As media attention focussed on Chuck and Camilla there was a related deafening silence about the thugs (and their so-called Commanders) in the Met who call themselves ‘riot police’. The truth of their behaviour is seeping out in papers like the Guardian and the Independent. Just a couple of instances:
“As university lecturers who were kettled for eight hours on Thursday, we are furious that thousands of very young people were trapped in an increasingly dangerous situation almost entirely of the police's making. Despite media reports that peaceful protesters were allowed to leave, many of us were detained and repeatedly misinformed by police about supposed exits that did not exist. As the evening wore on and, inevitably, some violence did break out, visibly distressed students were forced to huddle in corners of Parliament Square, trying to predict how best to avoid a police charge. One young woman asked us if this was how protesting always was and did she need the courage to face riot cops if she wanted to go on a march. It is shameful that this should be a young person's idea about active citizenship in this country.”
“When did we give away the right to protest peacefully and then walk away when we had finished? When did we endorse the police holding our children for hours in freezing weather and preventing our presence, despite them having committed no crime? Why are we accepting that the police can trample on the rights of thousands because of the behaviour of a few?”
Extracts from the Guardian letters page 11/12/2010
Good questions. What reasonable human being volunteers to serve in the ‘Riot Police?’ Anecdotal evidence suggests those with thuggish tendencies, who like a bit of a ruck and many who would find themselves at home with the Brownshirts. Not convinced? Read on...
“What an appalling failure in a so-called civilised society to see hundreds of riot police along the road from Victoria, readying themselves to "deal with" protesters. I tried to talk to one officer about a proportionate response to the children and young people there, and I was told if it offended me to see kids "get what they deserved", I should go home and put my slippers on.” ibid
What a big brave chap!
The massive majority of protests and protesters are peaceful. Yet our craven, inept and deeply reprehensible rulers cannot see further than tomorrow’s headlines.
Who will be the next Blair Peach?
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