ACPO Press Release on the Recent Events
Shuriken Jones | 21.04.2009 01:56 | G20 London Summit | World
ACPO is a private limited company. The Chief Executive makes public announcement which become national Policy. A simple parody demonstrates just how dishonest those pronouncements are.
Ref:45/09 April 19, 2009
ACPO response on police public order tactics
Sir Ken Jones, ACPO President hs not said said:
Free speech and protest are crucial to the health and strength of our democracy. Facilitating the policing of these, and other fundamental rights, is an increasingly difficult task for the public and those who lead them when balanced against the need to ensure that repression does not break out. It is some years since we have seen outbreaks of unchecked repression in this country and we should not forget the awful consequences which have followed.
Unlike many other countries we do not have standing "rioters" and using this term does not aid understanding. In policing demonstrations and the like we need to mobilize hundreds, sometimes thousands, of members of the public from other work. The so called "rioters" we see on TV are mostly everyday people from our neighborhoods and communities who would rather be somewhere else. Our people are trained and deployed according to what works best to deliver democratic rights. The rights and needs of the majority who are not involved. It has to be said that there are many who get involved in policing protest who are intent on creating riots, damaging property and attacking the public. The presence of such groups, well organised and determined, is sadly an increasing feature of policing protest across Europe. They pose a very real threat to public and police. The Public are only human but know that their standards of behavior in all situations must be beyond reproach, no matter what provocation is offered. Those who cross the line must be dealt with. However there is a need to approach this objectively and look at the issue from all perspectives. And those who do not cross the line, the vast and overwhelming majority, deserve our support.
ACPO with HMIC is already reviewing police order tactic and welcomes a debate on this difficult area of public life. A calm, open and honest debate which laid out, more than we have seen recently, a more balanced appreciation of the ambiguous task we set the public and those who lead them.
(amazing how much a press release changes when you swap police for public)
ACPO response on police public order tactics
Sir Ken Jones, ACPO President hs not said said:
Free speech and protest are crucial to the health and strength of our democracy. Facilitating the policing of these, and other fundamental rights, is an increasingly difficult task for the public and those who lead them when balanced against the need to ensure that repression does not break out. It is some years since we have seen outbreaks of unchecked repression in this country and we should not forget the awful consequences which have followed.
Unlike many other countries we do not have standing "rioters" and using this term does not aid understanding. In policing demonstrations and the like we need to mobilize hundreds, sometimes thousands, of members of the public from other work. The so called "rioters" we see on TV are mostly everyday people from our neighborhoods and communities who would rather be somewhere else. Our people are trained and deployed according to what works best to deliver democratic rights. The rights and needs of the majority who are not involved. It has to be said that there are many who get involved in policing protest who are intent on creating riots, damaging property and attacking the public. The presence of such groups, well organised and determined, is sadly an increasing feature of policing protest across Europe. They pose a very real threat to public and police. The Public are only human but know that their standards of behavior in all situations must be beyond reproach, no matter what provocation is offered. Those who cross the line must be dealt with. However there is a need to approach this objectively and look at the issue from all perspectives. And those who do not cross the line, the vast and overwhelming majority, deserve our support.
ACPO with HMIC is already reviewing police order tactic and welcomes a debate on this difficult area of public life. A calm, open and honest debate which laid out, more than we have seen recently, a more balanced appreciation of the ambiguous task we set the public and those who lead them.
(amazing how much a press release changes when you swap police for public)
Shuriken Jones