Never Forget Who They Really Protect...

Chief Constable Paul Sanford warned this morning that those who ‘crossed the line’ could ‘expect the full force of the law’ and refuted claims his officers had been too aggressive.

Eyewitnesses say different and long gone are the days anyone takes a Chief Con’s word for anything: 

Police pepper-sprayed a woman in a wheelchair during the violent anti-migrant protests in Thetford, locals have claimed. The woman is said to have been among a largely ‘peaceful’ protest when the crowd became ‘rowdy’ and officers used the device.

But she was no doubt white, so they will feel empowered to do it and safe from recriminations or career stunting action. 

Mr Sanford told the BBC’s Today programme this morning: ‘We have people who are exercising their right to protest and, of course, we will support that. ‘There are people who live in Thetford who are concerned, understandably concerned, about some of the things that are happening in their town.

‘However, across three consecutive nights, a group of people have crossed the line as to what is acceptable. We have been appropriately policing those behaviours. ‘I’ve seen the reports of heavy-handedness. We’ve been firm. We’ve been firm with people who have broken the law.’

You know full well that the perception of a two-tier system of justice is inflamed by such statements, because people can point to similar scenes where you’ve done nothing, because it was politically safer to do nothing.  

On ITV’s Good Morning Britain, Home Office minister Anna Turley described the events in Thetford as ‘horrendous’.

Defence Secretary Wes Streeting also criticised the ugly scenes, saying: ‘There is absolutely no excuse whatsoever for violence and thuggery to be directed to anyone in our society, whether that’s people seeking sanctuary in Britain or indeed the police that are trying to maintain public order.’

Seeking sanctuary Wes? Or seeking an easier life here? 

Police had to escort terrified migrants from one property in the Norfolk market town on Tuesday night after an angry mob gathered outside three residential addresses.

So, it worked. So why wouldn’t they do it again? 

Tensions were already high in the area following weeks of protests three miles away at RAF Barnham in Suffolk, after the former military barracks was earmarked by the government to take 1,250 male migrants.

Stop calling them 'migrants' - if they came over on a boat after destroying all ID documents they are illegals, so call them what they are - criminals.  

A Government spokesperson said: 'The right to protest is fundamental to our democracy and the concerns of communities are central to our immigration reforms. 'However, violence and disorder are never acceptable, and we absolutely condemn the behaviour seen in Thetford, including attacks against frontline police officers. 

'We thank policing partners who we continue to work with to ensure the safety of the wider community. Anyone taking part in this criminal activity will face the full force of the law.'

We expect those who engage in tthe criminal activity of breaking into the country to face the full force of the law, and until they do, the protests wuill continue.  And there are more people willing to protest than there are police to stop them.