G20 Protests London

[bluemonday]

Rod Liddle Sunday Times

 

I wonder what the next line of disinformation will be from the Metropolitan police over the death of Ian Tomlinson during the G20 protests 10 or so days ago. That they firmly believed the deceased to be Brazilian? That they have subsequently “discovered” a stash of kiddie porn in Tomlinson’s home – a ploy they tried out before, remember, when they were in a spot of trouble having shot an entirely innocent Muslim bloke at his home in Forest Gate, London?

 

You have to hand it to them: for an institution which seems to be run by serial incompetents and cretins, they are at least extraordinarily creative when it comes to telling porkie pies. At dissembling, obfuscating and smearing wholly innocent people whom they have egregiously wronged, either by shooting them or, in their less vigorous moments, just knocking them about a bit.

 

At first, the case of poor Tomlinson did not seem to be much of an issue: chap dies of a heart attack during a “riot” while the police try heroically and selflessly to revive him, all the while being subjected to the most appalling provocation and indeed violence from the demonstrators. The first statement from the Met came on the day of Tomlinson’s death, April 1; the Met reported sadly that they had come under attack from the protesters, being pelted with bottles, while they tried to help him.

 

Further, an ambulance was delayed in reaching the chap because protesters had deliberately blocked the way.

 

And then the witness statements emerged and, more crucially – because who would believe the word of one of those lentil-eating, unwashed anarcho-syndicalist hippies? – the filmed evidence. The police didn’t try to help Tomlinson at all; instead they twice attacked him, both with bare hands and with batons. It was instead the demonstrators who tried to help the man and were prevented from doing so largely by the police. Nor was it the demonstrators who stopped the ambulance getting through, but – it has since been revealed – a police cordon. There were no bottles; just medical students trying to help who were told to clear off by the plod.

 

Later the police story subtly shifted, to minimise the link between the now clear and unambiguous police attacks on Tomlinson and his death, moments later, from a heart attack. But again – inconveniently – the demonstrators came forward; as Tomlinson lay dying, he had blood on his face. There, then, is the link.

 

Liked a drink or two, Ian Tomlinson – between you and me, bit of an alkie, really, and not in the best of health. That’s the latest information which has appeared, mysteriously, in the press. Probably gave it a bit of lip, too – and, worse still, was seen knowingly and openly wearing a shirt supportive of Millwall football club. We rest our case, etc. Unfortunate, but nobody really to blame, certainly not the copper, doing his best in difficult circumstances.

 

There will be more to come. But it will all be undone because surely nobody, now, would believe the police’s version of events, not even one of those independent inquiries we get every so often to mollify public opinion. Not after the fabulous rubbish which the Met has come up with so far in order to evade the blame for Tomlinson’s death – or, while we’re at it, the stuff they initially came up with when Jean Charles de Menenez was shot by them. Or the desperate scrabbling around for an excuse or a smokescreen after they had shot Mohammed Abdul Kahar, in Forest Gate, for the crime of being in possession of a provocative beard and a copy of the Koran. Child pornography and loads of money underneath his bed – got to be a wrong ’un. All, as it turned out, lies.

 

An inquiry isn’t really needed; we’ve seen the film – so now make the arrest. Truth is, the lies are more worrying than the thuggery.

 

We still don’t know, incidentally, the name of the copper, or coppers, responsible, even 10 days later. If it had been a demonstrator who’d assaulted the police in such a manner they’d be banged up by now; if it had been a Muslim demonstrator they’d probably have been extradited and be wearing an orange boiler suit. But with the Met’s thugs, different rules apply.

[pongo]

And here is Dominic Lawson, former editor of The Sunday Telegraph, former editor of The Spectator and the son of a Tory Chancellor - also in The Sunday Times.

 

Lash out, close ranks – it’s the police way

 

In recent years we have become wearily familiar with what the “closing of ranks” can involve, not stopping short of tampering with evidence.

[Jimcalagon]

In recent years we have become wearily familiar with what the “closing of ranks” can involve, not stopping short of tampering with evidence.

