Chaos
Whilst Scotland was snowbound with -20 degrees temperature and its transport networks in total lockdown last week, London was burning and rioting. There were street fires outside Parliament as thousands of University students protested against the tripling of University fees. Thousands of students had been corralled (Kettled) by riot police into Whitehall and held for hours, which resulted in scenes of violent confrontation, with student and police injuries. Inside the House of Commons the Coalition were voting through a motion proposed by the Lib/Dems Industry Secretary Vince Cable MP to enact the tripling of fees.
Police
The police tactics of “kettling” demonstrators, i.e. herding them into a closed street and holding them for hours was criticised and blamed for the violence that ensued. It may be unfair to point the finger of blame wholly at police handling of the demonstration but there can be no denying the Metropolitan Police’s serious incompetence in not protecting Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall later that evening when they were attacked when trapped in the Royal car in central London on the way to the theatre. The Metropolitan Commissioner, displaying the same crisis management skills of the former beleaguered Scottish Transport Minister, shamelessly declared his support for Prince Charles’s bungling protection detectives saying he was proud they showed restraint and didn’t shoot anybody. Her Majesty was not amused.
Chaos / Police
Chaos
Whilst Scotland was snowbound with -20 degrees temperature and its transport networks in total lockdown last week, London was burning and rioting. There were street fires outside Parliament as thousands of University students protested against the tripling of University fees. Thousands of students had been corralled (Kettled) by riot police into Whitehall and held for hours, which resulted in scenes of violent confrontation, with student and police injuries. Inside the House of Commons the Coalition were voting through a motion proposed by the Lib/Dems Industry Secretary Vince Cable MP to enact the tripling of fees.
Police
The police tactics of “kettling” demonstrators, i.e. herding them into a closed street and holding them for hours was criticised and blamed for the violence that ensued. It may be unfair to point the finger of blame wholly at police handling of the demonstration but there can be no denying the Metropolitan Police’s serious incompetence in not protecting Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall later that evening when they were attacked when trapped in the Royal car in central London on the way to the theatre. The Metropolitan Commissioner, displaying the same crisis management skills of the former beleaguered Scottish Transport Minister, shamelessly declared his support for Prince Charles’s bungling protection detectives saying he was proud they showed restraint and didn’t shoot anybody. Her Majesty was not amused.