Re: CS Gas at Peaceful Protest | Forum

Merrick Jan 31, 2011 20:09:04

Replying to drewbhoy

I don't think it's an advance towards a police state, it's nothing new at all. The police have always used violence against those who disobey them, or those who attend demonstrations deemed politically unacceptable (irrespective of the disruption or threat posed). What has changed in the last couple of years is the prevalence of pocket devices with video capacity.

This is not in any way to diminish the rightful anger and disgust we feel at this, it's just to point out that we should be feeling it a lot more often.

The Guardian have footage of one of the protesters being sprayed. Police guidelines are clear that the spray should not be used from less than a metre "unless the nature of the risk to the officer is such that this cannot be avoided". The cop in the video sprays someone standing still and speaking.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/jan/31/video-police-cs-spray-protesters

At least there was a little redress as a cop managed to spray themselves too
http://www.demotix.com/photo/574629/peaceful-ukuncut-protest-london-marred-police-using-pepper-spray

Myers Jan 31, 2011 20:28:03

Replying to Merrick

It is disgusting. And from the point of view of a "peace keeper", of sorts, I am appalled at these wankers behaviour.

Ok, ex peace keeper of sorts!

drewbhoy Jan 31, 2011 22:15:40

Replying to Merrick

Merrick wrote:

This is not in any way to diminish the rightful anger and disgust we feel at this, it's just to point out that we should be feeling it a lot more often.

Every time something like this happens we should feel revulsion at these cowardly tactics not just more often. The policeman in the video seems to just walk away from his victim without a care.......pathetic.

grufty jim Jan 31, 2011 23:59:19

Replying to Merrick

I remember getting a mouthful of pepper spray at a Reclaim The Streets thing in Leeds back in the 90s. So this is certainly not a new thing. Admittedly I can see how the police officer in question might have considered me a serious threat... I was helping set up a bouncy-castle after all.