Week-end protests (Palestine): embarrassing waste of police resources

[summerskyblue]

Apparently there were more than 450 people arrested including a 90 year old woman and a blind man in a wheelchair...

I am not looking at this from a political angle but more from a practical one.

People struggle to be listened to and helped when trying to report crimes like theft, burglary and so on and yet officers are mobilised in large numbers to arrest a 90 year old woman and a disable man who presents zero threat to the public.

So whatever you think about the Palestine or Palestine Action I think it is fair to say that the police should stick to fighting real crime.

I think at this stage both Labour and the Met are embarrassing themselves and misjudging what people really want when it comes to law and order.

Utter nonsense

Were the people arrested attending just the anti idf rally or from the edl Tommy Robinson lot that were supposed to be protesting too?

Kier Starmer is the authoritarian that it was claimed Jeremy Corbyn would be

He's terrifying

Meanwhile, the police in london are still cutting numbers despite the labour mayor and labour govt 🙄

Absolutely ridiculous waste of resources.

I dont know. Feelings run high on this subject. I think its reasonable to believe there was a chance of trouble. Imagine if it had turned violent, we'd all be on here now asking why there wasn't a bigger police presence.

What do you want them to do send less police and let the protesters get super violent with each other causing numerous injuries which would then see hospitals full? Someone was already stabbed at one of the protests.

They arrested hundreds of people, many for just holding up signs. The policing would have cost thousands and the police are stretched enough as it is. It's a farce.

''@Oioisavaloy27 · Today 09:39

What do you want them to do send less police and let the protesters get super violent with each other causing numerous injuries which would then see hospitals full? Someone was already stabbed at one of the protests.''

London has a huge knife crime issues. People get 'super violent' on the capital's streets every day and kids end up in hospital due to knife crime with depressing regularity. Theft, like phone theft, and sexual offences are all up. That's where the police is needed.

I am also concerned that peaceful protesters are being arrested which takes up police resources and just crowds police stations with individuals who realistically are no threat to anyone.

Of course protests always need to have a degree police presence.

My point is that it has become completely disproportionate and we are making criminals of people who are just expressing their concerns.

As a taxpayer I see it as a waste of money and a poor use of police time.

I agree. Government seems to be saying "oh there's some super violent stuff they were planning but it's all secret and we won't tell you". Not persuaded. If this group really is a threat of a terrorist nature - blind and old members included - please explain why, Government.

What about the occupied areas of Gaza where Israeli thugs have stolen the homes of ordinary gazan people is that somehow acceptable Israel should leave the gazan people their home They destroyed a whole lot of olive trees in Gaza while people are starving It should be the Israeli settlers being put in prison

People like that, 90 year old and blind man, they should just take name and address and 'arrest' them later vir an online form they need to fill in themselves. Only (partly) joking.

These were pensioners. Let’s not forget Israel left babies to rot in incubators and the moral West didn’t care.