Christmas is on the way and, like everyone else, I am looking forward to it. It also means that for two weeks we can forget about many of the things going wrong in our country – many, it has to be said, caused by the present government .which I and many others voted for all those years ago. I remember the scenes of jubilation and pleasure as a young Tony Blair appeared to bring hope as he walked into Downing Street. Well things have changed. We are now fighting a war on terror – much of it brought in on our own people by the present government.
It gets pretty serious when a former Director of Public Prosecutions and respected lawyer, Sir Ken McDonald QC, has a go at Tony Blair (reported in The Mirror, 15th December 2009) stating that the ex-PM ‘misled and cajoled’ people into supporting the ‘deadly’ invasion of Iraq because of his ‘love of power’. The Mirror continues… “Sir Ken wrote in The Times: “This was a foreign policy disgrace of epic proportions and playing footsie on Sunday morning does nothing to repair the damage. Mr Blair’s fundamental flaw was his sycophancy towards power.” [See: Guardian article re Sir Ken McDonald’s remarks ]
Well.. today was the first time the Iraq Inquiry closed the doors. It won’t be the last. Tony Blair will be asked some questions (but will not be subjected to searching, probing, combative and properly asked questions by an experienced barrister) in secret. I wouldn’t bother panic buying white emulsion from B&Q when it comes to Spring cleaning in the New Year…there will be white emulsion plenty enough, I suspect, when the Iraq Inquiry reports. Who knows? Things ain’t going too well so far and Philippe Sands QC, who said right at the outset that he could not understand why there are no lawyers on the panel, is absolutely right.
And..last night we had the news that Simon Cowell is thinking of entering the political arena.
I got the feeling that Kirsty Wark was taking the piss on Newsnight – but I am probably wrong, because I had to take strong drink to get over the shock that Cowell may now dumb down political analysis – which for most of us is a fairly important matter. I’ve nothing against Cowell. I even enjoy Britain’s Got Talent when I am completely over refreshed. (Especially if the contestant comes on with a leprous animal to get the extra sympathy and make Cowell wince.)
I have REDACTED the first word in the ‘Tweet’ above – not because I am concerned about the expletive. I redact as a tribute to our great Foreign Secretary, David Miliband, who enjoys a bit of redaction..as my post below reveals. Hopefully, the Court of Appeal will cure him of this problem on our behalf.
Take a good look at the Police Community Support Officer on the right – the ‘gobby’ one. This is a must watch film if you have the time…I do hope that he no longer has a job (in Policing) , because his behaviour , frankly, is a disgrace. He did not know what he was talking about…nor any law… – that much is clear – and if the story is reported correctly – he shouldn’t have a job working with the Police. I am grateful to a friend @Oedipus_Lex who tweeted about this story this afternoon. The story is carried by BoingBoing – usually reliable. I quote…
In this video, two British police officers come up to a young woman who is filming a building and harass her, imply that she is a terrorist, intimidate her, demand to see her footage. The policeman says that he’s harassing her for being “cocky” — punishing her for failing to cringe sufficiently. England’s police chiefs have ordered policemen to stop harassing photographers, but this officer called for backup and 7 more officers converged on the photographer. The photographer was brutally detained — she is covered in bruises — and fined but she had the presence of mind to return to the scene and interview the witnesses to the assault.
The Independent has been doing a series of pieces on this very issue and Yates of The Yard (a very senior copper) has issued instructions to the more dense of his officers that photographers should be allowed to take photographs without being harassed under the Terrorism Act.
The PCSO in the film is just a licensed little bully boy. Full marks to the young woman who filmed the exchange who stood up to him – only to get more Police attention and bruises later. Disgraceful. I am, of course, assuming that the report of her subsequent detention by the Police is accurate.
And another thing… why do Police and PCSOs wonder around with their hands tucked into their flak jackets? Are they feeling their tits up on duty? I think we should be told.
And, while we are at it…. another friend of mine @ManxStef alerted me and others to this ludicrous nonsense.
Mall security staff will get police powers in Norwich
A controversial scheme to hand police powers to civilians has been extended to include guards in one of Norwich’s main shopping centres.
Security staff at The Mall, Norwich, will have the right to issue on-the-spot fines, give lawful orders and check normally confidential police records after being accredited by Norfolk police.
The local Magistrates, not surprisingly, have written to Chief Homo Plodiens for Norfolk to express their ‘concern’. It wpould appear that all is going to be Ok. The story continues…. “Since then the chief constable has reassured us that, although this power exists, no civilian has issued a fine and he does not expect it to happen in future.”
I do understand that drunks and other undesirables – perhaps even the odd investment banker – might cause difficulty at a shopping Mall – but we do need to be careful who has fairly extensive powers. Surely? It beggars belief…and I always enjoy using this well worn and hackneyed expression.
Well… there we are… enjoy your evening… I’ll be back with another painting tomorrow….
According to the policeman I asked, they tuck their hands into their vests to keep their hands warm. Having seen their gloves (massive, cumbersome things that make them look like they’re about to enter gladiatorial combat), it may be preferable that way.
Just watched the video. What a hypocrite: he’s chewing gum on duty and has over-length hair, and yet complains, complete with swagger, of being a jobsworth.
Money quote:
“I’m an artist”
“Have you got any identification?”
Looking at one of the comments over at BoingBoing I wonder if there’s an Article 10 test case in here over s44. I’ve been on the receiving end of this sort of nonsense as well, but somehow never actually got into serious trouble. Getting stopped outside your house for happening to run home on a freezing, windy winter night when you’re not wearing a jacket has to rank among the sillier things I’ve experienced.
But this is what happens when you try to economise on training.
Can’t get over what a tw*t that CSO is. Farcical
Mark – Unfortunately there are quite a few PCSOs like him – I have met a fair number…. not one of the great ideas.
I am sure there are very nice PCSOs in rural areas – but I am not a fan of cheap policing.
We need GOOD policing and fully trained police officers … unfortunately that costs money – but I think it is money we need to spend… and Police are as accountable for their actions as everyone else – and, to be fair, there are mechanisms in place (as with other professions/vocations…call them what you will.. etc) to ensure accountability – apart from the Courts) . That is good practice…?
The totalitarian New Labour republic marches ever nearer.
so every single thing that goes wrong with this country is down to a new labour conspiracy. well as they can’t run anything else i imagine this imaginary conspiracy would be pretty ineffective. that was if it existed of course. we almost deserve the coming tory government just so we can see that governments are by their nature authoritarian and the toires are no strangers to the murder of civil liberties themselves.
record on iraq war – in favour.
record on police and police powers – more more more (unless they start accidentally arresting tories).
record on HRA – abolish.
record on civil liberties generally – please see under ‘1980s’.
minimum wage – against.
health service – cut.
arts – lefty nonsense; cut.
i say ‘almost’, because none of us deserve the coming shitefest. it will at least afford me a measure of schadenfreude when it turns out so much worse than what we have now.