So today brings a decision that one police officer will be very grateful for (so far) and, a family is extremely aggrieved about…
A police officer who was filmed pushing a man to the ground during the G20 protests will not face charges over his death. Ian Tomlinson, 47, died after being caught up in the clashes on 1 April 2009 in the City of London. Director of Public Prosecutions Keir Starmer said there was no prospect of conviction because experts could not agree on how Mr Tomlinson died. (BBC News)
There are many who say the decision made by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is “outrageous” and evidence of yet another “government cover up”‘. Cries of “one law for us and one for them” have been shouted from many quarters through the day.
The following video footage (if you haven’t already seen it) and just one of 300+ ‘generously donated’ pieces of evidence to the enquiry, formed the crux of the case against the officer…
Watching the footage, as I have done on numerous occasions due to yet another media led witch hunt the public interest in the story I have to say; in my opinion the officer who pushed Tomlinson over stepped the mark and, probably abused his powers… I could agree with an assault charge but one of murder? The baying crowds have got to be bloody joking!
Having read much of the public ‘feedback’ on news sites and social networks today, I found the level of verbal hatred leveled at the police (and the state) extremely worrying. Although much of the wording in the comments was poorly structured, littered with expletives and totally without evidence, the strength of comment could only be described as bordering on anarchy. Why is this and, why do so many elements of our society believe (apparently) that they are living in a Police State?
A combination of government interference in policing over the years and a liberal attitude to standards of social decency and, a change in what society actually believes is right or wrong is probably the cause. Successive governments have created a confrontational police force and this has led to the social perception of the ‘us & them’ mentality.
The original concept behind law and order in the UK was one of ‘policing by consent’ not force and, one where police officers reflected the community that they policed. Perhaps this is also one of the issues in that, some police officers are actually a product of today’s society? Rude, intolerant and self-important, striving towards whatever their own personal goal may be and, sod any one who gets in their way?
In the 1970s pop groups just sang about the situation but toady, perhaps the punks are actually more likely to be acting out their thoughts and frustrations?
Dave's Bankside Babble 