Policing tactics of UK demonstrations

[doobydave]

I imagine 6 minutes of actual news is too much for some people, so I shall mention the most disturbing piece of the Newsnight clip.

A defendants lawyer was told in no uncertain terms that he could not share the evidence he had gathered with others that were being prosecuted. Evidence which countered the polices claims in these cases.

[bavlondon]

I have been following this story about Smellie with interest.

In late 2000, I was smoking some WW with a mate one lunchtime in a very quiet neighbourhood park in Pimlico, London. This was our usual spot, close to where I worked at the time & near the pub, a perfect location....or so we thought.

Smellie and another copper entered the park, I managed to ditch the bag I had in the bush behind us but we were caught bang to rights with the spliff we'd been smoking.

A bit unneccesarily, we were both handcuffed & ducked down in the van whilst being driven past where we worked, before spending about 5 hours in our own cells at Charing X nick, fingerprinted, DNA swabbed, cautioned and free to go. Over a spliff. I do remember Smellie having a laugh about my mate's 'Skin Up' keyring, and us pointing out the irony of being nicked for a joint by a copper called Smellie!


Heavy-handed policing or not, the conclusions I draw from this case are that the Independent Police Complaints Commission further proves itself to be a waste of UK taxpayers' money, and I have to agree with bavlondon that over here, as in many other 'civilised' countries, if you demonstrate and things kick off don't be surprised if you get a slap or pepper sprayed.

Sounds quite harsh that. I was with a mate skinning up round the side of one of the buildings at Euston and a cop car pulled in, caught as clear as day. They took it off us and gave us a lecture but that was it. I guess it depends on if the officer in question wants to be a twat.

But in the case of a protest it's not exactly a situation where you can just lay low, you have people shouting and you left right and centre so you have to maintain control of the situation so if that means exerting some force so be it.

[hardboiled]

police have the weight of the state behind them: unlimited financial resources and engage the use of force with state sanction.

To apologize for the use of such force and state resources against a citizen is bullshit. It takes a whole lot more than PC Gerbilfart's panic and poor policing skills to excuse the use of force by government. Any government.

Sadly, professional statist suckholes believe governments do no wrong - and that they don't lie and screw citizens. Most LEO is like that, simply due to their mortgage (and new truck rims ) being paid for by government.

There are fools who will watch their fellow man get screwed, and take comfort in the fact that it wasn't them. Or suggest they were asking for it (provided the action is non-violent of course).

For those fools who do not speak up or against, or stand by or who do nothing: they are cowards.

It's that simple.

[Dobern]

Don't think cowardice has anything to do with it. If you're gonna go running round demonstrations acting a tit and antagonising the police, you're gonna get a slap. They're there to maintain order for a reason.

[hardboiled]

...and an armed militia capable of lethal force should be held to a higher standard than generic lager lout where there is interaction with the public.

If the cops want to be thought of and paid as professionals, then they can act as such.

Idiot tits notwithstanding. As for myself, I would have slapped her hard. That's why I ain't a cop.

edit: and...I am in North America, which hasn't had the more violent morons seen around some events in the EU - at least according to the news

[the happy hacker]

FUCK THE POLICE

[Michael McJackass]

FUCK THE POLICE

I'm with you.......

[Kingdoc]

Pc smellie lmfao,Seems the cops are bigger cowboys down there in england than they are here.