Would you like to see more police on the beat? Or would you rather they spent more time filling out forms? Do you think the police should focus more on burglary than they do now? Do you think that petty crimes should be treated more seriously? Or perhaps you think that the police spend too much time chasing criminals and would be better employed on multicultural awareness courses.

Whatever you think, it doesn’t make the slightest difference. In our so-called democracy, the message of the authorities is simple: “Go to hell, little people. We don’t give a damn what you think.”

Last week, the new Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police was appointed. According to most reports Sir Ian Blair is fully signed to up to one part of his namesake’s catchy formulation. He is tough on the causes of crime. Some say he has yet to be convinced of the first part: tough on crime. The fact is, however, that none of us knows what he really thinks. We have no idea if he thinks criminals are nasty people who should be punished or the pitiable victims of a materialistic society.

We have no idea because . . . well, why should we? It doesn’t make any difference what he thinks or what we think of what he thinks. We have no say in his appointment. All that matters is that he is rated by the great and the good. No matter if the rest of us think that the police need to get out of their panda cars and on to the beat, and that they should direct their attention to dealing with the social disorder which blights our streets.

But Sir Ian’s performance will be discussed by the Metropolitan Police Authority, so we shouldn’t worry. Phew.

Go to the front of the class if you can name one member of that authority. Award yourself an ice-cream if you name two.

Sir Ian might well be the best man for the job. But shouldn’t we have a say in the matter? Chief constables should be directly accountable to us, the people. It’s us they are supposed to serve, after all. Imagine the galvanising effect of a contest between two or three candidates for the job, each of whom published a manifesto to which we could then hold them. Some chance. One wouldn’t want to allow something as frightful as ordinary people having a say in law and order, would one?