Crosswords0 min ago
Police shooting in London
29 Answers
http://www.guardian.c...-london?newsfeed=true
/// A police spokesman said "a number of knives" were found at the scene and added that officers were meeting the local community to ensure "they are aware of the facts of this incident".///
Why do the police have to explain their actions to the 'Local Community', are they scared it might set off a riot?
One report says he was brandishing a large knife or sword, and that there were a number of knives at the scene.
/// A police spokesman said "a number of knives" were found at the scene and added that officers were meeting the local community to ensure "they are aware of the facts of this incident".///
Why do the police have to explain their actions to the 'Local Community', are they scared it might set off a riot?
One report says he was brandishing a large knife or sword, and that there were a number of knives at the scene.
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There was a schoolbus crash in France over the weekend. A long way from the school in England, and the accident was not under UK Police's patch. However, a police operation has been put into effect and resources depolyed.
// West Mercia Police said it was doing all it could to support and help the families of the children and members of the staff involved. It said specially trained family liaison officers had been put in place at the school. //
Which goes to illustrate that the police has changed from its traditional role.
Do we have our fingers crossed that the shot car thief is black?
// West Mercia Police said it was doing all it could to support and help the families of the children and members of the staff involved. It said specially trained family liaison officers had been put in place at the school. //
Which goes to illustrate that the police has changed from its traditional role.
Do we have our fingers crossed that the shot car thief is black?
Gromit
Different set of circumstances altogether.
In your failed analogy, the bus accident took place hundreds of miles away in a foreign country, and there were children involved and a large group of anxious parents waiting at home for news of their children.
/// Do we have our fingers crossed that the shot car thief is black? ///
I do not know what you are implying by this statement, does it matter what colour skin this alleged car thief happened to have?
But seeing that he originally came from Ghana, I think we can take it that he most likely was black.
Different set of circumstances altogether.
In your failed analogy, the bus accident took place hundreds of miles away in a foreign country, and there were children involved and a large group of anxious parents waiting at home for news of their children.
/// Do we have our fingers crossed that the shot car thief is black? ///
I do not know what you are implying by this statement, does it matter what colour skin this alleged car thief happened to have?
But seeing that he originally came from Ghana, I think we can take it that he most likely was black.
"Why do the police have to explain their actions to the 'Local Community', are they scared it might set off a riot? "
Why shouldn't they? The police, as is often said, have an awful lot of responsibility and an extremely difficult task. It is extremely difficult to guarantee that the force can carry their task out without this power being abused. As it happens, accountability is a pretty good way to work against that. Nobody would say that the police job is easy but (like soldiers) they know that when they take the decision to join up. We entrust the police with a very important and powerful role in our society - it seems perfectly rational to want to check over what they're doing.
I realise this is anathema to those who love authority (including that of other people) more than they love anything else, but personally I think that's a bizarre and unsustainable attitude.
Why shouldn't they? The police, as is often said, have an awful lot of responsibility and an extremely difficult task. It is extremely difficult to guarantee that the force can carry their task out without this power being abused. As it happens, accountability is a pretty good way to work against that. Nobody would say that the police job is easy but (like soldiers) they know that when they take the decision to join up. We entrust the police with a very important and powerful role in our society - it seems perfectly rational to want to check over what they're doing.
I realise this is anathema to those who love authority (including that of other people) more than they love anything else, but personally I think that's a bizarre and unsustainable attitude.
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It's a bit naive to think that police don't know that rumours spread very quickly, that there are troublemakers who will invent stories, and that there are people in some communities who have animosity to the police. That might not 'cause a riot' , but it may further distrust of the police. It's good policing to inform the 'local community' of the facts. That's apart from telling the media and so the rest of Britain.
Should the police be locally accountable or not?
Probably best.
In the days before the last Labour government, local police forces were exactly that - local. However, the trend towards centralisation/control has meant that people no longer actualy see any '*local* officers (the whole 'bobbies on the beat' thing). We don't know our local officers and we don't know their supers.
The police often work with representatives of demoninations, whether they be the Countryside Alliance, G8 protesters or Glastonbury organisers.
...and let's not forget - dozens of black suspects have died in police custody over the past fifty years without setting off riots. Perhaps the police are just a little sensitive after the public reaction to Moat and Duggan
Probably best.
In the days before the last Labour government, local police forces were exactly that - local. However, the trend towards centralisation/control has meant that people no longer actualy see any '*local* officers (the whole 'bobbies on the beat' thing). We don't know our local officers and we don't know their supers.
The police often work with representatives of demoninations, whether they be the Countryside Alliance, G8 protesters or Glastonbury organisers.
...and let's not forget - dozens of black suspects have died in police custody over the past fifty years without setting off riots. Perhaps the police are just a little sensitive after the public reaction to Moat and Duggan
sp1814
Causal factor Number of deaths % of all deaths
Deceased’s own actions 172 63%
Deceased’s medical condition 81 29%
Another person’s actions
may have been associated 22 8%
/// The vast majority (87%) of those dying in police custody were white. Although,the proportion of detainees who died and were black exceeded the proportion of black people in the general population, this could partly be explained by their
proportionately higher number of arrests. ///
Police Research Series
Paper 26
Causal factor Number of deaths % of all deaths
Deceased’s own actions 172 63%
Deceased’s medical condition 81 29%
Another person’s actions
may have been associated 22 8%
/// The vast majority (87%) of those dying in police custody were white. Although,the proportion of detainees who died and were black exceeded the proportion of black people in the general population, this could partly be explained by their
proportionately higher number of arrests. ///
Police Research Series
Paper 26
AOG
Are there figures for the proportion (as a %) of white detainees who die in custody?
Actually - figures can be skewed dependent on why the person was arrested. You are much more likely to die in custody if you have been arrested for drink/drugs than if you've been arrested for something like shoplifting.
Are there figures for the proportion (as a %) of white detainees who die in custody?
Actually - figures can be skewed dependent on why the person was arrested. You are much more likely to die in custody if you have been arrested for drink/drugs than if you've been arrested for something like shoplifting.
My last post was badly worded.
What I meant was, "are there figures which show the % of white detainees who die in custody, compared to the % of non-white detainees who die in custody".
My guess is that the figures will be largely similar, and it would take something extraordinary and public for the public to react.
People reacted over Duggan.
People reacted over Moat.
People reacted over Tomlinson (the chap who got hit to the ground during the G20 riots).
However, these are certainly not the only deaths that have been meted out by the police (not attributing blame - just the facts). And people don't react to every death...
What I meant was, "are there figures which show the % of white detainees who die in custody, compared to the % of non-white detainees who die in custody".
My guess is that the figures will be largely similar, and it would take something extraordinary and public for the public to react.
People reacted over Duggan.
People reacted over Moat.
People reacted over Tomlinson (the chap who got hit to the ground during the G20 riots).
However, these are certainly not the only deaths that have been meted out by the police (not attributing blame - just the facts). And people don't react to every death...
