Re: What a cop out...
 

So you don't think the fact that he was a police officer influenced proceedings or outcome in any way then.

A football fan or clubber would have been treated the same way?:blink:


I like to believe the best of people but I can't see it myself.:(

Just seen the other comment about how it only got to court because it was a cop and elsewhere names would have been taken and no further action.

I'm sure plenty of people will say otherwise. With good reason. That would include my brother. On more than one occasion.:eek:

Re: What a cop out...
 

The system is far from perfect however it's preferable to that of many other places in the world. I am no stranger to odd decisions by both Judges & Juries.

I do know of occasions when cases have gone to court against a police officer when had he been a bus driver, carpenter etc it is unlikely that proceedings would have been taken. It goes with the territory...all in society are accountable...on occasion some are just more accountable than others.

As to the case in point, I say again the burden of proof was way short of that to secure a conviction given the charge preferred by the Crown however given the publicity etc it's just as well it did end up in court. Now we have an aquittal...end of!

Re: What a cop out...
 

Nah he's guilty and I don't even think he got off. His career is all but over; or at least set back a decade - that's an appropriate punishment I reckon.

Re: What a cop out...
 

Ahhhh...verdict did not go your way then? How sad, too bad never mind....Sounds like a dummy being spat ;)

As to his career...not so sure it is but a hiccup....seen more senior officers recover from worse that this in a surprisingly short time all things considered.

Time will tell....but try not to loose too much sleep over your apparent set back:)

Re: What a cop out...
 

You overstate how much I care. If you look back on my previous posts in this thread I actually said the damage done to his career was punishment enough.

Re: What a cop out...
 

My hands are up.............you now have me at your mercy.........don't hit me around the legs.......I am armed with a tasty beverage:)

Re: What a cop out...
 

Fair point Iain. However, by the very fact some of us have been/are, allows us to see the matter from the 'sharp end' so to speak and appreciate a different perspective perhaps not apparent to others. As you say, the video seemed compelling and a 'slam dunk' as they say down south, but otherwise has proved to be the case.

He was deemed to be acting in self defence and in so doing the force used was deemed appropriate. His own Force may well be looking at taking action against him (on the grounds of Political Expediency) however, I find it difficult to see how....but.as as far as the 'Rubber heels' are concerned, anything is possible....

I can but wish him the very best of luck....as I reach for an extremely tasty beverage....:cool:

Re: What a cop out...
 

My personal view is that this prosecution was doomed from the start as I feel that other interested parties appeared to have 'persuaded' the 'victim' to make the initial complaint......she appeared to be a very reluctant witness......also..... although to others the strikes to legs may appear severe...........they are a long way down the continuum of force scale......at the same end as shouting very loudly.....pushing......open palm slaps.....but a long way from non lethal options......

Re: What a cop out...
 

Thats one way of looking at it, or perhaps the daily interaction with the less saviourary elements of society has skewed your perception of what is normal acceptable behaviour and what isnt:sneaky:

Re: What a cop out...
 

That is one thing I feel with respect, you are out of order with. Having been exposed at one time or another to pretty much (but not all I am sure) all aspects of evil in society, I am in a pretty good position to judge what is acceptable and what is not....perhaps more than most....

The right of self defence...and the use of reasonable force is open to all.....including police officers. At the end of the day, as in this case, the courts are the adjudicator.

Re: What a cop out...
 

That is entirely contradictory.

Re: What a cop out...
 

Well, yes, the courts have adjucated, not a jury mind, but the courts.

My point is (in part) that due to the nature of the job and the fact they they deal with the arse end of society day in day out, police officers are perhaps more likely to think they are being threatened than the average bystander when dealing with an irate and noisy protester, and they are certainly better trained than most in applying physical means to reduce that threat at an early opportunity, regardless of how it might have played out otherwise.

I dont think that in this case that makes the police the best people to judge whether striking this woman with a metal baton was the appropriate course of action, annoying as she was. I guess we will just have to agree to disagree over what was appropriate in that case, I certainly wouldnt want to have been in either of their positions. Reading through this thread it seems that (generalisation alert) all the ex and current coppers think it was OK to beat her like that, but the majority of the rest think it was pretty out of order, so something about being a cop changes your perspective on this issue.

Re: What a cop out...
 

In your opinion...which of course you are entitled to.

Re: What a cop out...
 

No, your statement was contradictory. This isn't opinion, it's fact.

You said "I'm a better judge of normal behaviour because I deal with all kinds of bad behaviour". Feel free to clarify what you actually meant.

Re: What a cop out...
 

I meant that having seen both sides, behaviour wise...I could be a little more objective, that was all. I thought that was clear...but perhaps not clear enough....I must give my proof reader a sound thrashing...first having provided her with some orange juice to take away....