Protesting the Police Federation

[RobJessel]

Hi all,

One of the members suggested that I start a new thread, so apologies for re-posting the same content. However...

I'm helping to put together a demonstration at the Police Federation's annual conference in Birmingham in May this year to protest various police forces' harassment of (mostly) women for exercising free speech.

Very happy to say that there has already been significant interest from established feminist campaigning organisations and well-known gender critical campaigners, among others.

Would love it if anyone on Mumsnet was interested in taking part. The idea is for the protest to be friendly, fun and inclusive (especially of serving police officers, who would be fantastic allies on this particular battle). But, of course, with a very serious message. The idea is not just to shout and sing, but also to seek engagement with police chiefs.

Here is a link to the proposed demonstration's Facebook page: www.facebook.com/events/473621493171714/

I can understand why people may not wish to disclose publicly that they're interested in attending, and I had originally made a private group. Problem was that people found it difficult to find the event on Facebook.

Open to any and all suggestions for how we can make a success of something that I feel very strongly about: protecting free speech and ensuring that police resources are not squandered on criminalising septuagenarians for wrongthink.

Twitter's a good place to get hold of me. If you'd like to remain anonymous to others, just DM me - I will never, ever disclose anyone's participation without their permission.

Thanks for your time!

R

Hi Rob
I'm a GC copper with several privately GC feminist colleagues - the vast majority of coppers are old fashioned dinosaurs who aren't in any way 'GC' but just not woke...

The problem with asking GC coppers to attend is we are terrified of being outed and/or attacked.
I run a fairly well known GC twitter account (we follow each other) and have never mentioned my role in case the TRAs go after me and doxx me. I believe I would lose my job (or at best I'd keep my job but my name would be mud and I would never progress or move to a sought after role in the future).

One of my inspectors is a TW and I have spoken to colleagues about awful behaviour we have seen and heard of, and it is all brushed under the carpet for her when it really wouldn't be for other officers. There is a grip of fear surrounding trans issues and front line officers imo don't want to be caught out.

So, there's no way I or my GC friends (who have attended WPUK meetings but just wouldn't attend a protest at a police event) would out ourselves at something like this.

I have used an anonymous email account to contact the women's association and had a concerning email back from the staff officer (PA) of the women who just delivered that Mermaids training. It had obviously been fowarded on to her from BAWP as she is the lead for LGBT issues
She gave me the TWAW line and asked to speak to me. No fucking way I'm calling her - although I did consider buying a SIM just to use and throw... this is the level of fear and paranoia I'm at and most of my GC colleagues are too scared to voice our concerns publicly.

Don't know what the way forward is.
Everyone knows it's bonkers but frontline officers don't know what we can do to safely protest and keep our reputations/jobs.

Sorry for sounding defeatist/alarmist.

I think it's great to target the police with a campaign.

But wonder if you're aware that the Police Federation only represents constables, sergeants, inspectors and chief inspectors, who generally aren't involved in policy (though inspectors and chief inspectors will do the hands-on day-to-day management and supervision of the officers that have been calling, visiting etc. GC twitterers).

Police Chiefs are rmembers of the National Police Cheifs Council (www.npcc.police.uk).

I'm in. It's great idea. Are FPFW or WPUK signed up? Maybe WPUK might do it via the way we attend their meetings.That way personal details can stay private?

Don'tbuy it's exactly the same for teachers. So many people have concerns, concerns about doing the best thing for gender non conforming kids. Concerns about women's rights... but everyone is too scared to voice them.

An excellent idea. And completely agree about the fear for women in challenging this toxic ideology.
It really is down to politicians to start taking the lead - but they are apparently as fearful of the trans bullies and bigots as the rest of us are. Just shows how 'successful' male bullying and intimidation can be.

Excellent points all. I'll try to address them inline:

@Cashmere, that was an incredibly depressing post. I suspected it was bad, but that's really shone a light onto how far there is to go. I fully understand what you say about losing your job and any promotion prospects. It's tragic.

@BoomBoom, yes, that's a good point. My thought was that it's the next big event, and it does get media coverage (and Home Secretary usually attends, don't they?). It could still work if the focus is right. But to go back to Cashmere's point, it might be weird for non-police people to protest against the rank and file. Perhaps we should look at other high-profile events? The APCC & NPCC conference is in the autumn, but that's a long time to wait (but also a long time in which to organise).

@Jeaux, not officially, no - but members have expressed interest. Really trying to keep things confidential, and would rather err on the side of caution, but people you know who are high profile and have made waves for their protests have expressed interest. There will be an update in about a week's time on this. If you'd like to spread the word through the appropriate channels, that would be great.

I think we all agree that something must be done, and soon. I'm more of a listener than a leader, but I am willing to do all I can to help galvanise people to make a stand against something that matters to everyone.

Hi Rob

I know you aren't aware of this, when you @ people, it sends an email to the account immediately after the @ symbol. If there are users called Cashmere, Boomboom and Jeaux, they are probably very confused!

I wondered if it would be worth contacting someone like Inspector Gadget, although I suspect his reply may well be the same as Cashmere's.

I’ll probably come on the basis of its nearby, so long as it isn’t hijacked by troublemakers as so many protests are.

Rob I echo what cashmere has said. You will struggle to get any serving officer to publicly talk about their gc beliefs. It is the acpo ranks you need to target because they are the ones making the policies. Also consider that there are trans officers. As a woman you have the right to be searched by a woman police officer. Currently that Cold be a trans woman abd they can use force to do so. Consider also the women officers who can and are ordered to search trans woman. Genitals and all.

Incredible- again it’s top down enforced, and enforced hard.

There's another avenue to explore.

Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary is asking the public about its next inspection round. Are there emerging problems that need looking at? Do the problems affect the public's view of the legitmacy of the police?

It would do us all a favour if people could respond and highlight the impact of numerous incidents of police bias, partiality and ignorance.
Has anyone kept a log?

www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmicfrs/publications/hmicfrs-2019-20-inspection-programme-and-framework-for-consultation/

One of my inspectors is a TW

One of my concerns is about the LGBT network within the police service. It is a powerful Interest Group within Forces, in the National Police Chief Council, the Superintendent's Association and the Police Federation.

A disorganised gender critical wave will have great difficulty making a difference while LGBT officers act as gatekeepers, trainers, resource providers and advisers.

Untl such time as there is some honest discussion around the Trans umbrella, the attraction of 'uniformed' careers (policing, the military) to cross-dressers and autogynephiles, and so on, the police will (officially) continue to believe the 'born in the wrong body' thing.

That's why we need protests like this one (good luck!) as well as pressure on the Home Office, the Police Minister Nick Hurd, HMInspector of Constabulary (see above) and the Justice Ministry.

I wonder if there have been situations yet where female police officers or suspects have been forced into contact with lady penis because of trans directives from senior officer.

Those stories getting into the press would put tremendous pressure on the police to engage brains. A bit like the recent "thought police" stories seem to be triggering apologies from the police now.

Of course, if it never happens then there's no story to tell. I've not seen anyone saying it has happened to them.

Towel, female officers have been ordered to search trans women. There is in fact one trans woman who has been visibly sexually aroused by the woman police officer being compelled to search their genitals. You will never get a police officer to put their head above the parapet about this. It would be career suicide. Raising these concerns would probably cause the officer to be investigated.

pam that is a really good idea. Should there be a thread just on the hmic point? I would have thought that the way in which police are being used to crack down on feminists is definitely an emerging issue.