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The photos we publish today of a police attack on a G20 demonstrator will shock many readers — and will do the Metropolitan Police's reputation no good in the wake of the furore over the death of Ian Tomlinson. Video footage of a Territorial Support Group sergeant shows him lashing out with full force with his baton at the back of a women protester's legs. The film has now been passed to the Independent Police Complaints Commission. It also demands a response from Met Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson.
At issue are both the tactics and training of officers used in crowd-control situations. The majority of the Met and the other forces involved in policing the G20 demonstrations in the City showed restraint under sometimes significant provocation, although the technique of “kettling” — cordoning off demonstrators into designated areas and holding them there for hours — has come in for increasing criticism.
What is intolerable is the violent behaviour of a minority of officers. The activities of TSG members, known for their macho self-image, are a particular cause for concern, especially when, as in the case revealed by the latest pictures, the officer concerned appears to have obscured his serial number and rank badges.
The Met has, over the past 20 years, managed to shed much of the ugly reputation it gained in the Eighties, during the miners' strike and other clashes, for violence and heavy-handedness. It would be a tragedy for the force as well as for London if the behaviour of a few officers — and lack of a firm lead at the top — were to damage the Met's reputation.
The latest incidents have not done the police credit either in terms of the Met's willingness to admit problems: it effectively denied any involvement in Mr Tomlinson's death until forced to admit it by amateur video footage. The new Met Commissioner may have been in the job only a few months but he needs to show a firm grip on his force, and a lead in following procedures fully, in order to address the faults raised by the G20 operation.
Too much TV
SIR ALAN Steer, head of a successful east London comprehensive, has today pinpointed a key cause of bad behaviour, television, and in particular over-exposure to television and its celebrity culture. His Government-commissioned report today on classroom discipline also calls for greater use of parenting contracts, fines for parents who condone truancy, along with greater powers for teachers to confiscate mobile phones and discipline children outside school.
Sir Alan praises the majority of children. Yet there are significant numbers who get too little time and attention from their parents. Instead, electronic entertainment takes the place of upbringing. And there is a minority with serious behavioural problems who can disrupt school life for all those around them.
Sir Alan's comments will not be welcomed by most parents. He is right to question the way bedroom televisions, iPods and laptops allow families to spread into separate spaces, consuming entertainment alone rather than together.
As a result, the examples children see of bad behaviour by celebrities and footballers go unchallenged. But if some families fail to inculcate decent behaviour, schools and the rest of society have to deal with the consequences.
In London, poor discipline and low attainment in many schools all too often drive young families away from the capital. Ministers should study Sir Alan's recommendations carefully. The stakes could hardly be higher.
Underground relic
MOUSE mats, pens and signs bearing the logo of collapsed Tube maintenance consortium Metronet are being thrown out by London Underground. The failed Public Private Partnership contractor, whose implosion cost taxpayers £2 billion, is being airbrushed from history. But LU is surely missing a trick here. Just as Woolworths ephemera acquired cult status after the chain closed, might not relics of the biggest ever casualty of privatisation fetch something on eBay?
Reader views (8)
Steer is a gimmick, his advice not CEDAW or UNCRC compliant. Besides, two hundred criminals are recruited as teachers each week, they don't actually ban them or anything.
Even sex offenders are not banned, that's trade unionism for you. It might also help, as it relates to standards, if the NASUWT called an end to their ten year campaign for legal teacher/pupil sex.
- Gregory, Belfast, UK, 16/04/2009 01:17
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"...and lack of a firm lead at the top".
Sir Paul Stephenson has only been in post for a few months. Bob Quick was replaced by John Yates who has been in post for a few weeks.
The other four Deputy Commissioners who make up the operational members of the Metropolitan Police Service Management board are ALL 'acting', i.e. they are not permanent appointments but simply covering the role until a proper candidate can be appointed.
Ask Home Secretary Jacqui Smith how this situation has arisen, that the level of experience amongst the Management Board of the Metropolitan Police Service can be counted in weeks rather than years!
Given the level of terrorist threat to the UK why has Yates followed Bob Quick who resigned under a cloud, who followed Andy Hayman, who resigned under a cloud,who followed Pete Clarke, who left under a cloud?
