City of London Police in action

[Andy 71]

Cycling this morning down Broad Street, and saw a cycle messenger being physically restrained by Police.

I think he ended up in the van, as I was passed by the same Police vehicle whizzing past with blues and twos a couple of minutes later.

The guy was only about 5ft 5, and the coppers holding him were way over 6ft.

Now, I don't know what that was about, but methinks that cyclist committed some kind of infraction and then failed to stop.

I think I would have to give the fuzz the benefit of the doubt on this occassion, as, despite how they might behave in globalisation protests, the City cops don't usually haul cyclists in for minor stuff like not having a bell or pedal reflectors etc.

What a shame they don't treat RLJing motorists in the same way.

 

[gavintc]

A couple of months ago, I watched a driver being handcuffed and taken away. The initial crime was parking on a double yellow, but having assualted the traffic warden, the cops were called, he then assaulted the cops and was arrested. I was watching from a 3rd floor window and it made interesting theatre of how a simple and relatively low level offence was turned in about 5-10 mins into a relatively serious crime. So, perhaps he turned nasty with the cops over a small issue such as running a light.

 

[mknash]

I've had police question me over a simple matter in the past and when i accidentally used the f word in their presence they got the cuffs out and threatened me with breach of the peace (for the record, I said "yeah, a scary F***er" when asked if I had seen somebody earlier.

With the police so authoritarian over use of strong language not even directed at them it is easy to see how things can escalate.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

What a shame they don't treat RLJing motorists in the same way.

Long time since I've seen the City boys in action. I saw, mid summer last year, Met plod arrest a RLJ'ing driver with extreme prejudice when he kicked off at them, and saw Sussex's finest do same to a drink driver at Christmas.

It is their game, the deck is loaded in their favour and if you don't play by their rules, things tend to get ugly fast. Doesn't make it right but it is what it is and if some malfeasant is dumb enough to provoke the plod when they are lawfully doing their jobs well...

 

[swee'pea99]

I generally find 'yes sir, no sir, three bags full sir' is a good starter for ten.

 

[2Loose]

+1 Sweepea - Show respect and generally get respect in return.

Very interested in what the courier had done though. You don't often see cycles being chased by vans with blues and twos!

 

[hackbike 666]

+1 Sweepea - Show respect and generally get respect in return.

+1

Sometimes I deal with plod/community officers in my job and they are generally fine.

 

[Andy 71]

It is their game, the deck is loaded in their favour and if you don't play by their rules, things tend to get ugly fast. Doesn't make it right but it is what it is and if some malfeasant is dumb enough to provoke the plod when they are lawfully doing their jobs well...

Agreed - the law is in their favour, so you're better off keeping your gob shut and keeping your cool. At best, you're according a reasonable copper common courtesy, at worst you're not giving a gung-ho nutter in uniform the excuse to lay into you.

 

[Bman]

I caught a few moments of "Cops with Cameras" the other last night. It didnt have all of my attention, but this was the gist of it:

Police with cameras sped to the aid of a WPC who shouted for immediate backup. When they got there, it was quite busy. Lots of unhappy people who have come out of a few blocks of flats. One man was being held down by three PC's and the WPC. The blokes mother tried to calm him down and was asking the police to be lenient.... All of a sudden, she was being pushed away and then also restrained!

Then a few bystanders took offence... more backup called and yet more people arrested for "breach of the peace". Basically it seemed to be that they were being a little too strict. In my eyes, it was the police who were breaching the peace. The people who were being arrested were not being overly aggressive, just annoyed that their friends/neighbours/loved ones were being arrested!

A simple situation that got completely out of hand, due to heavy handedness of the police

But then again, I don’t know why the police were called in the first place, the only arrests I heard were "breach of the peace". I don’t know what the first bloke did to get arrested either.

 

[downfader]

I caught a few moments of "Cops with Cameras" the other last night. It didnt have all of my attention, but this was the gist of it:

Police with cameras sped to the aid of a WPC who shouted for immediate backup. When they got there, it was quite busy. Lots of unhappy people who have come out of a few blocks of flats. One man was being held down by three PC's and the WPC. The blokes mother tried to calm him down and was asking the police to be lenient.... All of a sudden, she was being pushed away and then also restrained!

Then a few bystanders took offence... more backup called and yet more people arrested for "breach of the peace". Basically it seemed to be that they were being a little too strict. In my eyes, it was the police who were breaching the peace. The people who were being arrested were not being overly aggressive, just annoyed that their friends/neighbours/loved ones were being arrested!

A simple situation that got completely out of hand, due to heavy handedness of the police

But then again, I don’t know why the police were called in the first place, the only arrests I heard were "breach of the peace". I don’t know what the first bloke did to get arrested either.

