Question of priorities?

Question

I went out last night and after me and a friend left a pub(drinking orange juice as I dont drink)I saw a fracas develping between 2 copper and a lad of about 20.The cop was in the guy's face and shouting and bullyingTthe lad headbutted him and when the policemans friend joined in the ladwas actually knocking seven bells out of him to.Out came the truncheons and the van with 6 other bullies and kicked him to bits.I and my friend wanted to join in but decided not.Ive learned today the lad arrested had been asked to leave the pub because of the land lords whim,also the lad(he's actually 25)was a professional boxer!what would you have done?

Answer 1

Pubs, or bars as we call them in the States, are private property.  Therefor, if the owner or any representative of the bar requests that a patron be removed from the bar, the person should leave.  If the police are called they will also ask the person to leave as the person is trespassing if he/she refuses to leave.  In regards to your question-I would ask the person to leave.  If the person would not leave, then I would be forced to remove him/her from the property.  There is nothing wrong with a little back up, especially if the person is a professional boxer.  If the situation went down as you say, it sounds like the officer may have gotten better results if he started talking with the guy before shouting.

Answer 2

I have seen things like this too - about 5 underage kids just standing outside a pub (so not drinking) and about 13 full grown officers had turned up !!

Answer 3

The landlord of any pub has the right to refuse entry (or ask people to leave) for any reason.  That's the rules.  If this lad has been asked to leave he should've done so in an orderly manner instead of kicking off.   Then, he wouldn't be in this mess and you were right to stay well out of it.

I'm sure the coppers wouldn't have kicked him to bits if he hadn't initiated this violent epsiode....

Answer 4

Wouldn't get involved unless I knew the whole story or if it was a mate.

Answer 5

Its hard to say exactly what I as an officer would have done as I don't know the full circumstances of the incident.  With respect, you don't either.

Too often members of the public get involved when Police use force on an individual and say that the officers are being excessive.  I'm not saying that is the case in this instance but without having witnessed it, I wouldn't be able to say for sure if the officers were being excessive or not.  

I and a group of colleagues were accused of excessive force recently for just pulling a man to the floor and restraining him.  No batons (truncheons), pepper spray, punches or kicks were used but this was still deemed excessive by some.

Its easy to comment on whats seen at the end of an incident without knowing the people involved, what may have been said, etc etc and the full circumstances.  For all you know, the male arrested may have said he was going to kill the officer he headbutted and said he had a gun to do so.

As for the landlord wanting this male out of his pub, this is something that is at the discretion of the landlord and the Police are duty bound to assist with lawful ejections from pubs if required.

Answer 6

I CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.

Answer 7

Never get involved in a police matter. You will most likely go to jail. Never strike an officer. You will definitely go to jail.

Answer 8

It's funny really how the same people always seem to witness this sort of situation.

I think your a bit of a genuine Walter Mitty.

Answer 9

I'd have assisted the officers, then ask them what time warp they came through, as the UK police haven't used truncheons since 1995.

Answer 10

What would I have done?  I think the most important question is what the h**l did you just say ?