The right to peaceful protest in the UK

Burning a library- brilliant plan. Once people start to read, who knows what they might learn, who knows how much they might challenge ill- founded, unsupported rhetoric?
Always a risk, so best stop the risk at source.
Oh , and destroying a foodbank - great wheeze - that'll help recruit looters, surely ?

No protest demo is the same as any other and the police have to take decisions on the spot. I don't believe so-called 'two tier' policing is a fact. It's simply the Far Right thugs stirring. The present Far Right riots are a far cry from breakaway hot heads and a minority of violent hangers on at, for example, Gaza demos. The Left aren't immune: I recall the violent riots over student fees and the Poll Tax. Peaceful protest is fine. Violent rioters must to be suppressed using force if necessary. Shields and batons may be enough but tasers may be needed.

The library also housed a Foodbank. Real patriots eh?

Whitewavemark2

I see that the thugs are supporting the community by burning down a library.

Well that will help the children I must say.

That's going to go down well with the local community! I hope it makes clear to them, just as it did in Southport, how these actions cause division not inclusion. Not something people forget.

These thugs have no respect for bereaved families, no respect for decent communities, not respect for truth, no respect for law and order, so it is not surprising that they burn down a library.

They may read hateful lies and right wing propaganda onine, but I wonder how many of them have ever read a book?

I know the area well (Spellow Lane) and its a library I worked in several times back in the days. Not one I was ever librarian of though.

I read that library had recently been renovated and was a much needed facility in the area. Good idea ? What is the sense , can anyone tell me ?

I see that the thugs are supporting the community by burning down a library.

Well that will help the children I must say.

Police statement

Chief Constable Gavin Stephens, NPCC Chair said:

“I would like to thank all the officers and first responders involved for their bravery and unity. At times like these it is encouraging to see the way forces come together to support each other, as well as the wider public.

“All of us in public leadership or in positions of influence have a responsibility to use our platform to help bring people together. It is more important than ever for us to call out disinformation, highlight harmful practices, report and condemn criminal and work together for a better society.”

“We welcome any support which helps us to strengthen our policing capability to deal with these types of incidents. We look forward to working with government and receiving more details on the creation of a National Violent Disorder Programme and further work on tools such as Live Facial Recognition.”

Chief Constable Sir Andy Marsh, CEO at the College of Policing, said:

“My thoughts remain firmly with the families of the little girls killed in Southport and the other people who are still recovering. I cannot begin to comprehend the extent of their grief and trauma at this time.

“This violence, from thugs who are hijacking the terrible grief felt across the country, is despicable, unacceptable and will not be tolerated. The same police officers who run towards harm to protect us are now being pelted with bricks, bins and fireworks. I’m grateful to the prime minister for extending his support to my colleagues as they deal with this criminality.

“Tonight, and over the weekend, police officers will be out in large numbers to protect us and our families. The College of Policing is making sure public order commanders have the support and guidance to utilise the full extent of the law and the tactics available to us.

“I say clearly to anyone who is seeking to bring further violence to our streets that your thuggish behaviour is not acceptable and not welcome in our communities. Police are already tracking down those involved in violence and anyone else thinking of joining in should know they will face the full force of the law.”

AGAA4

Rioters have surrounded a Holiday Inn in Rotherham where immigrants may be staying. They are breaking windows and shouting "get them out". Must be very frightening.

This is appalling. What are things coming to.

Its happening in my city centre right now, thankfully the turnout has not been high, high number police, and no damage so far.

I don't think this is the right time to be attacking the police for things that happened four years ago. Many have been injured during these riots trying to keep the peace.

Rioters have surrounded a Holiday Inn in Rotherham where immigrants may be staying. They are breaking windows and shouting "get them out". Must be very frightening.

biglouis

*The police allowed all Covid rules to be broken whilst simultaneously charging two women who went for a socially distanced walk and stopped to drink coffee - in the middle of absolutely nowhere. Those women had to pay fines for sitting either end of a bench to drink their coffee, meanwhile during the BLM riots*

The police allowed a bunch of migrants to protest about the wifi and halal food at the height of the lock down too. A wonderfull example of two tier policing.

The police at the beginning of covid were applying the rules differently all over the place. the two women and the coffee incident were not too far from me.

There was no consistency even within the same police force. A few miles north this was allowed to happen. The women received an apology and sensible guidelines drawn up after many complaints from the public at this extreme.

since you give no references to your second example I cant comment on hearsay, if you want to make a serious political point please give a reference.

