Tonight:
9°c
Jeers as Met chiefs defend tactics of G20 police
Justin Davenport30.04.09
Senior Scotland Yard officers today defended the policing of the G20 protests, amid angry scenes at City Hall.
About 30 protesters heckled two senior officers at a session of the Metropolitan Police Authority this morning. At one point Mayor Boris Johnson, who chairs the authority, threatened to suspend the meeting if the disorder continued.
Police also faced criticism from MPA members over the police tactic of kettling and claims of violence by officers in clearing the Climate Camp protest.
Acting deputy commissioner Kim Godwin and temporary assistant commissioner Chris Allison attended the meeting to defend the operations of police during the G20 summit. Both officers were repeatedly heckled as they attempted to explain the Met's tactics.
Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson could not attend because he is recovering from an appendicitis operation. There was fury from some onlookers when Mr Allison said the decision to put a containment around, or “kettle”, the crowd was made after police came under fire from “coins and flares”. His comments were met with shouts of “liar”.
Green Party member Jenny Jones questioned what she described as aggressive tactics used by police to clear Climate Camp protesters in Bishopsgate. Mr Allison said that some protesters attacked police, but that the officers' response was appropriate.
There were concerns over the culture within the Territorial Support Group, the unit at the centre of allegations of excessive violence. Newspaper seller Ian Tomlinson, 47, died minutes after being pushed to the ground by a TSG officer, who has been suspended and interviewed on suspicion of manslaughter after a post-mortem found Mr Tomlinson died of internal bleeding. Another was suspended after claims he used excessive force to control a woman protester.
Mr Allison defended the kettling tactic, saying that in the past police had dispersed violent protesters who had gone on to commit widespread damage.
But he accepted that it was difficult for police to tell between those intent on violence and peaceful demonstrators, and that many innocent people were caught up by the tactics. He added: “We fully accept there are individual acts that need to be properly investigated, and that we can learn lessons.
“But the summit took place without disruption and with limited damage, and the vast majority of officers acted lawfully and professionally.”
Reader views (37)
M. John Namrah San Diego.
I am well aware we have always had a wonderful police force, but by apeing the methods of other countries they are asking to be treated like other police. At a Heads of State meeting in France the police there had petrol bombs thrown at them and a border control building was set on fire. If our police want that kind of frustration shown towards them they are going the right way to get it.
- Val, Telford
Matt, there is a difference between being clever and being offensive!!
I am 34, I support the Police, why? Because I know that they are needed, I know that they work under the most disgusting conditions and most importantly I know that the majority do the job for the good of us.
If we just focus on the negative that will all you will ever see and that is all you will ever get.
- Not Exactly A Looney Lefty!, The real world
Matt, London - and you are...? What? Unbiased? Reasoning? One who looks at all sides of an issue before coming to a decision? Someone who is qualified to talk down his nose at someone who doesn't agree with him?
I hope you were looking in a mirror when you made your cheap vitriolic attack on a reasoned statement by Annie. It seems to fit you like a glove.
- Rogan, Irving
Why were the two police officers who attended the meeting "Acting" and "Temporary"?
Because the majority of the senior police at the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) are not actually senior or experience enough for their assigned role;
http://www.met.police.uk/about/leadership.htm
Why are only two of the six policemen on the MPS MAnagement Board permanent appointments?
- Manny Goldstein, London, UK
Readers,
You have the most professional police force in the world, bar none. They employ kid gloves when dealing with crowds. Those of you who disagree with me either do not get out much or certainly have not lived in other parts of the world. Get a grip!
- M. John Namrah, San Diego, USA
For the benefit of police admirers, For Batons, read steel whips!
- Lee, market rasen, uk
Excuse me but all you people in support of the police officers are either over the age of 60 and have no idea whats going on in the world or you are absolute morons who just don't mind that the government/banks/police control our lives to a point where we actually have to now SUFFER because of how inept and corrupt the above mentioned really are. I feel so sorry for you and any kids you might have.
Lesson 1 for Annie's kids:
Just bend over and let the government and anybody else born with a silver spoon in their mouth take their positions and ride you until you die.
Annie, you are a disgrace to the human race my love. And that goes for Paul and Rosie as well. We don't need people like you in this world - weak people... BLIND LEMMINGS!
- Matt, London
TRY NEGOTIATING YOUR WAY THROUGH A DEMONSTRATION OR STANDING THE OTHER SIDE OF DEMONSTRATION BEFORE YOU JEER.
- Overtaxed, Farnham UK
If you were at the G20 as an anti capitalist,read the rest of the news today,you could be making lots of dosh!!
- David., Chertsey.UK.
