Policing the demos

[biffvernon]

You have to look at this pretty carefully

http://rt.com/news/london-rally-snatch-squad-267/

If it shows what the film-maker says it shows then is shows that our police have reached a pretty pass.

[Ludwig]

You have to look at this pretty carefully

http://rt.com/news/london-rally-snatch-squad-267/

If it shows what the film-maker says it shows then is shows that our police have reached a pretty pass.

It's hard to see exactly what's going on, but I've been suspicious about police behaviour at protests for a while now. In fact it's only recently that I've come to realise how common the use of agents provocateurs, and false flag operations, has always been. It's only since the arrival of the Internet that it's become possible for your average Joe to study the evidence without giving up all his free time.

That doesn't stop this video being really depressing of course.

[revdode]

I'm pretty sure that the police use agent provocateurs but in this case I think it looked more like a targeted snatch by plain clothes police. If it was an attempt to provoke it was pretty poorly executed. The police have quite some record of having officers planted long term in organisations they identify as potential risks, I'm sure they could have this done better if they really wanted to.

[Ludwig]

I'm pretty sure that the police use agent provocateurs but in this case I think it looked more like a targeted snatch by plain clothes police. If it was an attempt to provoke it was pretty poorly executed. The police have quite some record of having officers planted long term in organisations they identify as potential risks, I'm sure they could have this done better if they really wanted to.

Yes, I'm inclined to agree. I've just downloaded and watched the video in a larger window, and I see nothing that suggests anything other than a targeted snatch. So the behaviour of the police might be said to be heavy- handed, but the video maker's claim that the police would be expected to apologise to the guy they shoved is daft. In an us-and-them situation like this, with adrenaline flowing on both sides, you can't expect civility.

Don't get me wrong, I'm suspicious of the police, but you have to look at each piece of evidence on its own merits.

[SleeperService]

You have to look at this pretty carefully

http://rt.com/news/london-rally-snatch-squad-267/

If it shows what the film-maker says it shows then is shows that our police have reached a pretty pass.

Way back (God I feel old) during the miners strike when I still lived in Suffolk I was watching the news about Orgreave and was amazed to see a guy who was definately a copper in with the miners. After I moved to Nottingham I heard of at least one other. I've watched a documentary about it and had the other example pointed out to me, that guy is no longer a copper but still in our social circle and it's definately him.

Both grabbed miners as the police charged so maybe nothing has changed

[madibe]

More interesting is this:

http://rt.com/usa/news/sgt-thomas-movement-occupy-465/

And his subsequent eloquent interview responses. It really does put it into perspective. Shame 2 of the commenters on the piece (at the bottom of the page) seem to be wearing tin foil hats. I am pretty sure he is sincere.

The police are just not paid enough to be against 'the people' - they themselves are part of the 99%. And therefore have to walk a moral tightrope... but if I was one, I would know which way to fall off.