Police can only act on intelligence.

The police force cannot be completely independent of the executive government.

I think people respect governments that take decisions and act decisively.

A government can do only what is feasible given the political and economic context.

The voter does not vote only on one issue, the voter votes on a multiplicity of issues.

Two successive commissioners in London police were fired by the mayor that came into office. That doesn't mean the police in London is not independent and does not exercise powers. Ultimately it is the political executive that has to answer.