Met Police threaten to prosecute organisers of 'Reclaim These Streets' womens' gathering

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/mar/19/priti-patel-wanted-police-stop-people-gathering-sarah-everard-vigil

twitter.com/AdamWagner1/status/1372939079969554438?s=20

I dont know why they have put terrified in inverted commas.

www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/drunken-duty-police-officer-25-23759044.amp?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sharebar&__twitter_impression=true

Off-duty police officer, 25, who attacked 'terrified' woman walking home spared jail

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NiceGerbil

Not sure if you have read the entire thread but your scenario totally misses out the overt actions by Sisters Uncut (and maybe others) to hijack the event and encourage confrontation.

This is what they alwasy do. On any occasion trying to usurp a genuine woman organised event to promote themselves is unaccaptable, and like the tactics of the SWP is why so many dont bother with protests any more.

But on this occassion was a massively insensitve and slap in the face of the intent to pay respects at a VIGIL for a murder woman, and for her family.

You dont go to a vigil with a megaphone.

You dont go to a vigil with a banner saying "Defund the Police" ie before any idea of how the even would be policed.

And yes many are shocked at the image of a woman being "manhandled". But not only is that standard police training but it is also the training used by those in mental health places, and more often than not against women.

The difference this time is that you were made aware of it because of a widely used photo (a bonus for the entryist Sister's Uncut).

So each time you get upset by that photo think of all the women you never see and will never know.

On one level it is extradonary how much individuals and the media have taken a very sexist position. Okay for police to have standard arresting techniques but not if its a woman.

No wonder so many left groups like to push women to the front in their stage managed confrontations with the police.

THREAD

twitter.com/salihughes/status/1372493073276674048?s=20

@NiceGerbil Totally agree.

Im talking about on here....on another board.

You do realise that the crowd wasn't just women?

And no tactics whatsoever were used against those who moved on when requested to do so

The Hillsborough tactics being used against the women are bloody disgusting.

Protesting and holding vigils isn't going to solve the problem

I think they made similar comments about the Suffragettes.

Not doing anything to show how strongly women feel about not feeing safe in or out of the home, isn't going to change things either.

Women's safe spaces are under enormous threat at the moment; refuges are being closed; women's single sex facilities/sports/awards are being opened to biological males to the detriment and often the physical danger of women.

We can't ignore it.

Ok I'm going to get slaughtered for this. What that man did was wrong and yes he should and most probably ho to jail for what hes done and I'm in no way shape or form sticking up for him or condoning what hes done.... when has it ever been safe for women to be walking alone at night. For many many years it hasnt been safe. There has been serial killers and serial rapists around for many many many years and yes it shouldnt be like that but it is and nowadays it's not even safe for men to be out and about late at night. And we are also in the middle if a global pandemic. Protesting and holding vigils isn't going to solve the problem.

Possibly even an attempt to interfere with the course of justice (Does this exist? I may have made it up. . . )

Meanwhile, it seems "too busy" is now acceptable when you don't want to attend court. Perpetrators of DV take note. This is how you work the system.

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/mar/16/met-deputy-too-busy-for-questions-on-spy-officers-relationship-with-woman

Scotland Yard has suggested its deputy commissioner is too busy to be cross-examined in a legal case about an undercover officer who deceived a woman into a long-term sexual relationship.

So it just shows how even within the police force women have not status.

"Life on Mars" was a documentary.

I wonder how many men have joined the police since that aired and have revived the "good old days" having seen how much better life was in the 70s ?

The interview with the woman who reported to police on clapham comment that a man had exposed himself was somehow made worse that a woman police officer initially said terrible please show us, and one of the male police officers said they were too busy with the protest.

And even if they were needed why couldn't the female police officer and possible one other have gone with the woman.

So it just shows how even within the police force women have not status.

Police Sergeant due to appear in Court on 24th March

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/mar/15/police-officer-to-appear-in-court-on-charges-of-rape-and-sexual-assault

The police know that these men escalate so why they aren't interested is...

Some escalate, some don't, some de-escalate

The nearest example of an appalling crime like this, although very different in many ways, is the crimes of Russell Williams.

He started off with voyeurism and escalated to burglary where he would steal lingerie and masturbate in women's homes through to sexual assaults and murders.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russell_Williams_(criminal)

Regarding indecent exposure - I have been very distressed to have been on the receiving end of such behaviour several times, starting when I was a little girl.

I do believe it is important, however the police are under-resourced and have to triage reports of crimes and respond to those that are more serious.

Thus I understand that they will respond to a stabbing (an almost daily occurrence) in a robust way, but that this may leave them with no resources to respond to a report of indecent exposure.

People screaming "defund the police!" is not going to help. Obviously

As with the NHS vast recources have been squandered on leadership training, training from Stonewall and other allied groups, so there are a number of issues to address

The police know that these men escalate so why they aren't interested is...

Well. I know why! But it's very annoying. Angering.

If only they took indecent exposure so seriously

I gather that there was a flasher at Clapham Common last night who was reported to the police there and they refused to do anything about him. Much easier for our cowardly boys in blue to pull peaceable girls off the bandstand than deal with a bloke actually committing a crime.

Of course we don't police by consent!

The police forces exist to protect the interests of their paymasters.

Ok I am no fan of the met due to experience but it's so obvious to me that I'm always surprised that people put so much faith in them.

I'm not sure about the being played thing.

Yes there are actors in this with their own aims.

However

The process for arranging this was adhered to and denied
Obviously women were going to gather. I mean, obviously
They said in advance they would not tolerate it
Vigils in other areas went ahead
The covid thing- there were hundreds there. What good does nicking a few of them do? And why the ones who were vocal, if it's about virus protection?
They were out in what looks like force

The police aren't stupid. They knew there would be lots of women there. They knew it was a massively sensitive situation.

They had no need to behave like that irrespective of what groups turned up.

The picture of the woman being nicked. She was still a woman and she was still arrested by a bunch of male cops and bundled off.

They didn't need to do that.

This is on the met.

They have so much form for all sorts of shit I'm surprised that they are being given excuses/ leeway etc tbh.