Gransnet forums

News & politics

'The thug in police uniform'. (Daily Mail today)

(183 Posts)
Greatnan Fri 20-Jul-12 07:40:06

It is not often I find myself agreeing with the DM, but today they detail the shocking 'career' of PC Simon Harwood who was cleared of causing the death of Ian Tomlinson. The jury were not allowed to hear about the ten complaints against Harwood, who was allowed to leave one force on 'medical grounds' (such as?) before a disciplinary hearing could be held. He was then allowed to join another force and the senior police officer in charge yesterday admitted that their vetting procedure had not been adequate.
The charges against him include punching and racially abusing a 14-year old girl, abuse of authority and using unnecessary force. He admitted going into 'red mist mode'.
Ian Tomlinson's family now plan to sue him in civil court where the burden of proof is less and the judge will know Harwood's record.

janeainsworth Sun 22-Jul-12 20:00:44

Well I must be naive as I assumed whenim64 meant PC fascists at her former place of work, not other people on this forum.
I have only just joined and didn't expect it to be fully of petty bickering and umbrage-taking.
There, I expect I've offended everyone now smile

granjura Sun 22-Jul-12 20:05:08

My (adult) kids and grand-kids don't mind at all smile

Bags Sun 22-Jul-12 20:08:09

Hello, jane, and welcome to GN! Och! We have our little shadowy outbursts every now and then, but they blow over like clouds on a blustery day. smile

Anagram Sun 22-Jul-12 20:08:31

Not at all Jane! It doesn't happen very often. smile

whenim64 Sun 22-Jul-12 20:08:41

I did Jane. Only just noticed this or I would have commented earlier. Thank you smile

Anagram Sun 22-Jul-12 20:08:55

Oh, snap Bags!

Bags Sun 22-Jul-12 20:09:37

gj smile, and I don't suppose mine have even noticed.

JessM Sun 22-Jul-12 21:07:46

Tru jane a rare event - normal group dynamics have now been resumed.

Butternut Sun 22-Jul-12 21:16:28

jane I'll second Jess - and welcome - smile

jeni Sun 22-Jul-12 21:25:51

Wellcomesmile my Internet is playing up and I can only get on occasionally angry

whenim64 Sun 22-Jul-12 21:46:33

Welcome Jane. Looking forward to chatting more to you.

soop I wondered if I had written something ambiguous, but I can only read that I was glad to escape the PC fascists that read the worst into everything that their working colleagues would say, if they had an opportunity to agitate by claiming to be offended. Nothing about Gransnetters on there smile

nanaej Sun 22-Jul-12 21:52:42

Think there was a miscarriage of justice re the Tomlinson case. The guy was clearly walking away from the police when attacked. If that was not a policeman and a civilian with that history i really believe the outcome would have been guilty. There are some really wonderful policemen, many very ordinary ones and some idiot officers! the idiot ones need to be weeded out.

The use of kids is not offensive to me. I believe there is some minor snobbery about the use of some words.. e.g. it is not 'nice' to to say kids/ta/ bum/mum etc better to say children/thank you/ bottom/ mummy etc But more important things in life to get exorcised about..like idiot police officers!

AlisonMA Mon 23-Jul-12 10:47:37

I don't understand how anyone can get heated about the word 'kids'. Does it matter? Can't we all have our opinions without getting heated? Perleaseeeeeeeeeeeee.

janeainsworth Mon 23-Jul-12 14:14:38

Thanks all for the welcome, looking forward to more discussions.
smile

granjura Mon 23-Jul-12 14:55:47

What really upsets me is that the other policemen present, the good ones, do not come forward to give testimony against him.

Nonu Mon 23-Jul-12 17:34:52

Excuse the pun perhaps they think they"re breaking rankconfused

Greatnan Mon 23-Jul-12 18:04:32

Their life would be hell afterwards!

Bags Mon 23-Jul-12 18:17:01

Agreed. I think that explains why they don't. Sad but true.

Nonu Mon 23-Jul-12 18:17:38

OH YES

granjura Mon 23-Jul-12 18:57:01

We expect priests, doctors, judges, etc, to have the courage to 'out' bad colleagues - so why not the police?

jeni Mon 23-Jul-12 19:16:16

That's a bit naive!

whenim64 Mon 23-Jul-12 19:30:21

Anyone who keeps silent about corruption, abuse or violence needs to think about what they are colluding with by remaining silent. There is always a way for professionals to tell if the prospect of doing it openly is too daunting. We are quick to condemn harm done in the church and I struggle to see why other trusted professionals should be excused when they won't tell.

Greatnan Mon 23-Jul-12 19:31:09

I'm afraid I have bitter personal experience that not all doctors 'out' their incompetent colleagues, and so do at least another dozen women.
Whistleblowers run a grave risk of losing their jobs and their careers.

jeni Mon 23-Jul-12 19:41:10

Same with judges!

Butternut Mon 23-Jul-12 19:53:05

Good post when.
In my 'other' life as a professional, there were times when I had to break a confidence, to protect another. I made it clear that this would be done, explain how and why it would be done, and then instigate it.
A firm grounding in Ethics made it easier.
Unfortunately, the term whistle-blowing can be seen as having a negative impact upon the person 'whistling' - and as gn says - the risk of losing jobs and careers is very real.