Policing in Britain has traditionally been by consent. Attacking peaceful (if disruptive) protests crosses a line into policing by force.
That this approach began in multiple police forces simultaneously right as the bill went to the vote, suggests it's new UK wide strategy.
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That this approach began in multiple police forces simultaneously right as the bill went to the vote, suggests it's new UK wide strategy.
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If it is a new UK wide strategy the only person who can be directing it, is Patel, as Home Sec.
Bristol didn't fall in line on the correct day (Fri 12 March- the Clapham vigil). Sussex did and the Met did, that's why their protests went sour. Bristol didn't right away.
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Bristol didn't fall in line on the correct day (Fri 12 March- the Clapham vigil). Sussex did and the Met did, that's why their protests went sour. Bristol didn't right away.
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Here is a very senior officer at Avon & Somerset police, just coincidentally dropping by, to pet the lovely horsies, at 4pm today.
Today's police actions were purely responsive, yep yep, not pre-planned in person, this afternoon, and set up, to make a point, nope nope.
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Today's police actions were purely responsive, yep yep, not pre-planned in person, this afternoon, and set up, to make a point, nope nope.
3/
It's sad to see police forces, who for the last 20 years have been trying to shed the moniker force, in favour of the more consent-based service, turn to the dark side quite so quickly.
Sad because it's the dark side.
Also because it's absolutely suicidal of them...
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Sad because it's the dark side.
Also because it's absolutely suicidal of them...
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Suicidal because once consent is destroyed, what you have is brute force and perpetual escalation. You no longer have the intelligent policing Britain prides itself on, you have a domestic military unit.
All the clever part of policing, everything they do TV shows on, dies.
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All the clever part of policing, everything they do TV shows on, dies.
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Chief constables stupid enough not to see this are also entirely vulnerable to getting thrown under a bus by Patel whensoever the whim takes her. As she already has, to Cressida Dick.
Then what? New, even more loyal, even less intelligent appointees will replace them.
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Then what? New, even more loyal, even less intelligent appointees will replace them.
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We are sliding, at a startling rate, headlong into fascism.
Without the chiefs of police willing facilitation, a fascist takeover would be impossible to complete.
You'd imagine a seasoned investigator would question whatever carrot or stick was presented by the Home Office?
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Without the chiefs of police willing facilitation, a fascist takeover would be impossible to complete.
You'd imagine a seasoned investigator would question whatever carrot or stick was presented by the Home Office?
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The lack of foresight and enquiry being demonstrated, right from the top of British police forces, is fuelling a breakdown of trust reaching parts of society who'd never previously have considered deviating from total faith.
It's galling to watch Britain's pillars fall.
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It's galling to watch Britain's pillars fall.
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I have been telling you, that this bill was the pivot where the country tips from being right-wing, into something truly unsavoury, for longer than this bill even existed. Since it was still notes in a desk drawer somewhere.
The police are stupidly, leaning into the drop.
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The police are stupidly, leaning into the drop.
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If the chief constables don't drop the scales from their eyes, and revert to policing with a brain, we are heading for a civil unrest that they won't be able to quell, just exacerbate, which will run and run and run.
And also personal ruin and the destruction of the job.
10/10
And also personal ruin and the destruction of the job.
10/10
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