How not to treat...

[Whorty]

It's all such a BS
Government makes covid law
Women go to illegal vigil
Police enforces law
Fake outrage
Politicians condemn police for acting on the law they just created, so they have some higher ratings in the popularity polls

Clearly the law wasn't, well, clear, else the courts would have made a judgement one way or the other. The court left it to the police and the organisers to come up with a mutually agreeable compromise. The Met refused to compromise and so we are where we are today.

It was clear that large numbers were going to rock up. The Met had choices: they could have left it to the organisers and their marshalls to control (this would almost certainly have reduced the extremes taking over), or they could do what they did. All eyes were on the Met, and they acted as they always do, with incompetence.

The outrage is not fake. The outrage is primarily about how many women feel when walking around towns both day and night andthe verbal and physical intimidation many feel. Its now been exasperated by the Met acting in a way that the protest was highlighting. Surely the irony of this isn't lost on us.

[malvolio]

No, the irony was not lost. As long as it remained a vigil then the police merely watched. The absence of marshals, because the organisers had dipped out rather than risk a £10k fine when the courts took no decision, allowed some to make speeches (the content of which appears to be at odds with the vigil's aims) and the people closed up to the podium to hear them. At that point the police took action to disperse what they now saw as a dangerous crowd under the current covid law - no distancing, and often no masks. The ones who got arrested were the ones who resisted being asked to move on. It's also why other protest passed peacefully since nobody tried to turn them into rallies.

Also worth noting that the assaults on the police were by men in the crowd, not women. Go figure...

There were faults on both sides. Demonising the police gains nothing other than further weakening their ability to act in future.

[PCTNN]

You mean the Met police controlled by Cressida Dick that renowned bloke?

means nothing. women can be dickheads too.

[vetran]

means nothing. women can be dickheads too.

Yes and the woman in question is very likely to get that description. However they are unlikely to be guilty of:

Cops are just incompetent idiots filled with toxic masculinity.

I feel sorry for the Police the court should have made some sort of decision.

The problem here is the Police & justice system are rubbish at catching & prosecuting sex crimes. Victims are quite reasonably upset. The reaction is to remove the safeties and attempt to prosecute anyone accused like they did in Operation Midland.

We do also have an issue where sexist remarks & behaviour are still present despite the massive advances we have made. There is an issue though with creeping misandry which is just as ugly as misogyny.

[SueEllen]

No, the irony was not lost. As long as it remained a vigil then the police merely watched. The absence of marshals, because the organisers had dipped out rather than risk a £10k fine when the courts took no decision, allowed some to make speeches (the content of which appears to be at odds with the vigil's aims) and the people closed up to the podium to hear them. At that point the police took action to disperse what they now saw as a dangerous crowd under the current covid law - no distancing, and often no masks. The ones who got arrested were the ones who resisted being asked to move on. It's also why other protest passed peacefully since nobody tried to turn them into rallies.

Also worth noting that the assaults on the police were by men in the crowd, not women. Go figure...

There were faults on both sides. Demonising the police gains nothing other than further weakening their ability to act in future.

The police are going to get a nice bill to help them stop anyone protesting if the Tory MPs vote for it.

[Eirikur]

Will there be vigils for those who will die from Covid, caused by the people attending this mass spreading event "vigil"?

[SueEllen]

Will there be vigils for those who will die from Covid, caused by the people attending this mass spreading event "vigil"?

They are extremely unlikely to get Covid.

There are loads of articles from worthy news and scientific sources that can explain that to you if you look for them.

[Eirikur]

They are extremely unlikely to get Covid.

There are loads of articles from worthy news and scientific sources that can explain that to you if you look for them.

Using your logic the anti vaxxers/lockdown demos should also be fine

[SueEllen]

Using your logic the anti vaxxers/lockdown demos should also be fine

Yep (unfortunately.)

This is what the Tories are trying to pass through - https://www.libertyhumanrights.org.uk/issue/protest-bill-is-a-threat-to-our-rights/

The Met's screw up has now highlighted the bill.

[vetran]

The police are going to get a nice bill to help them stop anyone protesting if the Tory MPs vote for it.

yep that seems to be a carte blanche. where is a happy medium?