A video on social media had shown the policeman on Southend seafrant (sic) deploying the stinger to stop a motorbike who drove past while he was stopping traffic to let a group of children on bikes cross the road.
The video has caused a mass debate, with people split between whether it was a fair use of the stinger, or if it was dangerous.
Some social media users went as far as targeting the officer who deployed the stinger, sharing his social media profile.The video can be seen here. Whether it's dangerous or not to do this to a biker, I'll leave to the experts.
What struck me though was the response.
Essex Police's Chief Superintendent Rachel Nolan has defended their actions.
"As a result of some dangerous driving, I authorised a member of my team to use a stinger device.
"His photo has been posted on Facebook and abusive comments have been made about him from individuals and Essex businesses without any moderation.
"That's unfair.'Unfair'..? Can out police chiefs please not sound like whiny little schoolgirls?
"While I am not here to defend its use, the fact some of those involved rode up and down the pedestrian footpaths on the cliff face immediately after the deployment is indicative of the driving displayed.
"The use of the stinger was authorised and endorsed right up the chain of command."Not on the spot, though. This officer clearly had prior authorisation - there simply wasn't time to get it as the incident unfolded, that can be seen from the video.
"We don't expect everyone to agree with police action, but we do expect that people are able to disagree politely and with respect to the private lives of officers and their families."Sweetie, if he has a profile on Facebook it's not private. He chose to put it there. Don't start whinging that it's somehow underhand that people comment on it.
Good grief, surely there's some guidance or force policy about social media? It's their Kryptonite, after all!
PC Shit-for-Brains was carrying the stinger with premeditated intention of using it against any rider. How fortunate for public safety that PC Shit-for-Brains didn't also have a loaded weapon to discharge when his poor coordination resulted in a failed deployment...and over such a short distance! This was inappropriate use of a stinger; a device designed to halt a far more stable, four-wheeled vehicle. A sudden puncture to a biker's front wheel will instantly render the machine uncontrollable, which in turn could easily have claimed the lives of the biker and other pedestrians.
ReplyDeleteMTG
A stinger used on a bike! Fucking hell, what was he thinking. As MTG mentions a front wheel blowout makes the whole machine unstable and dangerous. The copper was an idiot.
ReplyDeleteMy sister who lives in Southend told me that every year the bikers come down at Bank Holidays. They are generally well behaved, not in their first youth and a welcome sight. This year the council decided that they did not want them and tried every way they could to stop them coming. The council and the police by their heavy handed and unnecessary actions seem to have created the problems.
ReplyDeleteUnbelievable!
ReplyDeleteShouldn't be too long now until the filth are armed. Then we can look forward to loads of shootings. All lawful of course.
ReplyDeleteI seem to remember a few years ago that a Judge ruled that the public were not obliged to stop for the police.
It was the case where the pig smashed his way into an 80yr old's car and attacked him when he did not stop. I'm sure that someone else will be able to find the case.
"How fortunate for public safety that PC Shit-for-Brains didn't also have a loaded weapon to discharge..."
ReplyDeleteIf the stung biker had skidded into the throng, as one commenter points out, it could have been equally dangerous.
"A stinger used on a bike! Fucking hell, what was he thinking."
It would appear that the police are sanguine about it. If she can be believed. And there's nothing to suggest she cam't, in this instance.
"This year the council decided that they did not want them and tried every way they could to stop them coming. The council and the police by their heavy handed and unnecessary actions seem to have created the problems."
Like they do with the car cruises? Good grief, if they did their jobs, it'd bring much-=needed commerce into the town!
"It was the case where the pig smashed his way into an 80yr old's car and attacked him when he did not stop. I'm sure that someone else will be able to find the case."
I do remember it, and I suspect it's in my archives.
Further information has now surfaced which totally discredits the police version, which was composed from elements they knew to be false. The schoolchildren were already safely across the road well BEFORE the stinger was deployed. Therefore the excuse for using the stinger was deliberately misleading.
ReplyDeleteTests have been conducted on stingers deployed against motorcycles - so much is true. However the tests were confined to controlled instances where experienced police motorcyclists themselves, drove slowly over a stinger whilst stabiliser wheels were bolted to their bikes! Motorcycle action groups consulted prior to these tests, were unanimous in their condemnation of the proposal; expressing special concerns re 'thrown' riders, uncontrolled machinery and the puncturing of riders' suits (and vital organs) when there was a readily foreseeable risk of being impaled by a strip of armour-piercing spikes.
Must be a full moon out there. MTG full of even more bile than usual.
ReplyDeleteJaded
Donate your body to medical research, Jaded. That small, unused brain should serve a purpose at least once.
ReplyDelete