 

In recent years? FFS it's the 20th anniversary of Hillsborough tomorrow - the ultimate closing of Police ranks when they lied to the press, MPs and government inquiries and all the CCTV tapes of the event were mysteriously 'stolen'.

 

Try reading 'Stalker' by John Stalker. It's been going on for years.

[Sebrof]

More than 1,000 police have criminal records

 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/ma...riminal-records

 

 

That's OK. Set a thief to catch a thief.

 

S

[Jimcalagon]

That's OK. Set a thief to catch a thief.

 

S

 

 

Fight fire with fire - that's what my Dad used to say. That's why he was sacked from the Fire Service.

 

© Harry Hill 1994

[bluemonday]

On BBC 1 news now.

Footage of another G20 police thug hitting a woman.

Naturally his numbers weren't showing. How convenient.

[bluemonday]

Suspended

http://www.iomtoday.co.im/latest-national-...nded.5170101.jp

: "It is very difficult to understand what justifies a gargantuan police officer assaulting a smaller woman for having the audacity to complain.

 

Funny how nothing happens till footage comes out.

[Sebrof]

Suspended

http://www.iomtoday.co.im/latest-national-...nded.5170101.jp

: "It is very difficult to understand what justifies a gargantuan police officer assaulting a smaller woman for having the audacity to complain.

 

Funny how nothing happens till footage comes out.

 

Haven't they recently passed a law making it illegal to photograph a policeman? How very convenient.

 

S

[Chinahand]

I'm not as concerned by the second incident as I was by the first. In that the bloke seems to be totally uninvolved and complying with the police demand to move on. In this case the lady had been told to go - had refused, had had force used against her - yes a move to physically remove her from the area would have been better than the slap; its not good, but I'm not convinced it was a gross over use of force - it didn't stop her at all! She then came back again and this time had more extreme force used against her to make her move on.

 

If you continue to confront a police line when told to disperse you are going to get force used against you - pure and simple: and ever protestor knows that and is basically challenging it.

 

Peaceful protest, civil disobedience, violent protest - its a continuum and definitely the police were dealing with all three that day - most were peaceful, some were out to be civil disobedient and a tiny minority were out for violence.

 

I totally agree the lady wasn't being violent, but she was practicing civil disobedience and suffered the consequences. I'm not convinced from the evidence presented that the copper totally over-reacted - his efforts in dealing with her also impacted his abilities to deal with greater threats around him - offering her a cup of tea and a discussion about the turtles wasn't an option!

 

I totally agree that it is unacceptable for the police to remove their numbers - it should be an unbreakable requirement, but pure and simply it isn't - I had to deal with the police over some vandalism recently - two turned up - only one had their number on his label - I should have raised it with the other, but didn't. Grossly unprofessional, and implies they do not wish to be identified - should be a serious disciplinary offence.

[Knoxville]

The hippies were there causing trouble, so expect to be slapped about.

 

I'm glad the police used force, it'll make those job-less/lazy/smelly hippies think twice about moaning.

 

 

Give them an inch and they'll take a mile.

[thebees]

You really are a prick aren't you?

[Knoxville]

You really are a prick aren't you?

 

You really are a smelly hippy arent you?

[Jimcalagon]

The hippies were there causing trouble, so expect to be slapped about.

 

I'm glad the police used force, it'll make those job-less/lazy/smelly hippies think twice about moaning.

 

And those newspaper vendors, walking around the street as though they had a right to, don't forget them.

 

Prick

[Knoxville]

The hippies were there causing trouble, so expect to be slapped about.

 

I'm glad the police used force, it'll make those job-less/lazy/smelly hippies think twice about moaning.

 

And those newspaper vendors, walking around the street as though they had a right to, don't forget them.

 

Prick

 

They knew what was happening in London that day, so your saying you would walk into the middle of a war?

 

Abit of common sense, you know, like if you see a mob of people and the police you would start to think " hey I'll walk into that and maybe I'll come out the other side ".

 

Get back to picking flowers and eating tofu you clown.

[thebees]

I know which one I would rather be.....