The Thin Blue Line

[Bada-Bing!]

‘Size of a small police force’ of Met officers are suspended or on restricted duties

Scotland Yard says it will take ‘two or more years to root out those who are corrupting policing’

www.theguardian.com

They are up against it.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Hundreds of Met firearms officers downing their weapons after the murder charge against one of their colleagues.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

Hundreds of Met firearms officers downing their weapons after the murder charge against one of their colleagues.

Chris Kaba: MoD offers military support after armed Met officers turn in weapons

Review into armed police is set up as dozens turn in weapons after an officer faces a murder charge.

www.bbc.co.uk

The armed Met police’s equivalent of strike action then.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I know, in the grand scheme of things, a trial in Jan is pretty damn fast but shame they couldn't get it sorted even quicker to get this over with

I'm interested in hearing what comes out of it - from the news reports it sounds like the officer was justified in his actions, but then the Jean Charles de Menezes situation sounded justifiable at first too so who knows

 

[Bada-Bing!]

Even the police need to be held to account for their actions and application of the law. I had an email from my local police team making up the Highway Code deeming there to be a slow enough speed to be safe to overtake without giving a cyclist the full 1.5m space.

If they can do that for something relatively minor they can make up shooting someone without due cause - even a mistaken shooting and have not action taken against the officer.

 

[BrokenWing]

A valiant effort to crowbar a reference to not passing cyclists closer than 1.5m I'll give you that.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

The Guardian view on armed police: there should be no culture of impunity | Editorial

Editorial: By throwing doubt on the CPS’s decision to charge an officer, ministers and Sir Mark Rowley risk weakening their own reforms

www.theguardian.com

A valiant effort to crowbar a reference to not passing cyclists closer than 1.5m I'll give you that.

yeh another complaint. Didn’t think I’d have to battle the police as well as wrongdoers, however small their crime.

Culture is wrong in the police in the Met- that much has been made clear in Dame Casey’s report . They are a law unto themselves. If it is so in the largest police force in the country what’s it like in other police forces around the country?

 

[Saintjay]

Even the police need to be held to account for their actions and application of the law. I had an email from my local police team making up the Highway Code deeming there to be a slow enough speed to be safe to overtake without giving a cyclist the full 1.5m space.

If they can do that for something relatively minor they can make up shooting someone without due cause - even a mistaken shooting and have not action taken against the officer.

The problem is the application of the law is seen different by many people. Just because it's the law doesn't necessarily mean the Police are going to enforce it nor can they know every single law. One of the most valuable tools a cop has is using his discretion in accordance with standing orders and force policy. It might simply be the case you got an officer who doesn't know his stuff or they simply have other more urgent matters to deal with. It's a stretch to go from duff advice on the Road Traffic Act to a firearms incident.

Shooting someone is probably a horrible decision to make. Often under stress and in a split second. Most firearms cops i know fully believe they will face a trial if they shoot someone and likely a civil case as well. The met officers issues are they feel the burden of proof should be the criminal standard in civil cases as well and not tried on the balance of probabilities.

 

[ncurd]

I'd rather have a police force with zero firearms than one not accountable for their use of them.

A full independent investigation followed by criminal charges if required should be made to any officer who has wounded or killed someone.

I would be happy to exempt them from civil cases though pending the investigation and appeal to that investigation.

If you don't want that level of vigor don't become a firearms officer. They should be ******* scared to use them its the only way to ensure that when do its because its absolutely necessary. *points to America exhibit A*

 

[Bada-Bing!]

The problem is the application of the law is seen different by many people. Just because it's the law doesn't necessarily mean the Police are going to enforce it nor can they know every single law.

The problem is the lack of transparency though. I understand that they have to have discretion when applying and enforcing the law but that doesn’t mean they don’t have to be held accountable when they get that use of discretion wrong or applying their own criteria. That is why trust in the police has deteriorated to an all time low.

The perception in the case of the firearms’ officers is they are throwing a hissy fit because one of their own is getting investigated and now being brought to trial.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

Firearms police: What's the law when officers open fire?

The charging of an armed police officer with the alleged murder of Chris Kaba in London has sparked alarm among his colleagues - but at the source of this row is a deeper and longer-running dispute over the law.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Bada-Bing!]

Police officers widely misusing body-worn cameras

It was hoped video would increase transparency in policing, but BBC has uncovered 150 reports of failings.

www.bbc.co.uk