It struck me as odd to abandon a police van in the middle of a demonstration. OK, so it did not have a sign on it saying 'Trash me please' but the defenders of the van have been named. The attackers? Not yet.
I'm reluctant to believe conspiracy theories but this letter arrived today:
I am a PhD student who attended the protest in Whitehall on the 24th of November. When I saw the abandoned police van, I thought it most peculiar. Before anyone had damaged it I went straight to the police in front of the Treasury and asked them why the van was there and suggested that they move it to protect it
They refused to take any notice, the impact is well known to you. Please can you make enquiries of the police and government, asking why this happened? Please take this up as a matter of urgency as you are aware we are dealing with an ongoing issue.
The police then justified the kettling of children on the basis that the damage to the van was a breach of the peace.
It appears the police deliberately broke the spirit and letter of their oath to the Crown.
The letter is signed and I have been in touch with the writer. I will raise a question or two about this. You never know.
"Children"
His case would be a bit stronger if he didn't resort to the "won't somebody please think of the children!" shriek.
I'm surprised he didn't chuck in "racist" and "hate crime" to top it off.
Posted by: Kay Tie | November 29, 2010 at 09:30 PM
Well it was the Metropolitan Police and we know what their record is...
Posted by: Huw | November 30, 2010 at 12:42 AM
The Met is institutionally incompetent. I wouldn't be shocked to learn the van was classified as a river patrol boat and was abandoned due to low tide.
Posted by: Kay Tie | November 30, 2010 at 01:18 AM