Osama Bin Laden’s rights have been trampled by US Navy Seals.
In a horrible incident reminiscent of the Syrian-style pre-crime arrests in Britain before the Royal Wedding, without a shred of proof except a dodgy VHS taped confession, US Special Forces roughly imposed themselves on the fortified mansion in Pakistan.
Bin Laden was ‘buried at sea’ according to American sources. Tipped out of a helicopter at 3,000 feet is probably more likely. Seriously though; great mission professionally done!
If this had been a UK mission, he would be in custody by now, no doubt choosing from one of 16 different menu-packs with Michael Mansfield or Helena Kennedy as his free brief and Shami observing the custody Sergeant’s every move.
Meanwhile, back here at home, I have been watching some rather hysterical You Tube clips from supporters of those arrested in the ‘Minority Report’ raids before the Royal Wedding. There is a particularly amusing clip where the girlfriend of some activist or other bitches on and on to two PC’s about ‘political arrests’.
Personally, I have never seen such a light touch arrest in my life, with the officers allowing him to wander all over the house once the words have been said. They put up with such a load of nonsense from the rather shrill ‘I’m studying law at Cambridge don’t you know’ girlfriend without even a minor hint of annoyance that they really should show this as a good example of how to remain calm if they ever open police training colleges again.
We all know that if this was Syria or China (as constantly claimed by the activists in the clips) people wouldn’t even know of the arrests, let alone be able to walk around filming in officer’s faces, take numbers and then post the whole thing with comments on You Tube. The suspects also wouldn’t be released unharmed and without charge a few hours later. Studying law at Cambridge or not, these people seem to have totally missed the fact that one of the sworn duties of a police officer is to maintain public order.
This does not mean necessarily waiting until things get out of hand. Our pre emptive arrest powers extend to crime arrests as well as public order arrests. Waiting for something dangerous or criminal to happen before you take any action is not an option under the Human Rights Act.
We have the right to protect the millions of people who wanted to enjoy the day from an entitled minority, bent on causing real anger and violence (what on earth else would have happened if effigies of the Royal couple had been beheaded in the middle of London on that day?). Otherwise it becomes a question of who can deploy the biggest mob with the loudest shouting and the hardest fists. This is the same kind of action which precedes and prevents the Right from marching through immigrant areas.
But as usual, I guess it’s OK when it’s used against ‘other people’.
Here is a good reason to maintain some sense of proportion over the off public order arrest: If people continue to ‘cry wolf’ over this kind of thing, in a future time when there really is a police state, no one will listen. You are doing real disservice to potential victims of state harassment and violence.
