The Metropolitan police commissioner, Sir Paul Stephenson, said today that he was extremely concerned about some aspects of the policing of the G20 demonstrations although he insisted the vast majority of his officers had done a “remarkably good job”. Giving evidence in front of the Commons home affairs select committee, Stephenson said images of officers apparently lashing out at protesters “were a real concern and should be investigated thoroughly”. But he denied the footage showed behaviour that was “incompatible with British policing”.
Yesterday the MPs also heard from Commander Bob Broadhurst, who was in charge of policing the G20 event. He defended his officers saying they had been “superb” in challenging circumstances.
“The vast majority of those officers have never faced a situation as violent as that,” he said. “I do have a concern that some of our officers have not faced that. I would like to train them more but we don’t have the time.”
What violent situation? Oh the one your agent provocateurs tried to instigate you mean! Talk about rewriting history. And good to see the commissioner thinks murder is a compatible method of British policing. No change there.
Worth a look- Launch of United Campaign Against Police Violence
19 May, 2009 at 8:46 pm
There is a demo organised by UCAPV on Saturday, the aim is to kettle New Scotland Yard. It will highlight the issue of state violence. Tomorrow families of people who have died in police custody will pay flowers outside New Scotland Yard to remember their loved ones in died at the hands of the state.
19 May, 2009 at 8:48 pm
PS: I heard Nick Hardwick (IPCC) speak last week. Terrible is an understatement.
20 May, 2009 at 4:33 pm
I read your report,
http://harpymarx.wordpress.com/2009/05/12/nick-hardwick-speaks/
eaves one with zero confidence in the IPCC, he was basically an establishment apologist.
20 May, 2009 at 3:22 am
Thanks for the follow-up coverage… these things have a way of drifting away, never to be heard of again.
20 May, 2009 at 4:35 pm
That is how the establishment likes it tpo play out, time heals *erases* all memories…but I think this has fundamentally altered how a lot of people perceive how the police are used against us.
20 May, 2009 at 11:59 am
It’s so funny how we are all raised to see the police as “the good guys.”
20 May, 2009 at 4:47 pm
I think ‘good guys’ (and gals?!?!?!) are in every walk of life and in fact the police do not attract a disproportionate number, if anything they attract more authoritarians and conservatives. Then you add how governments, who have become corporate shills, use them and the good ones are an embattled minority. amongst a force that is tasked to violently maintain elite power while enjoying cultural promotion as the protection against criminals (notice the vast majority of cop shows are never about demo duty or infiltrating peace groups, it’s simplistic bad guy needs catching schtick, a mould The Wire broke).