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CNA
4 days ago
- Politics
- CNA
US capital sues Trump govt over police takeover
WASHINGTON: The attorney general for the US capital Washington has sued Donald Trump's administration over what he called a "hostile takeover" of the city's police force, which the Republican president said was necessary to fight violent crime. Earlier this week, Trump placed the capital's Metropolitan Police Department under federal government control while also sending 800 National Guard troops onto the city's streets. Attorney General Pam Bondi on Thursday (Aug 14) then issued an order to install a hand-picked official - Drug Enforcement Administration chief Terry Cole - as "emergency" police commissioner. Federal law governing the capital "does not authorise this brazen usurpation of the District's authority over its own government", Attorney General Brian Schwalb wrote in a filing lodged in federal court. "Defendants have unlawfully seized operational control of MPD, including by assuming positions in the chain of command and issuing policy directives to MPD." Schwalb has asked for a temporary restraining order on Bondi's order, and for the court to declare that Trump's executive order exceeds his authority over the District of Columbia. A hearing has been set for 2pm local time. "By declaring a hostile takeover of MPD, the Administration is abusing its limited, temporary authority under the Home Rule Act, infringing on the District's right to self-governance and putting the safety of DC residents and visitors at risk," Schwalb said in a statement on social media. "This is an affront to the dignity and autonomy of the 700,000 Americans who call DC home." Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser, a Democrat, said late Thursday that "there is no statute that conveys the District's personnel authority to a federal official". SPECIAL STATUS Unlike the 50 states, Washington operates under a unique relationship with the federal government that limits its autonomy and grants Congress extraordinary control over local matters. Since the mid-1970s, the Home Rule Act has allowed residents to elect a mayor and a city council, although Congress still controls the city's budget. The overwhelmingly Democratic city faces allegations from Republican politicians that it is overrun by crime, plagued by homelessness and financially mismanaged. But data from Washington police show significant drops in violent crime between 2023 and 2024, although that was coming off the back of a post-pandemic surge. Bowser said earlier this week that violent crime was "at its lowest level in 30 years". Trump has said he wants to tackle homeless encampments and move those sleeping rough "FAR from the Capital". Washington is ranked 15th on a list of major US cities by homeless population, according to government statistics from last year. On his Truth Social platform, Trump this week described Washington as "under siege from thugs and killers", with higher crime rates than "many of the most violent Third World Countries". But residents rejected that depiction.
Reuters
5 days ago
- Politics
- Reuters
Trump says he will seek extension of federal takeover of D.C. police
WASHINGTON, Aug 13 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trumpsaid on Wednesday he would ask congressional Republicans to extend federal control of Washington's city police force beyond 30 days, escalating his campaign to exert presidential power over the nation's capital. Trump also asserted that any congressional action could serve as a model for other U.S. cities. He has previously threatened to expand his efforts to other Democratic-run cities such as Chicago that he claims have failed to address crime. It was not clear how Trump's takeover of Washington's Metropolitan Police Department could be replicated elsewhere. In seizing control on Monday, Trump took advantage of a federal law, the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, that permits the president to do so under emergency circumstances for up to 30 days. Trump also announced on Monday that he was deploying 800 National Guard troops to the city, a tactic he employed in Los Angeles in June when he mobilized thousands of Guard soldiers and hundreds of U.S. Marines in response to protests over his administration's immigration raids. Trump's extraordinary moves in Washington are reflective of how he has approached his second term in office, shattering political norms and legal concerns to test the limits of his office's power. The Republican president has claimed that the capital is gripped by a wave of violent crime and pervasive homelessness, despite both federal and city crime statistics showing that violent crime has declined precipitously since a spike in 2023. The offices of House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, both Republicans, were not immediately available to comment on Trump's request for congressional action. Democratic legislative leaders also did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Trump told reporters on Wednesday that if Congress fails to act, he can declare a "national emergency" to extend the 30-day limit. It was not immediately clear what legal power Trump was referring to. "There's nothing about the president extending past 30 days unilaterally," Claire Finkelstein, a University of Pennsylvania law professor, said of the Home Rule Act. "If the 30 days are up, that's that." The president has used emergency declarations to justify numerous unprecedented executive actions, including historically high tariffs on foreign imports and his wide-ranging immigration crackdown. Many have drawn lawsuits challenging his authority. In both Washington and Los Angeles, Trump bypassed or ignored objections from elected local leaders. A federal trial on whether Trump violated the law in Los Angeles by calling up the National Guard over the objections of Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom is underway in San Francisco.
South China Morning Post
13-07-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong police force needs more officers from ethnic minority groups
Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at [email protected] or filling in this Google form . Submissions should not exceed 400 words, and must include your full name and address, plus a phone number for verification Advertisement The Hong Kong government, as the city's largest employer with more than 170,000 civil servants, has a pivotal responsibility to promote inclusive employment practices. However, the representation of individuals from diverse ethnic backgrounds within the civil service remains alarmingly low; we estimate it to be substantially below their 4 per cent share of Hong Kong's population (excluding foreign domestic helpers). This disparity is particularly pronounced in the police force, where representation from these backgrounds is very rare among officers. Such underrepresentation not only undermines the principle of inclusivity but also disregards the invaluable skills these communities contribute to Hong Kong society. One significant barrier to entry is the stringent Chinese language requirement for police recruitment. While basic proficiency in Cantonese is a reasonable expectation for the performance of frontline duties, the current examination criteria extend well beyond practical needs. The test places undue emphasis on advanced vocabulary, grammatical corrections and complex sentence structures. This disproportionate focus on written Chinese disadvantages capable candidates who possess fluency in multiple languages and other essential skills necessary for effective police work. Hong Kong prides itself on being a global metropolis where multilingualism should be embraced as an asset rather than a liability. Many people from diverse ethnic backgrounds are fluent in English, Hindi, Urdu, Punjabi and other languages, which could significantly enhance community policing and public engagement. Unfortunately, the current system magnifies perceived weaknesses – specifically in written Chinese – while overlooking the strengths that multilingual candidates bring to the table. Advertisement It is imperative for the government to reform recruitment assessments to ensure they are relevant, fair and aligned with the actual requirements of the job. Distinguishing between testing functional language skills and demanding academic-level proficiency is crucial. Furthermore, multilingualism should be recognised as a significant advantage rather than dismissed.
