When does a police response become police brutality?

Question

For example I just turned on BBC News 24 and there saw a report about the climate protesters at a power station (in the UK). there were apparently 1000 police there. the report showed the police in riot gear forcing them back and using batons against them - admittedly, there was something very satisfying in seeing some hippies getting beaten up a bit. My g/f however said in her typically middle class way: "oh, look the police are hurting them - they don't deserve it"

thoughts?

Answer 1

A policeman's role was to protect the people he was thought of as the servant not the master of the people there used to be rights to protect us from this sort of thing. but blair took all our Rights away in just 10 year's oh well



If it's a violent protest they need to be removed but the police will do anything to get rid of protesters violent or not most often non violent!

and like i keep trying to say it's all down to the government's bad actions, if they done anything good there wouldnt be over 25 murders in london in such a short period shamfull

and any real copper reading should be fighting 4 the people not with them

Answer 2

The use of more than the minimum amount of force required to control a situation could be construed as police brutality.

Answer 3

normally after about 5 seconds

Answer 4

The footage I saw didn't seem to be Police brutality. It's about time some of these protesters got jobs.  

Answer 5

When the police come, you leave.

Answer 6

The police did the same when the miners were protesting.

Legal mob violence.

Answer 7

when they arrive

Answer 8

Police response becomes brutality when the officers use more force than is reasonably necessary to stop the actions of the violators.

In other words, it varies from incident to incident.  Not set in stone.

Answer 9

A thousand police eh!?

People I know were being burgled last week and one turned up about 4 hours after the burgler had legged it. Maybe they were busy at a protest at the time.

Answer 10

i am guessing the stupid ones in the bunch are the reason.

Answer 11

What we have to bear in mind is that these news reports only show the situation from a distance or the bits of the situation that look good for the report.  These often show one side or the other in a bad light.

Perhaps if we had the full story we could make a more informed decision about who is in the right.

Public order situations are often quite unnerving for all involved.  When faced with a crowd of people who are unpredictable, a use of force from the outset is often (but not always admittedly) the best way to stop further problems.

Having not seen the report or know the full extent of the situation, I couldn't comment accurately.  However, having been in many public order situations where a use of force was necessary, with criticism from members of the public who only see the use of force and not what made it necessary, I can have an informed opinion.

Answer 12

As JB has said police response becomes police brutality when they use more force than is necessary. In any situation within the police the amount of force you used should be lawful, justified, and proportionate to what you are dealing with.

Clearly the police are in protective clothing because experience says that often these protests can turn nasty. Once objects start getting thrown it is too late to shout "Stop whilst we get kitted up".

I haven't seen the footage so I can't really comment on what is and what isn't an appropriate use of force. what I will say though is that the camera doesn't often catch everything. It may have missed what led to the use of force and therefore sometimes the force used appears more excessive than what it actually is.  

Answer 13

dunno ,,but i like hippy bashing too

Answer 14

Well if the protesters beat themselves up then the police wouldn't have to be there.

Help the police out...........Beat yourself up.

Answer 15

It becomes so when there is a disproportionate amount of civilian injuries to the threat. The Police have never liked hippies, in most other countries they are tolerated, not in this one sad to say.

You try beating me up and I will bang you like a gong. Muppet.

Answer 16

I was supposed to be there but the imminent arrival of our baby meant I had to cancel.

I was at the DRAX protest in 2006 and the only time we had to use force was when the protesters were trying to climb up on towers and then also when they tried to get in front of Lorry's and trains. Both of these times it was to prevent them from hurting themselves.

The force is only enough to achieve our aim. Everything has to be justified and as it is all recorded by us and others we would never do anything daft as we would loose our jobs.

I'm all for protesting and that's why I like living in a democratic society but lets keep it nice and peacefull.

Answer 17

If its an illegal protest the police have a duty to remove them. They wear riot gear for their protection. the use of baton is approved because the use of language alone does not work. They get asked to move and don't, so the police have to move up a gear.

Most of these protestors don't even have jobs or lead what most people would call a "normal life". The irony is that they are a drain on resources as well.