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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

police v teenagers

63 replies

BlondieJ · 28/05/2017 07:02

m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1128118213960593&id=100002872764325

I was getting pretty annoyed reading comments on this video.
I am interested to see what the mumsnet thinks about this?

AIBU to think these kids should have just moved on like they were asked?

OP posts:
emmaluggs · 28/05/2017 07:07

I agree, the police did appear heavy handed but the filming only started part way through. I think potentially the police were using a shock and awe tactic based on numbers. There seems to be a great lack of respect towards the police, making pig noises etc. But yes they should have moved on when told to do so

PinkSquash · 28/05/2017 07:09

One person was cuffed on the floor and what I presume to be his mates were kicking off. Backup saw colleague moving someone's arm and reacted to that. The person kicking the copper on the floor detaining a person is disgraceful

Original poster
BlondieJ · 28/05/2017 08:02

I think the majority of comments I saw thought the kids deserved to be forcefully removed from the situation.

But some people really hate the police don't they?

What annoyed me so much about this is the kids in the video believing they are untouchable and that the police can't do anything to them... which I think is why those officers were a bit OTT because they need to show them that they are not above the law?

OP posts:
BillSykesDog · 28/05/2017 08:16

Looking at the comments and the statement released by Avon and Somerset Police, these poor little darlings in a massive group took part in a serious racist attack on three other teenagers including two girls which ended up with one getting a broken jaw. Given a serious, violent offence had just taken place the police were totally in the right. This wasn't just a group of kids innocently enjoying the sun in a park.

Original poster
BlondieJ · 28/05/2017 08:37

Thanks @BillSykes I didn't know what had led to this, but that makes it even clearer that these officers did the right thing!

OP posts:
MyFavouriteName · 28/05/2017 08:45

Imagine being that person trying to hold of a baying group of teens. Forget they are police officers for a minute. If you were standing there, how scary would it be? Obviously police are specially trained and have tools to deal with things like this but one or 2 pcs are not able to defend against a large group no matter how old they are. I'm horrified teenagers behave like this to anyone.

Majorgoodwinschickenbeatstrump · 28/05/2017 08:49

The police put up with some right shit... and as a result have zero respect from people who do absolutely nothing for themselves or anyone else. I'd rather they get harder to be honest, it's about time!

araiwa · 28/05/2017 08:53

i find a distinct correlation between those who hate the police and those who commit crime

Jellybean85 · 28/05/2017 08:54

Yes I also read that this followed a serious attack which left a young girl with very serious injuries. They were seriously outnumbered and I think totally justified in being agressive while waiting for back
Up. I assume they were hoping to intimidate the teenagers and wrongfoot them enough until more help arrived.
The teenagers looked awful though, despicable behaviour especially as they had attacked a child.

Original poster
BlondieJ · 28/05/2017 09:54

@araiwa I think that is a safe assumption!

OP posts:
brexitstolemyfuture · 28/05/2017 10:00

This is what I never get, people saying the comments are disgusting but when I go to read most comments are the same viewpoint as a the op Confused

Original poster
BlondieJ · 28/05/2017 10:09

Oh I've seen loads of comments saying the police were out of order and such like.
There are more to support the police I think, but just as I was reading ones that were anti police it got me thinking, and I would genuinely like to know the opinions of those who are anti what the police did there?

OP posts:
brexitstolemyfuture · 28/05/2017 10:18

Well I'd like to know more about the whole situation before juding either side, apart from the kicking that is clearly unacceptable.

Mostly comments at the teenagers like chav and pikey and the guy that posted the video looks very middle class.

PossomInAPearTree · 28/05/2017 10:22

Those teens all want arresting and charging. They should have moved when told. As for kicking police office.....words fail me.

If i was a parent of one of the kids i would be so ashamed.

AfroBrown · 28/05/2017 10:29

@araiwa - i find a distinct correlation between those who hate the police and those who commit crime

What a loaf of rubbish and very ignorant comment. Not all people who hate the police are criminals.

MyFavouriteName · 28/05/2017 10:38

Jellybean85 That is the backup. The first pc standing with them is one of the original ones. The one who comes and pushes one teen is the backup. Unfortunately there are never many officers around to help anymore. The original officer is calmly standing there as he knows if he aggravates the situation he won't stand a chance. This is the situation they face now.

BoneyBackJefferson · 28/05/2017 10:41

I always find it interesting how the videos only start a few seconds before things are shown to put the incidents in a certain light.

Only ever half a story at best.

DustyMaiden · 28/05/2017 10:47

I saw it on FB and thought the police were very unprofessional. They just made things worse. it doesn't matter what the youths were doing the police should remain in control and defuse the situation.

BillSykesDog · 28/05/2017 11:00

But situations can't always be diffused if the people involved are not willing. They were trying to diffuse the situation and it was clearly not working and the situation was escalating. When that happens the police are quite within their rights to use force and to show the teenagers that they don't tolerate what they are doing and aren't obliged to stand around nicely asking an increasingly aggressive crowd to stop it. They can in fact use force to break up that crowd. And even that didn't deter them and they started assaulting police officers rather than dispersing which shows the police were right because this was a group capable and willing to show violence to the police. Rather than calming down, the teenagers were viewing it as weakness and carte blanche to do what they wanted. I got the impression they thought they were dealing with a teacher who just had to put up with their shit. Well the police aren't teachers and they can legally use force when necessary. And in this case it was clearly necessary.

Original poster
BlondieJ · 28/05/2017 11:00

@dusty I respect your opinion and have seen a lot of the same. I just wonder about the "it doesn't matter what the youths were doing" part... what would it take in your opinion for the police to be able to use force when they (presumably) have asked/told these kids countless times to move along?

OP posts:
Original poster
BlondieJ · 28/05/2017 11:06

I don't know what has happened prior to this recording, but we can see that there is someone handcuffed... so whether these kids had something to do with a prior crime or not, why are they there standing in a line, not moving back, provoking and trying to intimidate? If this was a group of men, built like rugby players surrounding this officer would that still be ok and would people say "it doesn't matter what these blokes have done, they are being too heavy handed" or is it just because these are kids? I think we all know a kid is just as capable of pulling a knife/gun as a grown man is! Just a thought

OP posts:
DustyMaiden · 28/05/2017 11:15

I think reasonable force, not charging at someone. When the boy pointed at the officer he should have ordered him not to, not slapped his hand. Put someone in handcuffs and restrain them with minimum force needed.

MyFavouriteName · 28/05/2017 11:21

Couple of statements from the police in relation to this. I think the actions of the police were justified seeing as they knew what the group were capable of. Horrendous behaviour from the teens. Truly disgusting.

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