I see your point.
Brian Haw, peace protester assualted by cops
- Thread starter rayer
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I see your point.
Of course police brutality exists. If you give a large enough group of people greater power, it is inevitable that some will abuse it.
Only last year I attended a rave where the police went totally psycho on everyone. They turned up with dogs and ALL had their PO numbers covered up (illegal and a sign they weren't going to play nice). They then realeased the dogs and kicked ten bells out of a lot of people present (who were causing no trouble at all).
It never made big headlines in the press and the only stories that were reported stated that the heavy tactics were due to violence and rioting. This was simply not true. Attempts to get the truth out were completely ignored.
There are some great police officers, but not enough to make me trust them even one iota. Too many power crazed pricks join up these days.
Only last year I attended a rave where the police went totally psycho on everyone. They turned up with dogs and ALL had their PO numbers covered up (illegal and a sign they weren't going to play nice). They then realeased the dogs and kicked ten bells out of a lot of people present (who were causing no trouble at all).
It never made big headlines in the press and the only stories that were reported stated that the heavy tactics were due to violence and rioting. This was simply not true. Attempts to get the truth out were completely ignored.
There are some great police officers, but not enough to make me trust them even one iota. Too many power crazed pricks join up these days.
Section 5: Public Order Act 1986.
Of course there are Police officers who abuse their position but for people to say they all do is ridiculous to say the least.
I also adoubt that any Dog Handler would ever unleash his dog into a crowd of people for very obvious reasons.
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He's got some absolutely stupid 'right' to be there due to a loophole in legislation designed to get rid of him (it was specifically made to get rid of Brian Haw - it all but says it in Hansard).
Soldato
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What the hell. Right to peaceful protest should be protected. Why should and area around Parliament have special exemption?
What next? Free Speech "zones"
? Book burnings?
Soldato
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Yes the Police are all corrupt, lets sack them all and forget about having Police and let the criminals run the country, think its safe not to leave you house now imagine a country without Police.
Maybe Brian Haw should get a job and forget about stalking the House Of Commons in certain countrys he would have vanished without trace a long time ago. Wonder if he claims benefits seeing as he has been outside since 2001.
Maybe Brian Haw should get a job and forget about stalking the House Of Commons in certain countrys he would have vanished without trace a long time ago. Wonder if he claims benefits seeing as he has been outside since 2001.
Why should one man have more right to protest than anyone else? At the moment Brian Haw does. Right to protest, yes. Right to indefinitely squat, no. Right to be a health hazard, no. Right to interrupt the workings of democracy, no.LordSplodge said:
Yes it should and it has.
Becasue of the building that it is and the people that enter it makes it a target for terrorism, by creating a "sterile" zone around it makes it easier to protect.
What the hell. Right to peaceful protest should be protected. Why should and area around Parliament have special exemption?
What next? Free Speech "zones"
I agree, it's disgraceful this law was bought in. That said, the police don't get to choose which laws to enforce - they had to move the guy.
Completely agree, though - this law is a slippery slope and I'm surprised there wasn't more anger about it when it was passed. Right to protest is even more vital around Parliament than anywhere.
![[TW]Fox](/data/man-of-honor/2009.png){kind=avatar}
I can't think why.
This incident occurred 6 days ago. The man in question is Brian Haw, a political activist who has maintained a legal, peaceful anti-war protest in Parliament Square for the past 5 years.
His account of the incident is recorded here in Wikipedia:
On January 12, Haw was at an unauthorised protest against the Serious and Organised Crime Police Act, outside Downing Street. Seven people were arrested (including Haw), Haw said "I was filming the students lying down in the road when one officer stepped forward, as I was walking back, and pushed the camera with his hand. It struck my face." He accused the police of using "violent and humiliating force".
The video is disturbing on a number of levels:
While I'm aware that the UK's Keystone Kops aren't exactly famous for their competence and professionalism (ahem, ahem, ahem), they appear to have plumbed new depths of thuggery in this latest escapade.
His account of the incident is recorded here in Wikipedia:
On January 12, Haw was at an unauthorised protest against the Serious and Organised Crime Police Act, outside Downing Street. Seven people were arrested (including Haw), Haw said "I was filming the students lying down in the road when one officer stepped forward, as I was walking back, and pushed the camera with his hand. It struck my face." He accused the police of using "violent and humiliating force".
The video is disturbing on a number of levels:
- The police inspector dismisses Haw and refuses to address his complaint, despite the fact that Haw was able to give the badge number of the police officer who struck him
- During the course of his arrest, Haw is unnecessarily dragged to the ground by four policemen (!) and handcuffed (why?)
- Haw is then forced to walk doubled over, with his head halfway to his knees, as the police bundle him into their van; again, what is the reason for this treatment
- When questioned by protesters, the police are unable to explain why Haw is being arrested
While I'm aware that the UK's Keystone Kops aren't exactly famous for their competence and professionalism (ahem, ahem, ahem), they appear to have plumbed new depths of thuggery in this latest escapade.
My understanding is that the "loophole" concerned is the ancient principle of English law that you cannot bring in retrospective legislation. Or rather you can, but it will almost certainly be struck down by the courts as illegal. Since Haw was therefore before the law was passed, he could not be removed. However, as soon as he leaves the area he can then be removed if he re-enters. Which is why he doesn't wash etc: he's have to leave in order to do so.
As for police brutality: if you don't break the law, and stay away from people who do, then you'll be perfectly safe from it.
M
1. Do you really expect the Inspector to deal with a complaint at the time of an ongoing incident, if Brain wanted to file a formal complaint he can do so at his local Police Station.
2. There is nothing wrong with taking a prisoner to the ground to handcuff him. It is perfectly legal and indeed safer.
3. Again, perfectly legal and this is done to control the person arrested, it stops them from struggling and flailing and thus limits inury to the person arrested, the Police Officers and the public.
4. The police are under no obligation to disclose the reason for the arrest to anyone other than the person arrested.
1) Certainly not the right time for a complaint
2 & 3) In what was no doubt a charged situation there's no reason not to arrest him in such a manner.
4) Unwilling and unable are not the same thing. The police aren't going to waste their time explaining why they're arresting the guy.
edit - get out of my head Slinwagh!!
Nice to see someone else agrees with me!
Soldato
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So it is OK for "terrorists" to blow up, say the local Fire Headquarters, but not Parliament. Rubbish.
You say that the right to peaceful protest is protected, yet contradict yourself by saying you can't in certain areas.
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Soldato
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It is not one mans right but rather the right of the nation. The right to peaceful protest has been removed in this area by the Government under the thin guise of "anti-terrorism" and thus breaking one of the founding principles of Democracy.