Gestapo Watch - Police Overkill In London

[fish5133]

[telecasterisation]

[marky 54]

i have no problem with the police being labelled gestapo when they target people who have not committed a crime or use force in a situation where it was unjustified, or when they go over the top in their reaction to a situation.

however its starting to get to the point where they are being called gestapo for simply doing their jobs and recovering stolen items and arresting actual criminals.

mind you i do feel the riot gear was a bit over the top.

[fish5133]

Sorry guys for the "gestapo" tag. Its just last time I posted an article about the police I had the title changed by a moderator to read gestapo watch.

Sounds like one of the properties raided belonged to Del and Rodney

[TonyGosling]

As far as I'm concerned all/any totalitarian police tactics can be labelled Gestapo Watch. This story seems to fit the bill (see below).

Any problems please PM the moderators first rather than attacking the very premis of the post in the post. See under rules in 'about this website'.

So can we keep to topic please.


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_artic le_id=547671&in_page_id=1770

[paul wright]

This well-syndicated picture of hundreds of helmeted robocops filling a street in order to solve some comparatively minor crimes ought to induce a shudder of revulsion

[marky 54]

after ferther consideration, i may of been a bit rash. its hard to think that many people would be needed for such a job. and the riot gear is totally over the top. maybe the gestapo tag is justified on that basis.

although i still think its important to be clear these were suspected criminals that were targeted(according to the story).

so what do people think? a show of power or signs of whats to come?

[TonyGosling]

The word 'overkill' in the headline says it all. If they need this many cops they haven't done their intelligence gathering properly.

What the modern cops seem to do is to leave areas to become steeped in police inaction crime, so that when they go in the local population despise and mistrust them, so they have to resort to this.

The only justification for this show of strength is if they think there will be a full on riot. Surely the Sweeney approach is more appropriate where you have backup standing by if you need it.

Operations like this can end up causing far more mistrust and resentment from the local community with the police than the arrests.


http://www.thecnj.co.uk/islington/2008/032808/news032808_03.html

[fish5133]

We had a slightly smaller version of this minus riot gear on the Wirral recently. 150 cops and associates raid 3 premises (all be it pubs) , drugs being the target.

http://www.wirralglobe.co.uk/search/zoom.php?imid=904081

[telecasterisation]

Such an operation should be based upon calling for backup when required?

I wonder how many here have ever arrested someone who didn't want to be arrested? I have seen individuals who needed five officers just to subdue them after getting into a house by standing at the top of stairs with a kitchen stool. Even putting aside the aspects of arresting, producing a warrant and searching a house/any premises can present unique problems with vicious dogs and assorted family members. You have people exiting through windows and bolting for lofts and basements, flushing evidence down toilets or chucking it on the fire. By the time you have 'called for assistance', it is all over.

It has to be complete and as swift as possible and the object of completely closing down an area can only work with adequate manpower. To mount such an operation and have several dozen teams all calling for assistance at the same time makes no operational sense.

Of course, much of the opinion here hinges upon baseless guesswork and zero experience of what confronts you when you enter premises 'uninvited'. The 'Sweeney' example highlights a great deal about how opinions concerning the police are formed - by watching television dramas.

[fish5133]

Hi Tele. I agree its not right to label policemen with the Gestapo tag. Whats interesting is the changeing perceptions of the Police in the eyes of Joe Public. Up till a couple of years ago I respected the average Bobby and realised the difficult task they have against crime and criminals. Whilst that respect of the average bobby still remains it is, I think the increased levels of security and surveillance methods (cameras everywhere, helicopters over my back garden, mini drone helicopters, cops in crash helmets and balaclavas , high visibility policeing) that gives an overpowering sense of intrusion into our normal lawful lives. Also the shooting of innocent victims (de Mendes) without any one taking the wrap doesnt help.

[karlos]

[conspiracy analyst]