Escort police knock down 80 yr old woman

[4plusthehound]

Escort police, protecting Sophie Wessex, knocked down an 80 year old woman yesterday.

Why does SW need a police escort? Motor bikes surrounding her car?

AIBU to think this is madness?

Oh come on.

Sophie Wessex?

We have no idea whether the police escort was driving aggressively, whether the lady hadn't looked properly or whether conditions etc were the cause. Arguing back and forth won't answer that unless someone was there or is investigating.

Horrible for the lady and her family, horrible for the rider, horrible for all witnesses.

So now you're privy to the details of security threats against people?

@Allthegoodnamesarechosen I really don’t hate her at all. I don’t wish her any harm. It’s just I’d rather laud people who have a talent. And who’ve become famous because of that talent.

And I see them loads because I work near Westminster and Buckingham Palace. I've never seen a problem with them. Never seen them drive dangerously and never seen them go that fast - traffic in Central London doesn't leave much room for speeding. The only time I've seen anything even slightly aggressive is when they've had to shout at cyclists and pedestrians to stop because for some reason some people will try and go around the police riders. Can't blame the riders for that.

I worked next to Buckingham Palace and saw loads of police escorts. Never saw them cause havoc ever

Take it you've never heard of Lord Mountbatten?

I mean the article I’ve just read is that she couldn’t see if traffic was coming without stepping into the road at which point she was hit and thrown 40ft feet.

The motorcade and police rider are hardly the reason she got hit, it was the black screens used for decorating for the coronation if the article is correct.

To assume your conclusions on the necessity of security arrangements are as valid as those of the security services is very odd though.

This is fari enough.

However - I am not using the this acciednt and elderly lady as an excuse to "royal bash".

I am using it to question why a police escort is needed so badly that someone was hurt.

That seems rational in the face of this accident.

Are you one of these people who sees assertiveness as aggression too?

No. But I do know that in a city, espceially the size of London you expect the unexpected when walking and driving.

So when I see a police escort I get out the way sharpish. When the dc were young that involved me getting them out of the way as they cannot react fast enough. Ditto elderly,impaired in some way, deaf, blind, and so on.

BUT - that needs to also apply for the escort drivers.

Knowing how wrong it can go in the blink of an eye we need to use them with caution.

So I question the escort for the DoE - as a high value target, getting to work on time or whatever the reason was.

And we should ask.

you know the princess royal was nearly kidnapped once

the doe and wife are working royals they have an escort ge tover it

OP it's clear you don't think much of her, but like it or not, Sophie Wessex IS a senior member of the RF. The heirarchy was made very clear last weekend. She's more senior now she's a Duchess rather than "just" Sophie Wessex.

I'm not saying that's right, but it's true.

I am not in any way berating DoE.

I do question the need for police escorts for her.

By their nature, they are dangerous in unpredictable city streets.

They need to be used with caution.

She is the King's SIL. Lots of people might not recognise her. But she is still a terrorist target.

I can see that because it is Buckingham Palace, if you see what I ean.

You have the expectation there. Same around the embassies, Downing Street etc.

It is when they are in other parts of town where the expectation is not there that the trouble ensues.

She’s not some kind of distant obscure relative, she’s the King’s sister in law and a senior working member of the royal family. I would say that it’s pretty obvious that she could be a target of terrorism/kidnapping, particularly in the current climate. I think she’s perfectly entitled to have security around her. The security agencies, who will know the risk, obviously think so too.

Do you question the need for takeaway food delivery drivers too? They seem to have knocked more people down than police outriders. Are you angry about that? People hurt because someone wanted a burger?

That was on a boat.

On a lake.

In Ireland.

People are using this story to have a dig at Sophie. It's not her fault.

I am really not having a dig a her.

She seems like a perfectly reasonable person.

Nefarious people, take note. You are only allowed to carry your activities on a boat. In a lake. In Ireland.

Everywhere else is off limits for you.

Looks like the accident occurred on a pelican crossing. How can it be a nightmare to cross - is the crossing defective or does it take too long to change?

I think we can all be grateful you are not in charge.

It was on the sea actually.

Just sayin.

And now we know you are on the wind up because nobody can possibly be this obtuse. You made light of people mentioning security concerns given the DoE is a senior member of the royal family. I pointed out what happened to a previous member of the royal family. Although please do let the security services know the RF are only ever going to be at risk if on a boat on a lake in Ireland. That will be enlightening for them.