GrannyGravy13

It must be fairly simple to track down the agitators/leaders even if they are mainly online.

They know Stephen Yaxley-Lennon (Robinson) is in Spain, we have an excellent cyber security team in the U.K. who should be able to locate the leaders

The PM really needs to read the room there are many disenfranchised citizens in the U.K., not all are rioting and/or looting.

They are looking and observing though, and maybe marching on our streets any day now…

You’d think.

But it isn’t that simple. And don’t forget to add Putin and algorithms into the mix.

We can of course trace those trouble makers in the U.K. but it isn’t that simple. and they are by no means all in the U.K.

There is a good argument to de-platform these people.

The echo chamber encourages people to think that “everyone” is feeling the same, but it isn’t true.

Most people in the U.K. are pretty low key and slow to react, unlike say the French.

Maybe it's time for peaceful marching. So many have had enough. One of the fears of the government is public unrest and it's happening now.

It must be fairly simple to track down the agitators/leaders even if they are mainly online.

They know Stephen Yaxley-Lennon (Robinson) is in Spain, we have an excellent cyber security team in the U.K. who should be able to locate the leaders

The PM really needs to read the room there are many disenfranchised citizens in the U.K., not all are rioting and/or looting.

They are looking and observing though, and maybe marching on our streets any day now…

The police allowed all Covid rules to be broken whilst simultaneously charging two women who went for a socially distanced walk and stopped to drink coffee - in the middle of absolutely nowhere. Those women had to pay fines for sitting either end of a bench to drink their coffee, meanwhile during the BLM riots

The police allowed a bunch of migrants to protest about the wifi and halal food at the height of the lock down too. A wonderfull example of two tier policing.

I'd really really like to see it GG13 as the situation seems to be getting more inflamed and discussion in GN bitter but apart from recalling parliament I don't see a platform for viable discussion because we are facing new situations.

Until recently groups were organised and leaders out there to discuss with.

Those agitators are largely on the web.

I have come back to this thread in light of the continuing protests and riots which appear to be escalating and spreading across England and N.I.

Is it time to have a discussion with the leaders and agitators?

It's strange how people think they're the only ones entitled to an opinion, but label anything which contradicts it "unpleasant".

(As if I care!)

I'm sure we are all chipping in with our opinions though. That's all I'm doing.

Oreo

Doodledog

growstuff

I welcome the contributions from the publicity machines of various anti-social movements on this thread. I guess it all adds to the info base.

I’ve been thinking the same.

I haven’t.
In fact I think it’s an inflammatory statement to make on a thread.
Either name the posters that you think are from ‘the publicity
Machines of various anti social movements on this thread’ or ask the mods to remove it.
Just cos you don’t agree with a different viewpoint doesn’t mean you can say this about GN posters.
There’s been quite a few commenting lately about how things have changed on the site and disliking the ‘unpleasantness’ well I for one think this remark growstuff is uber unpleasant.

My tingling spider senses tell me my differing opinions could make me one, though apologies in advance if I've got that wrong. I hate to disappoint though, I'm just a regular Grandparent with a spare hour or two today who chipped in with my opinion for what it's worth.

As Im sure everyone on here does, I support the freedom to protest peacefully and abhor the violent rioting. I know the original post from GG3 didn't feel two tier policing exists (though understands why people may think that), but I do as stated in my posts. Again I have to disappoint though. I am not disenfranchised, I don't have a lack of education, I don't come from a troubled family and I'm not financially insecure. I just want everyone to be treated the same which I personally dont always feel happens for the reasons I stated previously. If anyone wants to correct me on any point I raised I certainly stand to be corrected if I got anything factually wrong (as someone has done previously so thank you for that).

Why thank you ma’am 😊

Oreo

Doodledog

growstuff

I welcome the contributions from the publicity machines of various anti-social movements on this thread. I guess it all adds to the info base.

I’ve been thinking the same.

I haven’t.
In fact I think it’s an inflammatory statement to make on a thread.
Either name the posters that you think are from ‘the publicity
Machines of various anti social movements on this thread’ or ask the mods to remove it.
Just cos you don’t agree with a different viewpoint doesn’t mean you can say this about GN posters.
There’s been quite a few commenting lately about how things have changed on the site and disliking the ‘unpleasantness’ well I for one think this remark growstuff is uber unpleasant.

As always Oreo your post nails it!