...but apparently only one to breach the peace:
When they say 'further action' you just know they aren't talking about the eco-loons, don't you? The observers to their actions certainly do:
During the struggle, the officer says: 'You are f*****g assaulting people'.
The van's driver shouts at the officers to 'get off my truck' while a passing taxi driver shouts out of his window that it is 'absolutely disgusting'.
Another person, who cannot be seen on camera, tells the officers to 'give the guy a break, he's just trying to get to work'.
They've forgotten they police by consent. As the commenters at Longrider's site point out, this won't end well.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor said: 'I completely understand the frustration and anger of London's communities when protesters walk slowly in the roads and must wonder why we do not just arrest them.
'Police have legal obligations connected with our response to protest and we must police peaceful protest in a proportionate manner.'
Blocking the highway is not 'peaceful protest', and you know that all too well.
'Therefore, I urge people not to intervene and to let police deal with the situation.'
We've seen that you aren't prepaared to, though.
The police need to remember two things:
ReplyDelete1. They are outnumbered in almost any policing situation regarding crowds and protests.
2. They can also have complaints and charges levelled at them; one being "Misfeasance or Malfeasance in a public office", basically failing to do the job you're paid for.
The other thing to remember of course is that they are not yet some form of@peoplesmilitia@ who can demandyour papers and order you about.
"The other thing to remember of course is that they are not yet some form of@peoplesmilitia@ who can demandyour papers and order you about."
ReplyDeleteI suspect they are betting on that 'yet' coming closer and closer...