Police Officer to be prosecuted over Ian Tomlinson's death

[Mr Pee]

Where exactly is this 'crime-ridden inner city hell-hole' of which you speak with such authority, Mr Pee and how long ago is it since you lived there, worked there or parked your car there?

Well, I passed through Bognor last week. That was pretty awful.

[MrGongGong]

Well, I passed through Bognor last week. That was pretty awful.

did you see these plod by any chance

http://www.societyofgentlemengamers.org/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=545&start=0&sid=250ca03764039b483dd62b2a320f0ee4

(though i'm sure you would approve of the weapons as we all know that only baddies get what they deserve !)
I was thinking about this as I got on the tube in London today at Stockwell

[scottycelt]

In spite of what scotty says about 'left-wing liberals' (whatever that may mean in his considerable pantheon of contempt).

Sort of the polar opposite of 'right-wing conservatives' (small c), amateur, and I have a most healthy and possibly even more considerable pantheon of contempt for them as well.

In fact, come to think of it, I have a considerable pantheon of contempt for just about everybody and everything except the wife (naturally), Partick Thistle, the Pope, Marilyn Monroe, Robert the Bruce, and Anton Bruckner, though not necessarily in that order ...

[Flosshilde]

Sort of the polar opposite of 'right-wing conservatives' (small c), amateur, and I have a most healthy and possibly even more considerable pantheon of contempt for them as well.

In fact, come to think of it, I have a considerable pantheon of contempt for just about everybody and everything except the wife (naturally), Partick Thistle, the Pope, Marilyn Monroe, Robert the Bruce, and Anton Bruckner, though not necessarily in that order ...

Scotty's world, & welcome to it.

[Flosshilde]

Mr Pee: And seriously, of course the Met isn't "out of control generally". That suggestion does a great disservice the many thousands of honest, trustworthy and hard-working police officers who often put their lives on the line so that we can all sleep relatively safely in our beds at night.

Flosshilde did not suggest that it was and, even if such a suggestion might do the disservice to those many thousands whom you mention, the Met is not solely populated by those individuals and you'd better get used to that fact.

To be fair to Mr Pee, my original suggestion that we could discuss whether the Met is out of control or not could imply that I believe it is, & in fact I believe that there are indications that it is. But that doesn't mean that I think every one of the thousands of police employed at the Met is out of control, & many (most?) do work conscientiously. However, there are enough cases of acting above the law, with minimal or no disciplinary action taken, to suggest that there is a culture which turns a blind eye to such things, & it needs to be rooted out. If it isn't it will fatally damage their ability to do the job they should be doing effectively & with the support of the public.