Soldiers for security at Boat Race - who the hell authorised that!!!?

[florasecretan]

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-21975466

AIBU to think that if you need feckin' soldiers to police a bloody boat race, there's something seriously bloody wrong.

What on earth is going on - it's Trenton bloody Oldfield not friggin' Rambo!

How can anyone think a boat race justifies soldiers on the public streets of England - I'm stunned.

What's wrong with the Police - have they given up all authority, all pretence of being able to maintain order - is this the Riots again?

Still, the tone of the BBC report suggests it's just some matey lads getting on with the job together kind of thing - not a threat to democracy - so that's all right then.

Time for the universities to re-think whether this is in fact a good PR exercise after all.

[HeySoulSister]

I did laugh at your horror of 'soldiers on the public streets of England'

[JaquelineHyde]

Maybe just maybe if that utter prick hasn't jumped into the river last year this would never have to happen.

Maybe the police are that short staffed at the moment that they needed some extra support from soldiers on training in the UK.

Maybe your op is blowing this out of all proportion!

Maybe you should blame the utter irresponsible cunts like Trenton Oldfield that force the hand of the authorities, instead of blaming the police's loss of authority and a threat to democracy!

[HeySoulSister]

It clearly says 200 met officers are patrolling... The marines are to be in boats!! ( not patrolling the streets if England after all lol)

Presumably the police have intelligence regarding protests? Presumably the marines are there to get any protesters out of the water... As the police won't be jumping in!

[TheNebulousBoojum]

I think your view of what a soldier's role is needs examining.
It's not armed lockdown, it's keeping the peace.
When the firefighters went on strike and the squaddies rolled out the Green Goddesses, did you feel the same way?
When a child is lost and they turn out to search the moors alongside police, did you see that as threatening?

[HollyBerryBush]

Since when have Marines been soldiers?

[MissAnnersley]

The marines are going to be in boats, not on the streets, as a support to the police. I don't see the problem.

[TheNebulousBoojum]

RM come under the umbrella of army IIRC, rather than navy.

[quoteunquote]

Maybe they have had a tip off,

Well if a terrorist wanted to cause the maximum amount of outrage, targeting the middle classes in their leisure space would achieve quite a lot.

[CogitoErgoSometimes]

YABU.... the serving personnel that helped out with security at the Olympics were brilliant.

[HeySoulSister]

Lol that op is so funny... All the !!!!! Over a few men in uniforms

[Roseformeplease]

Marines are navy and, as such, are the ideal people to sit in a boat on a freezing cold day, ready to take a well aimed shot at any nutters swimming by.

[HollyBerryBush]

TBH I'd rather they were pottering about on the Thames than having their heads blown off in Helmund.


Because I feel like being pedantic this morning:

www.royalnavy.mod.uk/The-Fleet/The-Royal-Marines

The Royal Marine Corps (RM) is the marine corps and amphibious infantry of the United Kingdom and forms part of the Naval Service

[marriedinwhiteagain]

Because the Thames is actually quite a dangerous waterway with many craft using it and many people living along side it. The incident last year could have ended in tragedy both for Trenton Oldfield and for some of the rowers; some of whom represent this country in the national and international events as well as for one well publicised event.

The marines I imagine are far better versed in waterways than the Met and if you hadn't noticed the boat race falls on Easter Sunday this year and it possible that some of the usual river personnel who would bolster support may not have wished to work on Easter Sunday.

[Timeforabiscuit]

TBH it's going to be happening more and more with the coming cuts, i'd rather a police officer was responding to a Domestic Violence incident with armed forces supplementing in these sorts of duties

The only thing i'd really hate is if they were armed or intimidating in anyway (lots of body armor, helmets etc).

[AuntieStella]

Appropriately qualified matelots patrol major aquatic event that has recent history of disruption from crowd - Shock Horror!

(Since when has the Thames been a street BTW?)

[HollyBerryBush]

And what are the River Police doing this morning then?

[kungfupannda]

The marines kick about on the Thames a fair bit - it's not exactly a new thing.

And the Boat Race is a massive potential target. There's always been high security. Trenton Oldfield just highlighted the fact that it's fairly easy for someone to do something on Boat Race day.

It doesn't matter what you think of the race itself - it exists and needs to be policed. People enjoy going to it and watching it. It's an established, extremely long-running tradition, like many others which also attract security costs. Football matches. The Olympics. Festivals.

People just like to find something to have a pop at where the Boat Race is concerned, because there are all sorts of debates re: class, elitism, relevance, money etc. But as long as it exists, people participating and going to watch need to be kept as safe as possible.

[EmmelineGoulden]

YANBU OP.

The boat race is an annual event that was the scene of an annoying but otherwise fairly insignificant protest that did not threaten the general public in anyway. If we don't have the police power to properly cover it then we really need to be rethinking the event or our policing resources.

The armed forces on our streets policing us should only happen in extreme circumstances. It's very worrying, and should be worrying for the forces too . It's not the role they train sign up or for - to be pointing their guns at their own citizens.

The only thing that would make it seem reasonable to me would be if they have identified a credible terrorist threat. To be fair, it's probably unreasonble to expect that sort of info to be made public. But it also seems unlikely. It's the boat race, not the FA cup.

[EmmelineGoulden]

...It's not the role they train or sign up for...

Sorry for the garble.

[AuntieStella]

They will BTW have been called in By the police, who will have made a formal request to their Minister to an MoD Minister.

The river police will be working, and glad they have the reinforcements they wanted.

[JaquelineHyde]

Emmeline It's not the role they train sign up or for - to be pointing their guns at their own citizens.

Really I thought they should be pointing their guns at anyone who is considered to be a threat, citizen or not. Have you heard of home grown terrorists? What a ridiculous comment and in no way related to Marines being on the river during the boat race.

If the police need help and it is sanctioned then they should get it. What a load of utter fake outrage at something so minor.

Oh and the boat race is as world famous as the FA cup, so why do you assume the marines/army would be ok there but not at the boat race?

[HeySoulSister]

holly doubt the river police are more than a few boats in total.... Rest of the Thames will still need to be policed!

[BaresarkBunny]