Reply to: Nicely done sir...

[darmstadt]

The guy running away was lucky there wasn't an old woman with a handbag around.

So you weren't in town shopping that day

[SueEllen]

Sounds like statistics! I wish sasguru would turn up to help.....

I am sure there are very few innocent people being harassed(except during demos). I am not going to condone it in case it becomes the thin end of the wedge.

Suppose this drug dealer had a knife or gun and the guy had been hurt as a result?

Not likely as it's the wrong part of London for guns.

And as he was too busy running away from the police he would not have time to get his knife out.

The guy running away was lucky there wasn't an old woman with a handbag around.

[NickFitz]

'Cause they are really discreet about stuff like this. After he's been sued by the drug dealer the helpful guy will be the target of everything thug in a 10 mile radius.

Given that his address is "Wellington Barracks beside Buckingham Palace", I reckon he'll be OK

[BrilloPad]

Sadly true, but mostly down to the likes of the Anarchist / Anti-Capitalist bolshie brigade who turn up specifically for a fight and a bit of casual vandalism / looting. They can usually be found at the back of the demo wearing balaclavas or hoodies and scarves and waiting for a chance to cause some trouble. This, unfortunately, leads the police to suspect anyone on the demo of being a potential troublemaker and treat them accordingly.

Not helped when reasonable demonstrations get kettled. The issue with kettles is that they boil over.....

[NickFitz]

Sadly true, but mostly down to the likes of the Anarchist / Anti-Capitalist bolshie brigade who turn up specifically for a fight and a bit of casual vandalism / looting. They can usually be found at the back of the demo wearing balaclavas or hoodies and scarves and waiting for a chance to cause some trouble. This, unfortunately, leads the police to suspect anyone on the demo of being a potential troublemaker and treat them accordingly.

As George Firsoff put it to me (about ten hours before that photo was taken, as it happens): "At a CND rally, they're always the ones ten rows back shouting at the people in front to kill a copper."

[BrilloPad]

Very true

What do you think is the ratio of innocent people being harassed by the police to innocent people not being harassed by the police?

Sounds like statistics! I wish sasguru would turn up to help.....

I am sure there are very few innocent people being harassed(except during demos). I am not going to condone it in case it becomes the thin end of the wedge.

Suppose this drug dealer had a knife or gun and the guy had been hurt as a result?

[original PM]

In general yes. But not always.

Very true

What do you think is the ratio of innocent people being harassed by the police to innocent people not being harassed by the police?

[DaveB]

Not during demos they don't.

Sadly true, but mostly down to the likes of the Anarchist / Anti-Capitalist bolshie brigade who turn up specifically for a fight and a bit of casual vandalism / looting. They can usually be found at the back of the demo wearing balaclavas or hoodies and scarves and waiting for a chance to cause some trouble. This, unfortunately, leads the police to suspect anyone on the demo of being a potential troublemaker and treat them accordingly.

[BrilloPad]

Not during demos they don't.

true.

I remember 2 f4j chaps were planning to jump on the Queen's carriage while she was off to open parliament. Their calls were intercepted. They were arrested 30 minutes beforehand and released 30 minutes afterwards. Which is fair enough.

Police announced later they have arrested 7 people. I always wondered who the other 5 totally innocent were!

[NickFitz]

Bit of a tip for the hard of thinking amongst you - in general the police leave innocent people alone.

Not during demos they don't.

[DaveB]

'Cause they are really discreet about stuff like this. After he's been sued by the drug dealer the helpful guy will be the target of everything thug in a 10 mile radius.

Not according to the current story. Publicly thanked, but not named. By the look of the CCTV he promptly did the 100 yard nonchalant dash before anyone could do or say anything.

[northernladuk]

Police in Kingston upon Thames, south-west London, have publicly named a bystander that helped them as they chased a suspected drug dealer in the town centre.

'Cause they are really discreet about stuff like this. After he's been sued by the drug dealer the helpful guy will be the target of everything thug in a 10 mile radius.

[BrilloPad]

The guy deserves a knighthood.

Bit of a tip for the hard of thinking amongst you - in general the police leave innocent people alone.

In general yes. But not always.

[SimonMac]

If you have two old bill running after someone, presumably shouting pleb stop it's safe to assume you can take them out

[original PM]

I was in central London during the protest march on the war against Iraq. Was not even aware the march was on. This chap came running past, 2 filth keeping up with him. They ran round Lincolns inn fields. My mother wanted to trip him up. I told her to mind her own business.

On demos they just randomly follow people. He was just going about his business.

People really should not interfere unless they know what is going on.

The guy deserves a knighthood.

Bit of a tip for the hard of thinking amongst you - in general the police leave innocent people alone.