ He left the Cabinet Office for the first and last time.
Garside looked around the room to see if there were any other dissenters; there were none. ‘Gentlemen, I believe we can get this show on the road so I will ask the General and Commissioner to leave and commence their operations. We have some economic and procedural issues to discuss. Thank you, General and Commissioner, keep us fully informed of your progress.’
The soldier and the Police Commissioner rose and left the room.
‘If you will all excuse me for a moment gentlemen I have some urgent business to attend to. I’ll get my PA to arrange refreshments while I am gone and I will be back shortly.
Garside left the room and went into his private office. He picked up the phone and called his contact in MI5, Henry Mason, ‘Henry old friend, how are you? It’s Tony Garside here. Is your phone on scramble?’
‘Yes it is, I’m fine thank you.’...do I call you Prime Minister now?
‘No Henry, let’s keep it informal. I have a job for you which has to be done with the utmost discretion.’
‘Fire away Tony, you know you can count on me being discreet.’
I need someone neutralised fairly quickly. I don’t care how it’s done, but it needs to be clea
n and beyond question and done in such a way that he has no credibility if he tries to stir things up.’
‘Who do you have in mind?
‘Gerry Small.’
‘That shouldn’t be a problem, leave it with me, Tony.’
‘Oh and Henry I want no trail back to me, understood?’
‘Completely, I’ll be in touch.’ Mason was a small man and always wore John Lennon style spectacles. They gave him an air of importance that he thought compensated him for his lack of height. Within his small frame was a ruthless and intelligent man that had worked his way up through the ranks of the civil service.
Within a week, a scandal broke concerning a right-wing politician and new cabinet member. The door of Gerry Small’s apartment in Woolwich had been burst open by a search squad. The officer in charge informed the shocked politician that he had reason to believe that he was involved in child pornography. ‘I have a search warrant and will be removing items such as your computer and any storage devices.’ He announced.
‘You can search all you like officer you’ll not find anything here. I’m a church going Christian and I am insulted that I should be accused of such a heinous crime. I would like to know on whose information you are acting.’
‘Sorry, sir I cannot divulge that.’
At that moment, a search officer came into the room with a cardboard box. ‘I think you had better have a look at this Sir. It was found behind the computer desk covered by a blanket.’
The OIC carefully and with gloved hands opened the box, which was full of photographs and memory sticks. He picked out some of the photographs, which involved young children in various poses and sexual acts. ‘How do you explain these Mr Small?’
‘Gerry Small snatched the photographs from the officer and leafed through them. He was horrified and wanted to be sick. He spluttered, his hands were trembling, ‘I have never seen these in my life, someone has put these in here.’ To his horror, he suddenly realised that his fingerprints were now all over them.
He was arrested, taken away, charged and ruined forever.
Tony Garside was sat in his private office when his secure phone rang. He picked it up and just said ‘Yes.’
‘Henry Mason here; the job is done.’ The phone went dead and Tony Garside poured himself a drink.