Cop strikes woman at G20 on video

[Wilf]

Like your thinking.

I hate to adapt tinternet-naff-term into a serious topic, but I think what we're seeing here is "Justice 2.0".

It's fucking cool.

I think there's a lot of mileage in terms of getting a big 'dossier', wall of shame, call it what you want - like you say, using all kinds of electronic reports + eye witnes accounts, police statements from before the g20 etc.

All this could be focused into a mass of complaints to the IPCC (which, to be honest is already happening) though I don't share liberal assumptions that the IPCC is a 'legitimate' channel for justice. As such, a mass of complaints wouldn't be put in with any kind of outcome in mind - the whole process is designed to dissipate energy and anger - but merely as a tactic.

To be honest though, the IPCC is irrelevant. Main aim would be to simply show how real individuals have been routinely brutalised by the state (in a planned and coordinated way).

- and as the Ed says to defend future photographers

Loads of different sites are going to be doing versions of the wall of shame, building evidence etc. Be nice if there was some coordination though.

 

[Citizen66]

I predict a large number of officers making themselves unavailable for further public order duties.

I'm not sure they get a choice in it. All leave is cancelled. Those are your orders; follow them.

 

[editor]

Even if the cops do try and implement terrorism laws to force photographers to hand over their cameras and videos, new mobile streaming technologies will soon make it a redundant gesture.

People will just take movies/photos and upload them directly onto YouTube from within the 'kettle,' so there's no way the cops can stop the info getting out (unless they delve even deeper into their dodgy powers and force a mobile signal blackout.

Quite a few phones are already capable of uploading videos directly and it'll soon become commonplace.

 

[laptop]

Respect to the Guardian headline sub:

Video shows Met police attack on mourner at Tomlinson vigil

 

[scott_forester]

All this video and photographic evidence leaking through into the mainstream is going to make it really hard for the police to try and stretch anti-terrorism legislation to cover banning photography at future demos. Even the Daily Mail must now appreciate the importance of recording protests from all sides now.

Given the cheek of the Met wouldn't surprise me if they go the other way and try and ban any video etc - for 'safety' reasons.

 

[david dissadent]

I'm not sure they get a choice in it. All leave is cancelled. Those are your orders; follow them.

As I understand it public order policing is a volunteer position.

 

[laptop]

Given the cheek of the Met wouldn't surprise me if they go the other way and try and ban any video etc - for 'safety' reasons.

I'd sort of like to see them try.

Remember the ban on Gerry Adams?

Let's see Newsnight sorting re-enactments of demonstrations, with a "Performed by actors" caption


.

 

[Herbert Read]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7999277.stm

Met suspends G20 footage officer

A Metropolitan Police officer shown in YouTube video footage apparently hitting a woman during the G20 summit protests in London has been suspended.

 

[laptop]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7999277.stm

Met suspends G20 footage officer

A Metropolitan Police officer shown in YouTube video footage apparently hitting a woman during the G20 summit protests in London has been suspended.

Oh yes.

What could happen now is a sort of bin-race between the news organisations - how many can we get suspended? That's sort of what happened with the Tory scandals at the thin grey Satsuma-flavoured end of the Major regime...

 

[_pH_]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7999277.stm

Met suspends G20 footage officer

A Metropolitan Police officer shown in YouTube video footage apparently hitting a woman during the G20 summit protests in London has been suspended.

*ahem*

 

[editor]

Given the cheek of the Met wouldn't surprise me if they go the other way and try and ban any video etc - for 'safety' reasons.

They'd have to ban mobile phones too and that would cause a real outrage.

Even if the police do try and implement terrorism laws to force photographers to hand over their cameras and video footage, new mobile streaming technologies will soon make it a redundant gesture.

Using fast 3G connections, protesters will be able to take movies/photos on their mobile phones and upload them directly onto YouTube from within the 'kettle,' so there's no way the cops can stop the footage getting out (unless they delve even deeper into their dodgy powers and force a mobile signal blackout - a move which would surely prompt questions from the general public).

Quite a few phones are already capable of uploading videos directly on to websites and as the technology becomes more commonplace it's going to become increasingly difficult for the police to try and suppress legitimate press and personal coverage of demonstrations.

http://www.urban75.org/photos/photographers-rights-and-the-law.html#police

 

[XR75]

A good comment from a BBC reporter on the 'incident', ''police can use violence but will have to justfiy it''. Having watching the video a number of times, for me the Police officer has done nothing wrong. She marched on him, verbally abusing him, and I can see her push/hit him in the back, and he turns around to defend himself and she got a back hander, he was trying to keep her away from himself, and she was a bit unlucky to get a slap on her face, he could have easily caught on the arm or somewhere else.