This is not about conspiracy, cock up or cover up, but about competence!
- Manny Goldstein, London, UK, 15/04/2009 18:19
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I think the Met.did well,as they usually do,in policing demos.and potentially violent crowd situations. It surprises me that,since the Met.was formed in 1829(?)less than 6 individuals have died during the countless demos.London has experienced. Congrats. Met.Police.
People criticise the Police for their handling of demos. etc. Some say they are too soft and others allege heavy handed tactics. It seems the coppers can't get it right.
So why don't we try this little experiment? Next time there is a demo. or similar crowd event why don't we give the cops a day off or just keep them well away from the event? The organisers of the event,and those living in the area where it occurs,could police it at their own expense and effort.
If the experiment works, we will have learned we don't need those `nasty' coppers at such events and this will result in a huge saving in the Police overtime bill. A winner for the taxpayer.
If,as I suspect,the experiment results in chaos, damage to property, burned out buildings, personal injury and general mayhem, I think we will have learned a valuable and obvious lesson and appreciate the Police for the job they do.
Violent crowd situations will always result in injury,and sometimes death, by their very nature. The moral of the story is to stay clear of them. In Scotland there is a saying, ``If ye fly wae the crows you get shot wae the crows.''
- Joe Craig, dumfries scotland, 15/04/2009 18:08
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Mick Lee, Mexborough UK (obviously a copper) wrote:
"I bet the inquest shows that the "pushed" man had a heart condition"
And it's the Police's role to expose that and kill the poor fella??
"why the hell did he place himself in that situation in nthe first place?"
He was walking home from work. He had walked around the fracas that was developing and was subsequently penned in by the Police's (forceful) containment
"He got pushed, maybe if he had done as he was told he wouldnt have been pushed."
Maybe as a human being he felt the right to walk where he wanted to and wanted to get home and took offence to a load of obstanant coppers who presumed he was a thug because he dared query his right to walk the streets without being unlawfully beaten by the people his taxes pay to protect him??
"Regarding the woman who got a slap in the mouth and an ankle tap, she will get over it."
And what justified the slap and tap??
So I presume the next time i'm in the prescence of a Policeman/woman I can give them a slap or a tap and tell them to get over it??
Don't tink so, I'd be made an example of by the courts and the person i'd tap or slap would probably go off sick for weeks with stress or post traumatic stress disorder then take advantage of a good pension to help them get over it.
- Mick, Wigan UK, 15/04/2009 17:06
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Mick Lee asks: "the "pushed" man had a heart condition, why the hell did he place himself in that situation in the first place?"
Er...because he was walking home from work?
The "great British public" want the police to be respected and they want the police to earn that respect by not behaving like thugs.
I suggest you go and live in Thailand, you are badly out of tune with British values.
- Mickgj, London, 15/04/2009 17:00
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"Regarding the woman who got a slap in the mouth and an ankle tap, she will get over it." Perhaps if it was your wife or daughter you'd feel differently Mick. And as for the "pushed" man, sorry - do you think he wasn't pushed? Do feel this is CGI trickery? Again, perhaps if he was your dad you'd feel differently. Using violence against people who aren't behaving violently is wrong, simple as that.
- Martin, Southampton, Hants, 15/04/2009 16:57
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The Met's reputation should be enhanced by the G20 actions. In Thailand similar protests lead to live rounds being fired and at least two deaths. I bet the inquest shows that the "pushed" man had a heart condition, why the hell did he place himself in that situation in nthe first place? He got pushed, maybe if he had done as he was told he wouldnt have been pushed. Regarding the woman who got a slap in the mouth and an ankle tap, she will get over it. The coppers did a good job, back off media, the great British public are geting fed up of your continual attacks on the one section of our community with any integrity and guts.
- Mick Lee, Mexborough UK, 15/04/2009 16:47
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As a retired police officer of 30 years I feel what is just as worrying as the assault is the fact that this man appears deliberately to have covered up and hidden his Uniform Number. This would indicate any unlawful acts were premeditated. Whatever anyone says on this thread, verbal provocation does not warrant physical violence such as slapping the victim across the face and an assault with a baton.
- Neil45, Gloucestershire, England., 15/04/2009 16:45
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