To be sick of the police choosing what they will try and police?

[User133847]

Covidiots given license to do what they want today, protesting against a virus in London (that'll show it). Police done nothing to stop it, despite no social distancing and allowed the crowds to gather.

Two women on a park bench and they can't get over quick enough to fine them. And obviously the vigil last week.

Strength in numbers seems to be the maxim.

You're sick of it? How does it affect you?

The “covidiots” are not protesting about a virus.
They are protesting about lockdown restrictions and the loss of the human right of peaceful protest

Words I'll die happy never to hear again: 1) Covidiots 2) Lockdown 3) Selfish.

The right to protest should never be done away with.

@LimaFoxtrotCharlie

The “covidiots” are not protesting about a virus. They are protesting about lockdown restrictions and the loss of the human right of peaceful protest

Whatever they're protesting about the police should be doing something to stop people gathering in crowds during a pandemic.

I'm assuming they weren't mostly women

@LimaFoxtrotCharlie

The “covidiots” are not protesting about a virus. They are protesting about lockdown restrictions and the loss of the human right of peaceful protest

There's a clear roadmap out of lockdown for us over the next few weeks. Protesting at this point if pointless.

It's a lot of bored people who want to get out the house for a bit on a Saturday afternoon and mingle in crowds.

i'm assuming they weren't mostly women

Low-hanging fruit as usual.

Sorry, I am utterly confused about what your problem is. Since you refer to them as covidiots, I must assume that you are opposed to the right to protest based on Covid regulations. Are you then complaining that the police should wade in and arrest them (and I seem to be reading that there have been arrests and seeing pictures of such arrests), or that they shouldn't have arrested the other law breakers because being women makes them special and allowed to protest?

You can't have it both ways. I happen to believe that the right to protest has to be protected, but whichever side of the debate one is on, you have to be consistent. So were the women on Clapham Common covidiots breaking the law? If todays protesters are, then so were they.

It's always been like this ime.

Are you then complaining that the police should wade in and arrest them

These things should be stopped at source. Don't allow crowds to gather in one place.

So were the women on Clapham Common covidiots breaking the law? If todays protesters are, then so were they.

Yes, if they weren't social distancing.

I agree the rules should be consistently enforced, but that's the point of the thread. Tell that to the police.

I support the right to protest even during the pandemic (as long as it's outside in a spacious area of course).

I support the lockdown protests going ahead (even thought I don't agree with them) but it does beg the question why the police were so heavy handed last week?

Last week:

Dame Cressida said she agreed on the need for a "sober review" and defended how officers responded to the "really big crowd"
"Quite rightly, as far as I can see, my team felt that this is now an unlawful gathering which poses a considerable risk to people's health," she said.

To be fair the police probably don’t want to catch anything from those dumb idiots ‘protesting’.

They're not protesting over the virus, they're protesting over the restrictions.

My husband has not long returned from a trip in the U.S (work and non public flight), he said it was like there was no virus whilst out there, no restrictions, no masks, bars/restaurants etc open(Florida).

People are losing their homes, jobs, established businesses, children suffering, depression, MH....for a virus with low infection rate.

Its easy if you're not affected by it to condone those protesting but for those facing the possibility of losing everything....

To be fair the police probably don’t want to catch anything from those dumb idiots ‘protesting’.

Would be more accurate.

They're not protesting over the virus, they're protesting over the restrictions.

Restrictions that start to end from next week. Where were they in January and February, if they're against restrictions and lockdown? Weird timing.

It's just an excuse to fuck about in crowds, restless for the pubs to reopen.

The police have lost my support since they have been hauling women in to question them about the supposed "hate crime" of suggesting that biological sex is real and important.

I don't mind what they do, as long as they do it consistently. Allowing one large group of protestors and not another isn't what I would call consistent.

The people you should be blaming is the government. For having vague Covid restrictions, for expecting the police to fine small amounts instead of people having their day in court and proper justice, for allowing court backlogs (no reason for this at all just lack of will) and for cutting back on police numbers.

Boris Johnson and Priti Patel will be delighted if the police are blamed not them.

The police get told one week to clamp down and the next week to go softly. I feel very sorry for the many good officers trying to police on the streets with conflicting demands and orders from above and the possibility of getting in trouble whatever you do. Armchair critics should spend a day and night on the streets in London dealing and in particular policing a public protest before criticising. In fact it should be obligatory especially if you want to stand for any public office or be a journalist with an opinion

@sashagabadon

The police get told one week to clamp down and the next week to go softly. I feel very sorry for the many good officers trying to police on the streets with conflicting demands and orders from above and the possibility of getting in trouble whatever you do. Armchair critics should spend a day and night on the streets in London dealing and in particular policing a public protest before criticising. In fact it should be obligatory especially if you want to stand for any public office or be a journalist with an opinion

👏🏻

I'm sick of violent and selfish protesters breaking the law, putting everyone at risk and hijacking any problem to push their agenda (and then on top of that, blaming the police)

What is your definition of a "covidiot" OP?

My husband has not long returned from a trip in the U.S

They have their problems too. Maybe we should focus on the UK for once?

Whatever they're protesting about the police should be doing something to stop people gathering in crowds during a pandemic

Maybe people should engage their brain and not protest during a pandemic in the first place?