This sums up my thoughts.It wasn't much of a backhander either.
I wouldn't say the use of the baton was justified unless there were other circumstances like the crowd starting a rush.

 

[editor]

*ahem*

I think he described it a little better than you mind, seeing as your post just said, "linky dink to beeb story".

 

[_pH_]

I think he described it a little better than you mind, seeing as your post just said, "linky dink to beeb story".

ah ok, fairy nuff then

 

[bluestreak]

This sums up my thoughts.It wasn't much of a backhander either.
I wouldn't say the use of the baton was justified unless there were other circumstances like the crowd starting a rush.

You're a fucking idiot too.

 

[editor]

This sums up my thoughts.It wasn't much of a backhander either.

It shouldn't be anything of a backhander when dealing with smaller, non threatening, non violent protesters.

 

[laptop]

This sums up my thoughts.It wasn't much of a backhander either.

Just for the sake of argument, would you like to arrange a date and place for me to give you a backhander like that?

I get to choose whether the forearm armour with which I hit you - I mean he hit her - is thin or thick fibreglass, btw.

 

[Wilf]

Oh yes.

What could happen now is a sort of bin-race between the news organisations - how many can we get suspended? That's sort of what happened with the Tory scandals at the thin grey Satsuma-flavoured end of the Major regime...

and the irony is, it could be the very same journos who were banging on about violent protesters only a week ago. If there was the chance of an exclusive and getting their name under an article they'd do it without a moments hesitation

 

[Herbert Read]

Do you think the officer in question was using the Tobyjug manual in dealing with hysterical women?

*ahem*

I just saw that

 

[_pH_]

I just saw that

did you see me getting pwn'd by ed too?

 

[Herbert Read]

All this video and photographic evidence leaking through into the mainstream is going to make it really hard for the police to try and stretch anti-terrorism legislation to cover banning photography at future demos. Even the Daily Mail must now appreciate the importance of recording protests from all sides now.

I would like to thinks so but I can't see that happening. In fact I would go as far to say that is almost naively optimistic. Two or three well reported incidents of police officers behaving in abhorrent ways is not going to change the view of many people.

I have had to bite my tongue more than once at some of the comments I have heard at work today and they're nothing compared to what a lot of people say in forums, blogs and on text / phone-ins. Many people think the police should have used tear gas and water cannons. It conjures up images of the riots of SA during the PT to me.

Nothing is going to come of this. Just another ugly footnote in the history of the police force in Britain.

Spiked online's reaction to it all, which is supposed to be an unbiased source, is well... "Don't be alarmed, it isn't that bad really."

 

[maomao]

So are there any videos of our brave boys in blue beating up strong young men or do they just attack old men and girls?

 

[Wilf]

Do you think the officer in question was using the Tobyjug manual in dealing with hysterical women?




I just saw that

Gawd, I'd forgotten that! That could be the OB's ultimate line of defence - "M'lud, on April 1st, the whole of central London got a bit Boat Happy".

 

[_pH_]

Gawd, I'd forgotten that! That could be the OB's ultimate line of defence - "M'lud, on April 1st, the whole of central London got a bit Boat Happy".

rofl

I can see now, we were lucky not to get shot on April 1st!

 

[Blagsta]

Spiked online's reaction to it all, which is supposed to be an unbiased source, is well... "Don't be alarmed, it isn't that bad really."

yeah, but they're the remnants of the RCP and are barking mad

 

[laptop]

I hate to adapt tinternet-naff-term into a serious topic, but I think what we're seeing here is "Justice 2.0".

It's fucking cool.

The correct term is "sousveillance".

Nicked this week by Marina Hyde from Michael White's blog last week and New Scientist's props to Indymedia in 2006 (and this utter misunderstanding in the Grauniad in 2005).

 

[AnnO'Neemus]

AB 42 is a sergeant with City Of Westminster Police based at Begravia

 

[Herbert Read]

I can imagine the conversation:

"Look, AB42. It pains me to do this but you were caught on camera and after this Ian Tomlinson lark we [the IPCC], have to make it look like we give a flying fuck. So we're going to have to suspend you on full pay. Have yourself a nice little holiday at that silly bitch's expense. If the worst comes to the worst, we'll give you an excellent redundancy package and a career in counter-terrorism, and crowd control consultancy."

 

[FridgeMagnet]

Was I the only one hoping for a brick to come over there and hit him? Or is that just "non-fluffy" of me?

 

[Herbert Read]

yeah, but they're the remnants of the RCP and are barking mad

Yeah, but how many people share that opinion outside of Urban75?