In a stark contrast to mainstream media portrayals, the outpouring of public support for two former Metropolitan Police officers, Jonathan Clapham and Sam Franks, is undeniable.
These officers faced dismissal following the stop-and-search of two athletes, and a JustGiving online fundraiser created to help support their families has already collected an impressive £125,000.
Significantly, the vast majority of these contributions appear to have come from ordinary members of the public.
Readers’ comments on a mainstream media article depicting so-called ‘outrage’ underscore the extensive support these officers have garnered.
These remarks in the article comments section have attracted the most ‘upvotes’ from the article’s readers, further highlighting the support that the officers are receiving despite the obvious irritation regarding the crowdfunding campaign from some sections of the mainstream media.
A commenter named ‘Jogon’ from Gloucester advised the article’s journalist to familiarise themselves with the case’s details before penning the piece.
Another user unequivocally stated, “The public are patently not outraged as they are donating to the appeal.” Such responses illustrate a public sentiment far removed from the “outrage” portrayed by some mainstream media outlets.
Scrutinising the incident details paints a more comprehensive picture.
While the disciplinary panel accepted that other officers present could smell cannabis in the area of the stop, they strangely concluded that the dismissed officers couldn’t share the same sensory perception, a conclusion drawn three years after the event.
No cannabis was discovered on the athletes or within their vehicle, and there is no suggestion that the individuals stopped had been in contact with any cannabis.
The driver of the stopped vehicle, dos Santos, displayed questionable driving behaviour before he finally did stop. He was observed driving at an average of 32 mph in a 20 mph zone – unbeknownst to the police at the time, there was an infant in the car – and footage showed him entering a minor road from the wrong side.
This action alone contravenes Rule 160 of the Highway Code, for which offenders can be fined £100, receive three penalty points on their driving licence, and, in certain circumstances, face disqualification from driving.
Yet, dos Santos faced no repercussions for this evident violation of the Highway Code.
Allegations of racial profiling and excessive force were levied against the TSG officers, amplified repeatedly by mainstream media even before the six-week hearing concluded. Yet, the panel’s thorough investigation found no substantiated evidence to support these claims.
Amid the media storm and polarised opinions, one fact remains glaringly evident: a substantial portion of the public is rallying behind these officers, yet again challenging mainstream narratives.
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There’s something about this case that bothers me. I don’t know what, it just doesn’t sit right.
This is terrific news. I am sick of woke policing. ‘Cos I’, black……raaaaacist copper. Nonsense. The driver was travelling at over 50% above the limit and cannabis was smelt. What astonishes me is that he does not appear not have been wiped. One thing that does puzzle me is that he was allegged to have been driving a big Audi SUV, Q5 or Q7. The car in the picture is not one of those.
What must happen is that police need to respect one colour. Blue. The law must be evenly and unambiguously applied. When demonstrators vocally support proscribed terrorist organisations, they must be arrested as permitted by the law. Just imagine the reaction if anybody was to walk the streets shouting that Islam is a religion of violence, which of course it is. The riot squad would be out, there would be a ton of arrests and it would be all over the news for days.
What actually happens? The Jews are told not to peacefully demonstrate because it might inflame ethnic tensions. All with a straight face. It beggars belief.