Whether they like it or not the police have a crisis of confidence on their hands. All too often police officers are seen dressed like heavily armed militiamen, in dark blue boiler suits,armed with an array of offensive weaponry, and wearing ridiculous baseball hats. This image is seen by many members of the publict they serve as unapproachable and even hostile. This trend goes back a long way. I retired from the police eight years ago, and even then it had been under way since the 1980s. Lately, however, CCTV has been substituted for a visible police presence in our towns and cities, and this was initially done as an economy measure, with litte thought to the effect on crime prevention, and unsocial behaviour which foot patrols had. Too often the fact that a beat policeman had not made an arrest for perhaps two days was seen as evidence he was not required on the streets. The new Commissioner has said he wants a return to traditional police foot patrols, and one hopes he can do this, for it is the best way to restore the vital public confidence which has been lost.
- Neil45, Gloucestershire, England.
30 protesters heckled two senior officers. Lucky them, thousands of protesters attacked the lower ranks on the day of the G20.
I am getting a little fed up of these self righteous hippies.
- Frank, Home Counties, England.
Anna,
Are you a serving officer? If not, as I suspect, them most would virilantly disagree with your views, which do them a grave injustice. If you are, then are you talking for the Met or the force in general?
- Rob, London
Did anyone really expect them to say anything different? Its just that thugs now wear uniforms.
- Mike, London England
They should have arrested the hecklers and given them a cuff around the ear before sending them on their way.
- Rosie, watford
Anna, S.E. UK, Your over use of the words rent a mob is emotive and meaning less,we are actually talking about a middle aged news paper seller,a woman of small stature who was verbally abusing a police officer for that she received a backhander and a beating with a baton,and numerous acts like that,that were done by serving professional police officers who choose to hide there identification.And as a mental health worker i suffer abuse every day,but i have never hit a service user because i am a trained professional,and its morally wrong,and I'm paid less than 30k a year.Those officers are a disgrace to there profession,and i know for a fact that the good professional police officers would agree.
- Kev, London-UK
Anna, S.E. UK
Surely the object of the exercise is not to label every participant as the rent-a-mob element but to deal with members-of-the-public appropriately. All you're doing with a baton is turning everyone into the beat-the-crap-out-of-em-mob.
- Colin, Mora, Sweden
I agree with Anna. this country is full of groups who are out to cause trouble for others anyway, groups whose nonsense has been tolerated for too long. now there is chaos and we blame those who are trying to keep law and order.
- Beljamine, uk
Boris's comments are simply to shore up confidence in a force in crisis. To blame an inept and dangerous control strategy on the behavioura few of the lowest ranks again evidences the "untouchable" culture that dominates the Met's leadership. They will sacrifice the beat officer to retain their satus quo powers: p.c's beware - you are being taken for a political ride.
- Rob, London
So the MET rank and file disobeyed instructions from their superiors. in the army this is a court martial offence and people have been shot for it.
Will every rozzer who obscured his number be disciplined? if so, what will be the penalty if found guilty. At least demotion, loss of priviledges/pensions etc? possibly sacked? And as the hierachy lost control, shouldn't they consider their position? It'll never happen.
- Kerry, Purley
To quote Steve from London: "...Also,I believe that drunk that died was deliberately winding the police up."
Now I've been wound-up by the police myself, nothing to do with any protest and I was completely innocent of anything at the time - would that have made it okay for me to accidentally kill one of them??
No, I thought not, so why are you implying that what happened to Ian Tomlinson (drunk or otherwise) was justifiable???
If a police officer deliberately disobeys orders, covers his face and removes his ID badge then there are some very serious problems that need to be addressed beyond that of mere incompetence.
Unfortunately we seemingly do not have a court in this land that has the power, authority and the courage to address these matters and bring these people to task as the police organization are wholly backed and protected by the dubious politics of their friends in government.
Just ask the family of Jean Charles Menezes.
- Andi-M, London Central, UK (Obviously!!)
Anyone else sussed out that sgts wore white slides on their eppaulettes whilst Inspectors wore red? Easy ident for the others.
As for the sgt who sticked the woman - ask yourself what made him assume the defensive position when he turned. He had already been involved in an altercation prior to the terminally unemployable woman engaging the officer.
Go to a demo and behave badly - you deserve all you get. I'm disgusted at the whinnying and moaners today - make me sick, the lot of you.
- Paul, London
How do police commanders square their orders "Don't forget to wear numerals" with the officers who covered their identifying numbers with duct tape or something similar?
How can officers 'forget' to wear numbers?
- Kiwi Expat, London, UK
Barry from Woking....have you ever stood in front of rent-a-mob, while they push, kick and shout at you, all for less than £30k a year? The officers who didn't wear their warrant numbers should be disciplined; as should the officers who used excessive force. However, these are a small minority of officers and the vast majority of Police Officers do a difficult, tiring and frustrating job for little pay. You know what they say - don't knock it until you've tried it.
