Police bosses and top cops from around the country have hit back at Liberty following a tweet they published about police use of force during the lockdown.
Responding to a tweet published by Sky News regarding the new lockdown measures, @LibertyHQ tweeted:
“First lockdown saw police use of force skyrocket, officers patrolling supermarket aisles, drones inspecting parks and homeless people fined for being outside”.
Responding to the tweet, a representative for the National Police Chiefs Council said:
“Police have played their part in the national effort against covid and have helped the public comply by explaining, encouraging and only enforcing as a last resort.
“We’ll continue with that proportionate approach as new regulations come in”.
The boss of the National Crime Agency, Lynne Owens, tweeted:
“At a time of national crisis, it’s important that accountability is informed by facts not exaggeration.
“As the country locks down again Police & other law enforcement officers will be out keeping us safe whilst putting themselves at risk – they deserve better than this”.
During the initial lockdown, assaults on emergency services & NHS personnel were primarily reported by the respective services as increasing.
The police, ambulance & fire service have all reported an increase in the number of incidents whereby their staff have been assaulted; some seriously.
Also responding to the tweet published by Liberty was former police officer and policing analyst, Graham Wettone who said:
“Stop scaremongering – they were not patrolling supermarket aisles – the suggestion was it COULD happen.
“Please qualify the use of force skyrocketing?
“The guidelines were confusing at the start – if people follow the law they are not criminalised”.
It is not clear where Liberty has obtained the data behind the accusation that police use of force during the lockdown has ‘skyrocketed’.
The Chief Constable of Staffordshire Police, Gareth Morgan, also responded to the tweet by saying:
“Poppycock, piffle & pathetic…given the events being faced & the sacrifices made this is a time for considered debate & constructive challenge, not headline-grabbing grandstanding.
“You’re better than this”.
In the last 12 months alone, there have been eight arrests for the attempted murder of police officers.
Police officers have been routinely coming under attack for enforcing the government’s COVID-19. restrictions which are intended to save lives
The CPS has said that it will ‘come down hard’ on anyone who assaults a member of the NHS or emergency services.
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Liberty is a subversive organisation that is a menace to society. They have no idea of what genuine police brutality really means. Instead, they pander to violent criminals like George Floyd and turn them into martyrs.
Criminals set the violence agenda. If they come quietly, they are dealt with quietly. If they kick off, violence is met with considerable restraint. Officers should be encouraged to use batons, gas and Taser more readily if people start playing up.
I am sick and tired of emergency workers being attacked, injured and even killed and then being told that it is part of the job. No, being used as a punchbag is not part of the job.
Mr Justice Marron ruled that swearing at an officer was not an offence because they should have heard all the naughty words before and should not be affected. I wonder how the learned judge would react if he was spoken to like that. Extremely negatively seems favourite. What he fails to appreciate is that the police is the first line of law enforcement and carry the Queen’s warrant. Call a copper a rude name and as far as I am concerned, you are calling the whole legal system and indeed Her Majesty rude names too. Sorry, not on.
Respect has been diminishing every generation to the point now where there is virtually none. The time is long overdue where some very hard lessons need to be taught about respect, the lack of it and consequences. I am not expecting everyone to love the police, but by goodness you had better respect them or else.