Hands up who’s anti-police
This ‘anti-police’ line being trotted out by Paul McKeever, chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales, really is a load of bollocks.
Who’s anti-police? Not me. Sure, I’m anti some police covering up their identifying numbers. I’m anti some police using their batons at the slightest provocation. I’m anti some police pushing people over in the streets for the crime of shuffling along with their hands in their pockets. I’m anti some police hammering bits of kids who’ve got their hands in the air and shouting ‘this is not a riot’. I’m anti some police tactics that corral peaceful protesters and passers-by alike for eight hours without water, food or toilets. I’m anti some police shooting a man in the head seven times, smearing his character and doing their best to cover it up.
But anti-police? Does McKeever think me and the likes of me are going to think twice about dialling 999 if someone breaks in tonight? Who of us will think to themselves, as they listen to the burglar creeping about downstairs, ‘hang on, if I phone the police they’re bound to arrive with their numbers covered up and give me a hiding because they’re all bastards. I think I’ll phone the AA instead’?
It’s that same lazy and dishonest thinking that says you’re anti-American if you don’t like the US government cluster-bombing brown children. Or you’re anti-Semitic if you’re unhappy about the Israeli government’s policy towards Palestine. It’s a generalising and a blurring that this thinking demands because an honest examination of the specifics might (and it’s always a small ‘might’, I grant you) lead to accountability and change.
Posted on April 21st, 2009 at 7:29pm under Crime and punishment
I love you.
Have you told Mat?
I am so anti the police who are investigating the recent attack on me. I am also totally so so *so* anti the local coppers that interact with me and my family via local activity groups. I’m even anti the so-and-so who sends me email alerts as part of Neighbourhood Watch. Bastards, all of them.
POW!
Nice one.
We are on the side of the rule of law. It has come to something when we have to take to the streets to ask the police to join us in supporting this cause.
I am anti-police. I am not a hard-working family, and I am a taxpayer only because James Purnell is closing in.
You may not be anti-police Justin but some people certainly are; and yet I’m sure such people will still manage to put those feelings to one side should they ever hear someone breaking into their house, so I don’t think that point is especially valid. After all, were Nick Griffin ever to find himself drowning in a river I’m certain he would accept help from a Muslim, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t Islamophobic.
Which is not to say that Paul McKeever’s comments aren’t moronic, because they are.
some people certainly are
Examples please, explaining how they are leading this ‘trial by media’. Thanks.
Give me strength. We’ve been here before and I give up with you Justin. No, I will not provide examples of how anti-police commentators are driving a ‘trial by media’ because I have not claimed that that is what is happening. Indeed, my only reference to what Paul McKeever said was to call it moronic. If you are going to challenge me to provide evidence to support my position, please ensure you have actually read what I have written and understood it, and then criticise me for what I have said, not what you assume I believe.
I have no idea whether you are anti-police or not and I care less, but if the best evidence you can provide for not being anti-police is to state that you would phone 999 in the event of being burgled, then I suggest you try harder.
Fair enough, I misread you and I apologise.
The thing is I’ve heard a lot about an ‘anti-police’ faction in the last few days. And I sincerely haven’t come across it anywhere I frequent online, or in the papers, or anywhere. That suggests to me (on a limited analysis of course) that it’s a minority fringe that can safely be ignored in the context of this argument.
For the avoidance of doubt: I don’t think for a minute that the media focus on the G20 demonstrations is down to anything other than some genuine and justified concerns over police tactics and behaviour that seriously need resolving. Any bandwagon jumping, it it’s even that, is just the way the media always operates. So no, I don’t think there is an anti-police faction driving anything either which is why I think Paul McKeever’s comments are moronic, but that doesn’t mean that there isn’t still plenty of lazy and ugly anti-police sentiment swilling around the place. You’re response seems to be that anyone willing to phone the police in an emergency situation can’t possibly be anti-police. I find that risible as they’re hardly mutually exclusive. That’s about it.
I agree totally Justin, unfortunately, some bloggers on the ‘left’ (apologies for that term) have been dismissing the entire police force out of hand, using generalised terms that serve no purpose and throwing around unworkable ideas regarding change in the police force and possible levels of disbandment.
Also, take the Bishopsgate pile of ball bags, that video, in terms of police activity and their actions, a worthless bit of tripe but in the current climate, given air as if it is somehow further proof of how terrible the police are…when it’s not.
I see what you’re saying but where are these bloggers, Daniel? How prominent are they? I doubt they’re driving the ‘bandwagon’ of ‘criticism by politicians and media commentators’ that Paul McKeever’s on about.
As for the Bishopsgate thing, I – and I think most people – gave it an airing as somehow further proof of how terrible we thought that one policeman’s attitude was and how terrible that attitude towards peaceful protesters (which was seen in many instances on April 1) was, not how terrible the police are. We’ve got to be more specific about what we’re talking about here.
To be fair, I’ve been known to argue against the idea of police in general, but I doubt I have the sort of influence you’re looking for.
Excellent piece Justin, especially like the closer re Anti-Americanism (man I hate that term) etc…
Just read this via a freinds facebook link.
Absolutely necessary.
I feel the Police use this blurring of details to protect their RIGHT(?) to use force to invoke fear among the rabble rousers.
Brilliant piece.
Shame I haven’t come across you before.
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[...] Hands up who’s anti-police – Chicken Yoghurt It’s that same lazy and dishonest thinking that says you’re anti-American if you don’t like the US government cluster-bombing brown children. Or you’re anti-Semitic if you’re unhappy about the Israeli government’s policy towards Palestine. It’s a generalising and a blurring that this thinking demands because an honest examination of the specifics might (and it’s always a small ‘might’, I grant you) lead to accountability and change. (tags: police uk g20) [...]