As more details come out it seems that the police got this seriously wrong, not necessarily the ones sent to the Common, but those who give the instructions. And yet again the buck stops at the top! It was presumably a political decision to use the heavy hand against those at the vigil. I am sure that some were abusive and possibly violent but there seems to have been no attempt to scale down the protest, only inflame it. The Chief Constable of Avon and Somerset got it right with black lives matter demos in Bristol.
There are to be 2 reviews of the proceedings. But why did they not work with organisers, as a judge recommended.
The stats on violence against women are horrifying, let’s hope that happy-clappy Johnson does not think lighting a candle will make any difference. 150000 reported rapes which is probably not even half the total, just 1.4% of prosecutions lead to convictions. So confidence in the police and also the CPS is minimal.
Are, the right wing bozos will say that men could be wrongly accused, and not guilty until proven guilty. Well, rape is a crime where the victim has been punished, and there seems to be a medieval belief in the man’s version. I think I am correct in saying that in Saudi Arabia a woman cannot bring a criminal charge unless the event was witnessed by a man, and I thought that was outrageous and despicable.
Back to the Clapham Common incident. Yes theoretically in breach of covid rules (and these need to be enforced – which they have never been round this area), but outdoor meetings have not been shown to cause the spread of the virus if social distancing is observed. I suspect however that the police incompetence will have fanned the flames of protest over this and we will see the movement for increasing safety for women increasing and possibly going worldwide.
There are now 40,000 less police now than a few years back – time to look at the structure of the police force. Rather like the barefoot doctor in some African countries, could we have local bobbies who could deal with initial complaints and minor offences.