Friday 23 July 2010

An extremely serious issue - police beware.

The advice to charge PC over Ian Tomlinson death ignored.

Police watchdog and pathologist favoured tougher line than CPS as Tomlinson's family accuse authorities of cover-up



Every policeman should be outraged at this decision. It brings the whole police force across the country into disrepute. An essential ingredient in policing - Trust - will be severely eroded.

There has been dismay at the level of support - in the tens of thousands - given to the Raoul Moat Facebook pages which continue to pop up. This illustrates the level of anti police feeling there is in the country.

We need to feel that we can trust our police.

Police, like those of our Ulverston Police force, some of whom I know as great and caring guys, will suffer in the long run as a result of what happens over this Ian Tomlinson case.

We all need to campaign like hell to reverse this decision.

Another couple of letters to MPs are called for!

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

There is an old gypsy curse "let a man take his case to law knowing he is right"
Yes we have some super cops but as the Roman poet Juvenal said
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
JAK

Geoff Dellow said...

Which apparently means:

"Who will guard the guards themselves?"

I think that this is the point I'm making:

For their own good the police themselves need to convince the public that they are on our side.

It's in their own longterm self interest that one of their own be examined and criticised.

Closing ranks for me would be a very shortsighted option.

We have a public that will polarise even more in the future if this case is ignored.

I read in today's Guardian that:

"A former top Scotland Yard officer warned the saga risked damaging the criminal justice system."

Let's hope, that at the inquest that is coming up, that some of these decisions not to prosecute are reversed.

Anonymous said...

Yes "The show is not over till the fat lady sings"
lets hope she sings the correct tune.
JAK

Anonymous said...

From my understanding, if the guy had been charged with assault (a lesser charge than manslaughter) in the first place it would have gone through. Clearly, he did not intend to kill the man. Likely he'd had a long, tiring bad day, and let go his wrath on this poor chap (with a heart condition?) You can't charge someone with assault if you leave it over three months. (So I understand)
I would not like any of my family to be in the Police Force. They get everything thrown at them and are expected to take it. (Note recent scenes in N.I.)
I know someone who was brutally used by the police in the 1980's. So I am aware of bad apples. It is the law that needs adjusting or the right charge put forward in the first place.

Geoff Dellow said...

Thanks for your insight.

I find this very helpful and agree with you totally about people wanting to throw dirt at the police.

Sadly many people don't see them as real people with good and bad sides to their character in a very difficult job.

Never-the-less this issue needs to be brought to a sensible resolution along the lines you suggest.