Fifteen activists from a group which claimed to be behind stunts targeting the Ritz and the Crown Jewels have been arrested over alleged plans for a “mass shoplifting campaign” in London, police say. The Metropolitan Police said members of Take Back Power, which describes itself as a “non-violent civil resistance group”, had been preparing a campaign to steal goods from supermarkets and redistribute them.
Now, you might be asking why the show of force here, and not when people are actually engaging in thieving stuff in broad daylight, Reader? Well, this might provide a clue!
According to the force, activists had gathered at the Quaker Meeting House in Westminster on Thursday evening to take part in “non-violent direct action training”. Officers moved in to halt the meeting and arrested 15 people on suspicion of conspiracy to commit theft.
Clearly, the police fancy arresting unarmed middle class Quaker types having tea and biscuits at a meeting far more than they do rolling around between the shelves of a corner shop with a young fit, potentially infectious dinghy invader. And I’d say who can blame them but then I remember they are paid to do both!
Deputy Assistant Commissioner James Harman said: "There is a clear difference between lawful protest and criminal acts.
Cool. it's not just that you fancied an easy arrest, then?
"This evening's operation tackled a group who we have grounds to suspect were planning to steal from shops in a large, targeted and organised way.
"Theft is a crime and the public expect the police to deal with it - which is exactly what we have done today."
You're right, we do expect you to deal with it, whenever and whever it happens... or we'll wind up like America:
Oh, too late!
H/T:skscartoon via twitter
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