Protests - why aren’t police wearing masks

[TingTastic]

From the footage I’ve seen, police attending the protests in London aren’t wearing masks. This is despite being elbow to elbow with their colleagues and nose to nose with protestors. Surely this is incredibly risky? Why wouldn’t they be wearing protective equipment?

[Oliversmumsarmy]

It seems there’s a macho disregard by the Police for Covid, as though they are somehow “above it” and somehow immune from catching it and passing it on to other

Sounds like the protesters as well.

No social distancing, some in masks some not.
All crammed together. And a predominately BAME crowd that suffer worse from this virus.

If BLM why is everyone there not doing social distancing and wearing proper masks.

[ChocolatelyAsFuck]

Then how come some of the police at the US Embassy protest WERE wearing masks?

I’m not saying you’re wrong, just curious why some police were wearing face masks and some police were not. Is it a personal choice, or are some police designated less essential or less high up in terms of communication so they’re allowed to wear masks?

[Derbygerbil]

They would have to have fire proof face coverings that also couldn't be used to strangle the officers I should imagine they're difficult to procure. Anything else would be a much more immediate risk than covid.

Riot police routinely have face visors though, always have done (or at least for many years).

[ChocolatelyAsFuck]

If BLM why is everyone there not doing social distancing and wearing proper masks.

Almost everyone at yesterday’s US Embassy protest was wearing a mask, and mask-wearing was being vigilantly policed by other protestors. There were at least a dozen protestors carrying huge sacks of medical masks around, actively going up to anyone not wearing a mask to offer them one.

There were also protestors giving out free medical gloves and free hand sanitiser.

Protestors have been far more vigilant about masks and hygiene than the thousands flocking to beaches, or the thousands of people who came to London yesterday to visit cafes or for just to have a nice day out.

[Derbygerbil]

Sounds like the protesters as well. No social distancing, some in masks some not. All crammed together. And a predominately BAME crowd that suffer worse from this virus. If BLM why is everyone there not doing social distancing and wearing proper masks.

Agreed, though two wrongs don’t make a right.

[feelingverylazytoday]

There was another thread about police not wearing masks. I think one of the reasons given was that they make communication with members of the public much more difficult, and communication is paramount in policing.

[Sicktaethebackyeeth]

Because they do fuck all.

[Sicktaethebackyeeth]

*The masks, not the police

[ChibiTotoro]

A visor might be more practical, but as there aren't enough of those for medical practitioners there's not going to be enough for officers too.
Face masks need to be changed as soon as they become damp, so you're going to get through a lot in one shift. They also need to be changed with clean hands and disposed of properly. Non of which is possible when policing a protest.

[Mrsjayy]

Police Scotland seem to be wearing masks they are in my street frequently and they have masks on I imagine there was a reason they didn't wear them to the demonstrations and not because they didn't want to !

[ChocolatelyAsFuck]

I imagine there was a reason they didn't wear them to the demonstrations.

They. Did. Wear. Masks. To. The. Protests.


(Honestly am I invisible?? Or are people so desperate to push their own agenda they simply ignore the facts? Some of the police at yesterday’s protest were wearing masks. Some police were not. People claiming they aren’t allowed or don’t have access to masks are clearly wrong. Because SOME OF THE POLICE WERE WEARING MASKS.)

[Oliversmumsarmy]

There were at least a dozen protestors carrying huge sacks of medical masks around, actively going up to anyone not wearing a mask to offer them one

So going up to people not wearing masks to hand them one.
I hope the masks were the proper kind as a lot of the people I have seen who are wearing masks are wearing the type that aren’t really effective especially in this close contact with people for the length of time they are there.

Dc know some people who are out in the thick of this. When they questioned them why they weren’t wearing any form of PPE or social distancing the reply was Corona Virus didn’t exist and was a government conspiracy to keep people indoors

Only time will tell if we have a spike in a few weeks.

If so we know where to look when we all get locked down again.

[Mrsjayy]

I have no agenda seriously you think from answering a question I'd trying to push an agenda I was answering the op the footage I saw they didn't have masks on I don't really give a hoot why they didn't to be fair.

[ChocolatelyAsFuck]

But I’ve stated repeatedly that some of the police were wearing masks. I have photos and videos of police wearing masks. Yet posters totally ignore me and keep repeating a statement that simply is not true. It’s very weird.

I am also curious as to why some of the police were not wearing masks, and whether there was any particular reason behind why some police were masked and others not masked, other than personal choice. And I was also worried that some of the police were not masked, when almost all the protestors were wearing masks.

I’m not saying it’s not a valid subject for debate, it is. It’s just very weird to say “actually the sky isn’t always blue, sometimes it’s grey” and still see post after post going “so anyway isn’t it weird how the sky is always blue?” Like... do you think I’m lying? If so, accuse me directly. Don’t just act like I haven’t spoken. It’s rude.

[Cam77]

It’s typical of the UK’s lackadaisical response to Covid compared to elsewhere
Pretty much. Fuck knows what Brexit is going to look like with this lot in charge. Oh hang on I do know. Numbers in bank accounts across the country will become somewhat smaller while prices in shops a bit bigger. And the likes of Rees Mogg will make a packet. And two hour queues at immigration to get into Spain, etc
Doh!

[Sicktaethebackyeeth]

@Cam77

It’s typical of the UK’s lackadaisical response to Covid compared to elsewhere
Pretty much. Fuck knows what Brexit is going to look like with this lot in charge. Oh hang on I do know. Numbers in bank accounts across the country will become somewhat smaller while prices in shops a bit bigger. And the likes of Rees Mogg will make a packet. And two hour queues at immigration to get into Spain, etc
Doh!

And all those millionaire Labour MP's will get richer and richer.....

[NotEverythingIsBlackandWhite]

"Pretty much. Fuck knows what Brexit is going to look like with this lot in charge"
What? We already exited the EU on January 31st.

[ChocolatelyAsFuck]

We’re officially in “transition period” until 31st December 2020, during which time all old EU laws and trading relationships will still remain in place. We’ve left in name only. In practical terms nothing changes until the transition period ends.