If rent-a-mob weren't so determined to incite violence at what should be peaceful protests, this wouldn't have happened. In other countries where the Police and the Government have a zero-tolerance policy to rent-a-mob the protestors would have been flattened with water cannons and nobody would have batted an eyelid. Neil45 - "Well paid"? You must have been an Inspector or above!
- Anna, S.E. UK
It sounds like the Met hierachy are hanging everyone else but themselves out to dry! Yes numbers should have been on show (however why do the protesters get to cover their ID up) but it seems like an easy media winner if the top brass blames the lower rank and file!
To a point mentioned below re bank window and more photographers....surely everyone has a legal power to stop someone committing a crime...why didn't any of the photographers stop the couple of people breaking in?
- Jh, London
Michael, Kensington - Sorry! I mis-read the attribution - comment is for "Not Exactly a Looney Leftie! but I don't recognise the location
- Colin, Mora, Sweden
Michael, Kensington.
There's truth in the old adage - there are lies, damn lies and statistics
- Colin, Mora, Sweden
Police officers are there to "serve and protect",clearly some of the officers have not obeyed orders by not displaying their numbers,the officers who have not adhered to the orders they were clearly given should be punished.I think on the whole the Police do a good job of controlling protests but they must stick to the orders given by their superiors otherwise the small percentage of hooligans in uniform have got free reign to beat up members of the public they are paid to protect.Maybe the Metropolitan Police should rethink their recruitment policies as it looks like a few rotten apples have got in.
- Jim Ex Pat, London N.1, thailand
Ref the Bank window breaking I reckon there were more photographers there than demonstrators or police.
- Ayliff Mcnab, Spain
Steve, London - so people not being "calm and restrained" is justification for our Champions of Law to wade in with battons against the innocent now is it? And "winding" someone up is provacation enough to beat someone to death?
You're winding us all up, but we all know that it would be wrong for us to attack you for it! and if we did, we would expect to be punished when we are caught.
The Police are paid proffesionals and should behave like it. we employ them to stand in front of these people, if they don't like doing it, then don't take our money for the job.
- Barry, woking, GB
Of course protesters are going to be angry, it's the reason they're there. The job of the police is to safeguard citizens first and foremost, and not to further aggravate an already tense situation. It's obvious that a lot of officers are "geared up" for violence in these situations, which, in my opinion, shows a lack of proper leadership.
- Colin, Ramsgate, kent
As youngsters, we are continually told about how lucky we are to have survived world war II and the Nazis. Yet we see police officers beating up protestors, the use of torture being defended. Everyone can see the police officers did not behave responsibly, we can see the kind of officers that were handling protestors and they are neither responsible nor lawful. They act brutally and unlawfully and they are not the kind of people one would want in society let alone in a police force. They are thugs and everyone can see them and it is unfortunate to claim that a death should not overshadow the work of the police. The death of this man is shameful and shows the failure of this operation if this is what they still call it.
- Val Keller, London UK
I saw many of the rioters with their faces covered too. I also saw lowlife battering down the windows of a bank. Are they going to be prosecuted ? There were more rent-a-mob cameras than weapons I think. Funny World.
- Michael, Kensington, UK
not sure what you saw Neil. What I saw was the majority of officer working under difficult conditions and a minority stepping out of line.
Lets get this into perspective out of 5,000ish officers on duty there is less than 100 complaints being handled by the IPCC.
And as for you quoting one office that is 0.2% of the police on duty.
- Not Exactly A Looney Lefty!, The real world
Of course they were and elephants fly!!
- Mike, London England
That's all well and good but the protesters weren't calm and restrained.Also,I believe that drunk that died was deliberately winding the police up.
- Steve, London
Obviously, a few police officers behave badly and they are all being tarred with the same brush.
Obviously, a few protesters behave badly and they are all being beaten with the same baton.
One of the leading questions is "What came first, the baton or the brush?"
There can never be any justification for indiscriminately wading in with batons.
While many policemen stand by and watch a few of their colleagues commit worse crimes than the protesters, they will ALL always be perceived as bad.
- Colin, Mora, Sweden
The orders issued by senior officers appear to be at odds with what large numbers of demonstrators witnessed. There are far too many independent witnesses for any claims that police violence were "one-off" incidents. We also know that one Met Police officer boasted on face book that he was looking forward to using violence on demonstrators. That man obviously showed utter contempt for his fellow citizens by describing largely middle class demonstrators as "the great unwashed." As a retired Police Officer I am well aware of how difficult police work is, but they are well paid and I, like most other people, do expect police officers to show proper respect to the people they serve.
- Neil45, Gloucestershire, England.
