Why Can't You Do This When They Are Actually Doing The Act?

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

I Think The Phrase Is: 'You're Bang To Rights, Son!'

Police chiefs facing scrutiny over a decision to ban fans of an Israeli football team from attending a match in Birmingham have insisted the move was not politically influenced. West Midlands police (WMP) leaders defended their position at the home affairs committee on Tuesday after being recalled to give further evidence over the decision to ban fans of Maccabi Tel Aviv from attending a Europa League match against Aston Villa on 6 November.

Just the WMP living down to their reputation, or something more sinister? 

Members of the home affairs committee on Tuesday recalled West Midlands police’s chief constable Craig Guildford, and commanders involved in the decision making, greeting parts of the force’s new testimony before them with outrage.Police said they had intelligence the Israeli fans would be the main perpetrators of trouble, a claim that is disputed.

The one thing guarenteed to irk politicians is when their pets in blue start lying to them. That's something they are free only to do to us, the public who are paying for them. 

The cross-party committee of MPs said parts of the intelligence gathering seemed “one sided”, inflating the threat Maccabi fans may have posed while underplaying the threat to them from those in Birmingham angered by Israel’s attacks on Gaza. They said the minutes from SAG meetings showed pressure coming from two councillors, who said that away fans should not attend the game.

And we can guess who those two councillors were. Or rather, what they were.

As intelligence was being gathered ahead of the game, one document contained claims locals in Birmingham might “arm” themselves.

'Locals' with good old Birmingham names? I suspect not. 

Guildford denied he or the police force were politically motivated to find evidence to justify the ban. “From everything that I’ve read, and the commanders that I spoke to, I do not believe that there was political influence on that decision. 

“Lots of local politicians and local members of the community I’m sure wanted to try and influence it, but I honestly don’t think it was influenced,” he told the committee.

You couldn't lie straight in bed, Guildford. Even if you were to be believed, and we were to accept that you honestly believe that, it makes you a disgrace to the uniform and a total liability due to extreme gullibility...