Breaking news is that Delroy Smellie, police officer who smacked about a peaceful protestor has been cleared of assault. Video evidence here:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/8597217.stm
The judge said that Sgt Smellie was acting in self-defence and that he had a 'mere' 7 seconds to act. Time seven seconds on your watch and see if it is enough time to decide whether to smack someone in the face and legs with a baton. It's actually a lot longer than you think.
The judge was "satisfied he honestly believed it was necessary to use force to defend himself". Apparently he feared objects in her hand were weapons. Watch the video. She opens her arms out (in a typical stance that indicates 'I have nothing to hide') fairly early on, displaying a juice carton in her hand.
He blames the woman for his behaviour. The defence claiming that "Sgt Smellie lost composure because of Ms Fisher's aggressive behaviour".
Why is this significant? Well, police already are overly vicious against members of the public who protest or even just take photos or even just walk home from work (see Ian Tomlinson). This sends a number of messages. That police can act violently and not be held accountable. That you must be a violent thug to join the police. And that rather than keep the peace, the police are there to fight down political protest.
There should be a public political and legal outcry. The right to assembly and protest should not be impinged by violence of any kind, least of all by police.
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