Time to call this out. There is a tendency to talk utter gibberish about recent events. To compare two different events and draw unsubstantiated conclusions. To suggest people are doing “nothing”. A short thread.
"The early days of Andy Burnham’s government have made Starmer’s look positively energetic: a PM who usually loves nothing more than being on camera has studiously avoided saying a word as he loses control of law and order in Britain, and his home secretary seems determined to appease the thugs."
www.thenewworld.co.uk
Almost by definition, protests are political, and the reaction to how they are policed often depends on the individuals’ view on the merits of the protest. On this site, I have seen a high profile KC try and suggest a man smashing a police officer in the back with a sledgehammer was self defence I have seen umpteen comments on how certain individuals should never have been charged, or remanded in custody, or not sentenced as terrorists despite it being the legally correct process. Now, I see the opposite - the authorities allowing protest, moving too slowly, being too lenient. The law should not be a political tool. If you commit a crime, you should expect to be arrested and charged. You are also welcome to put your defence (but not make political speeches or commit contempt). But if you want the court system to become politicised… be careful what you wish for. Now, we have seen an individual arrested and charged within a matter of hours of allegedly committing some offences. We can’t discuss the case, but should not suggest nothing is happening, two tier policing etc. We do not know what action, tactics, intelligence is being drawn from recent masked protests. We should acknowledge that these matters are not easy policing. You need to be very careful to identify criminal offences and not inflame things further. As I said earlier - be patient. Finally, this is not a defence of either the law, which is flawed in many places and probably needs some thought on protest reform, or the police/prosecutors, where I do not have enough information to critique either way. More of a call to depoliticise. Another suggestion of two tier policing that can be debunked pretty easily. You are not comparing like with like. bsky.app
Two tier policing. Victoria Thomas Bowen, who chucked a milkshake at Farage, was given a 13-week jail sentence, suspended for 12 months; had to pay him £150 compensation; had to complete 120 hours of unpaid work and pay £450 in court costs. It was nowhere near the level of violence of this assault.
We have all seen some footage of numerous individuals assaulting an individual at the Reform conference. One has been given a caution and other enquiries are continuing. We have no idea who or what they did, therefore cannot compare it to the milkshake.