Read on Twitter
"I will make something up...who are they going to believe, me or you?"
A thread about the @LancsPolice incident
1.
A thread about the @LancsPolice incident
1.
Watch this video - watch it again if you have already
Watch it a few times
Take in from it as much as you can
2. https://twitter.com/StevieeeWx/status/1251434819659206662
Watch it a few times
Take in from it as much as you can
2. https://twitter.com/StevieeeWx/status/1251434819659206662
When this footage first emerged, it prompted outrage
But it also prompted questions
Was it authentic?
Was it accurate and complete?
Was it recent?
After all it is 2020, and video and audio can easily be faked - and long past incidents passed off as recent
3.
But it also prompted questions
Was it authentic?
Was it accurate and complete?
Was it recent?
After all it is 2020, and video and audio can easily be faked - and long past incidents passed off as recent
3.
And the response of some of those on police twitter followed the usual trajectory:
(a) it was fake
(b) it was inaccurate and incomplete
(c) what was so bad about it?
(d) if bad, it is unrepresentative
(e) if representative, you just don't understand the challenges
etc etc
4.
(a) it was fake
(b) it was inaccurate and incomplete
(c) what was so bad about it?
(d) if bad, it is unrepresentative
(e) if representative, you just don't understand the challenges
etc etc
4.
Fortunately, and to the credit of @LancsPolice, those more senior took a more serious and appropriate view
See here
https://twitter.com/LancsPolice/status/1251431132090032129
5.
See here
https://twitter.com/LancsPolice/status/1251431132090032129
5.
And here
@LancsPolice they had a problem - a serious problem - and it was right for them to deal with openly and prominently
https://twitter.com/LancsPolice/status/1251431355663220736
6.
@LancsPolice they had a problem - a serious problem - and it was right for them to deal with openly and prominently
https://twitter.com/LancsPolice/status/1251431355663220736
6.
And while these two @LancsPolice tweets were careful not to admit any facts ("clear from the footage"), they were not evasive nor formulaic
They gave the reassuring impression that @LancsPolice knew this was a problem
7.
They gave the reassuring impression that @LancsPolice knew this was a problem
7.
One problem was that the footage would, at a stroke, destroy confidence in the police
Another problem is that every single case which that police officer has given evidence in is now open to question
8.
Another problem is that every single case which that police officer has given evidence in is now open to question
8.
And the unfortunate impression is that the problem is systemic
The officer appears to believe he can get away with this in front of colleagues - that his fellow officers will turn a blind eye
9.
The officer appears to believe he can get away with this in front of colleagues - that his fellow officers will turn a blind eye
9.
The issue about his colleagues being present is not that they did not immediately intervene - there may have been been reasons not to do that - but that their presence offered no restraint or check
10.
10.
That said - we must be careful to note what the footage does not show - there is no wrongful arrest or malicious prosecution
There is no direct evidence that the officer would have carried out the threats in reality
But
11.
There is no direct evidence that the officer would have carried out the threats in reality
But
11.
But what did happen in the footage is bad enough
To paraphrase one (over-rated) judge, the footage provides an appalling vista
It did not show directly a miscarriage of justice - but it did demonstrate the worrying real possibility of routine casual miscarriages of justice
12.
To paraphrase one (over-rated) judge, the footage provides an appalling vista
It did not show directly a miscarriage of justice - but it did demonstrate the worrying real possibility of routine casual miscarriages of justice
12.
It is not so much about the footage showing one out-of-control officer
(Though how anyone as depicted be given coercive powers is an important questions)
It was the frightening fact that he felt he get away with it, unchecked by colleagues
13.
(Though how anyone as depicted be given coercive powers is an important questions)
It was the frightening fact that he felt he get away with it, unchecked by colleagues
13.
People from the inner cities, people from BAME backgrounds, the Northern Irish, miners, football fans, protesters - all will tell of what policing can really be like, away from the cameras and privileged eyes
14.
14.
And even if you dispute and disbelieve everything those at the receiving end tell you, and some will, there is still the crucial policing fact that a lack of public confidence is a bad thing in itself
Policing civilians ultimately requires public consent
15.
Policing civilians ultimately requires public consent
15.
And that is why those senior at @LancsPolice knew they had a problem
And unlike some on police Twitter, they knew it had to be taken seriously
16.
And unlike some on police Twitter, they knew it had to be taken seriously
16.
There is now this tweet from @LancsPolice in the name of the the Chief Constable himself
https://twitter.com/LancsPolice/status/1251535259516239874
Read it carefully - he gets it
Oh, he certainly gets it
17.
https://twitter.com/LancsPolice/status/1251535259516239874
Read it carefully - he gets it
Oh, he certainly gets it
17.
No quibbling
He confirms the date, he does not dispute the authenticity of the footage, he does not play the "you do not understand" games of some on police Twitter
18.
He confirms the date, he does not dispute the authenticity of the footage, he does not play the "you do not understand" games of some on police Twitter
18.
The response from the chief constable is the best possible response - and he should be commended for it
But
But but but
19.
But
But but but
19.
The seriousness promptness and thoroughness of his response does not address the deep concern the footage prompts
The indication it gives of a systemic cultural problem
The belief of the officer he could get away with it in front of colleagues
20.
The indication it gives of a systemic cultural problem
The belief of the officer he could get away with it in front of colleagues
20.
The officer may or may not be disciplined - he, like the man he was threatening and shouting at, is entitled to due process and fair treatment
But focusing on his seeming misconduct is a mistake
There is a problem here, a wider problem than one officer even on a bad day
21.
But focusing on his seeming misconduct is a mistake
There is a problem here, a wider problem than one officer even on a bad day
21.
So now, watch the video again
This appalling vista
The implications of him feeling he can do this in front of colleagues
And if you are shocked, there are many less privileged than you who will not be shocked at all
22 & ends (for now) https://twitter.com/StevieeeWx/status/1251434819659206662
This appalling vista
The implications of him feeling he can do this in front of colleagues
And if you are shocked, there are many less privileged than you who will not be shocked at all
22 & ends (for now) https://twitter.com/StevieeeWx/status/1251434819659206662
Postscripts to this thread of responses to tweets raising general points of interest https://twitter.com/davidallengreen/status/1251585156739149826
"I will make something up...who are they going to believe, me or you?"
BREAKING
*officer now suspended*
@LancsPolice statement below
23. https://twitter.com/LancsPolice/status/1252278808713060354
BREAKING
*officer now suspended*
@LancsPolice statement below
23. https://twitter.com/LancsPolice/status/1252278808713060354
"we absolutely recognise the impact this footage has had on public confidence"
Well said,
@LancsPolice
24 (to be continued).
Well said,
@LancsPolice
24 (to be continued).