I stopped watching shows like that as I got the general feeling that some of those being filmed wanted to be famous in some way. They seemed to relish making a real point

I dont think its polite to swear at a copper, not because he or she is a copper but because its just common decency to someone you dont know. I swear like a trooper but even I try my best to be polite outside my little group of friends when in public.

 

[Arch]

But then again, I don’t know why the police were called in the first place, the only arrests I heard were "breach of the peace". I don’t know what the first bloke did to get arrested either.

Having been brought up to respect police (well, they had guns for a start, where I was) I tend to assume they are in the right (I know they aren't always, but that's my default). I've also seen enough scumbags who'll kick off at the slightest thing to assume that the police tend to have a dim view of the human race generally - and there may have been all sorts of things known about the family that prompted the reaction.

It's not a job I'd want to do, that's for sure. Although it would be nice to be able to stop people for all those little things they think don't matter, like driving on the phone....

 

[Bman]

Well I just watched the clip again. Although the police could have handled the situation much better (to prevent aggravating everyone else), those that were arrested were asking for it.

I would upload it to youtube.. but it would only be removed 5 mins later

sod it... there are plenty of other episodes on Youtube already :


View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXfGN9mZMIg


Ill remove it later.

 

[ComedyPilot]

Cycling this morning down Broad Street, and saw a cycle messenger being physically restrained by Police. (1)

I think (2) he ended up in the van, as I was passed by the same Police vehicle whizzing past with blues and twos a couple of minutes later.

The guy was only about 5ft 5, and the coppers holding him were way over 6ft. (3)

Now, I don't know (2) what that was about, but methinks (2) that cyclist committed some kind of infraction and then failed to stop.

I think (2) I would have to give the fuzz the benefit of the doubt on this occassion, as, despite how they might behave in globalisation protests, the City cops don't usually haul cyclists in for minor stuff like not having a bell or pedal reflectors etc.

What a shame they don't treat RLJing motorists in the same way. (3)

(1) Fact, you saw it. Unless you are making it up.
(2) You think, therefore you are speculating, and that is not really fair to the police, or the 'cyclist'.
(3) How do you know this?

 

[ComedyPilot]

I caught a few moments of "Cops with Cameras" the other last night. It didnt have all of my attention, but this was the gist of it:

Police with cameras sped to the aid of a WPC who shouted for immediate backup. When they got there, it was quite busy. Lots of unhappy people who have come out of a few blocks of flats. One man was being held down by three PC's and the WPC. The blokes mother tried to calm him down and was asking the police to be lenient.... All of a sudden, she was being pushed away and then also restrained!

Then a few bystanders took offence... more backup called and yet more people arrested for "breach of the peace". Basically it seemed to be that they were being a little too strict. In my eyes, it was the police who were breaching the peace. The people who were being arrested were not being overly aggressive, just annoyed that their friends/neighbours/loved ones were being arrested!

A simple situation that got completely out of hand, due to heavy handedness of the police

But then again, I don’t know why the police were called in the first place, the only arrests I heard were "breach of the peace". I don’t know what the first bloke did to get arrested either.

Well I just watched the clip again. Although the police could have handled the situation much better (to prevent aggravating everyone else), those that were arrested were asking for it.

I would upload it to youtube.. but it would only be removed 5 mins later

sod it... there are plenty of other episodes on Youtube already :


View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXfGN9mZMIg


Ill remove it later.

Mmmmmmmmm

Person arrested.

All the other arrests were avoidable. They just had to keep their scummy, foul mouths shut and not grab at officers (on the video) and they wouldn't have been arrested.

I have been a police officer in such circumstances, and you ALWAYS get a 'chav a go' hero that wants to 'sort it out'.

When a person is arrested, interfering will get you arrested - it's called obstruction.

If someone is arrested, that's their problem IMO.

I certainly wouldn't risk a night in the cells just to show I 'stuck up for a mate' who was a big enough tosser to get arrested in the first place.

 

[addictfreak]

I caught a few moments of "Cops with Cameras" the other last night. It didnt have all of my attention, but this was the gist of it:

Police with cameras sped to the aid of a WPC who shouted for immediate backup. When they got there, it was quite busy. Lots of unhappy people who have come out of a few blocks of flats. One man was being held down by three PC's and the WPC. The blokes mother tried to calm him down and was asking the police to be lenient.... All of a sudden, she was being pushed away and then also restrained!

Then a few bystanders took offence... more backup called and yet more people arrested for "breach of the peace". Basically it seemed to be that they were being a little too strict. In my eyes, it was the police who were breaching the peace. The people who were being arrested were not being overly aggressive, just annoyed that their friends/neighbours/loved ones were being arrested!

A simple situation that got completely out of hand, due to heavy handedness of the police

But then again, I don’t know why the police were called in the first place, the only arrests I heard were "breach of the peace". I don’t know what the first bloke did to get arrested either.

I have to say I saw that programme, and I saw it totally different to you.