Your stance on Police Brutality?

[EvilDarkMagicians]

I find it absolutely amazing that people here are essentially saying 'as long as you have irritated/disobeyed a police officer, they are allowed to assault you with no fear of consequence. I mean really? You understand that police officers are there to 'enforce the law' right? They can't just tell you what to do?

And the stressful job excuse? Yeah. They volunteered for a job to protect the people. If they use the power allocated to them to bully the people, I start to think maybe their goal was nothing more than a cover.

I'm sure that there are plenty of good police officers. But their superiors have got to stop covering the asses of officers who abuse their power. It's ruining the image of the police force.

The thing that makes it worse is that our U.K goverment agrees with the sort of thing.

[Augmark]

The thing with police is, they are humans, just like anyone. They have emotions, they have feelings, and they have limits. They are given a high degree of authority, that not everyone gets to experience. It looks like its all fun and games, but its not, its a tremendous amount of responsibility, and tests them everyday both mentally and physically. They have to deal with every day, the possibility that they may have to take a life, or their own lives may be taken. Police brutality is not common. There are certain idiots out there who have no respect for what these people go through to protect the whole of society. They push police beyond their limits, and they will respond with force. As much as people will call out "Police Brutality", they really need to look at both sides of the issue. Was the guy an idiot? Yes. Did the officer need to use that much force? Maybe, Maybe not....but they are trained to make those decisions, and have the ability to follow through with them. If people want to see "police brutality" end, they need to realize the consequences of their actions, and watch what they do and say to police officers.

[GetBert]

Well, of course English police are going to start getting out of hand.

You're getting anti-stab knives

and you don't have guns from what I hear

So you can't fight back when England goes into a totalitarian iron fisted Police state.


I however can...


Because I'm American like that.

Amer-I-CAN

Worked well for Rodney King

[Yootopia]

I find it absolutely amazing that people here are essentially saying 'as long as you have irritated/disobeyed a police officer, they are allowed to assault you with no fear of consequence. I mean really? You understand that police officers are there to 'enforce the law' right? They can't just tell you what to do?

And the stressful job excuse? Yeah. They volunteered for a job to protect the people. If they use the power allocated to them to bully the people, I start to think maybe their goal was nothing more than a cover.

I'm sure that there are plenty of good police officers. But their superiors have got to stop covering the asses of officers who abuse their power. It's ruining the image of the police force.

The thing that makes it worse is that our U.K goverment agrees with the sort of thing.

I'm pretty sure that nobody was impressed at all that people died due to Kettling. It's more that compared to letting people amble about causing a ruckus or have long-arse marches containing people who are Angry At The World escorted all the way by police, it's a decent way to deal with potentially problematic demonstrations.

[Jordaxia]

le-snip

WINDMILLS DO NOT WORK THAT WAY.

[Saint Clair Island]

Clearly, memos mandating that a certain number of police per year hit people undeservedly and not get punished for it have circulated already throughout the British government. We should feel sorry for the poor policemen, forced to beat up people for no reason just because the government wants to establish a brutal ironfisted dictatorship. Also, AK-47s: the best defense against police brutality.

[Yootopia]

Clearly, memos mandating that a certain number of police per year hit people undeservedly and not get punished for it have circulated already throughout the British government. We should feel sorry for the poor policemen, forced to beat up people for no reason just because the government wants to establish a brutal ironfisted dictatorship.

Wut -_-

Also, AK-47s: the best defense against police brutality.

Quite, see Saddam-era Iraq... oh no... wait...

[Praetonia]

The thing with police is, they are humans, just like anyone. They have emotions, they have feelings, and they have limits. They are given a high degree of authority, that not everyone gets to experience. It looks like its all fun and games, but its not, its a tremendous amount of responsibility, and tests them everyday both mentally and physically. They have to deal with every day, the possibility that they may have to take a life, or their own lives may be taken. Police brutality is not common. There are certain idiots out there who have no respect for what these people go through to protect the whole of society. They push police beyond their limits, and they will respond with force. As much as people will call out "Police Brutality", they really need to look at both sides of the issue. Was the guy an idiot? Yes. Did the officer need to use that much force? Maybe, Maybe not....but they are trained to make those decisions, and have the ability to follow through with them. If people want to see "police brutality" end, they need to realize the consequences of their actions, and watch what they do and say to police officers.

If you piss me off in a debate and I decide to smash your face in with a cricket bat, the Magistrates are unlikely to regard the anger and stress I felt as a valid defence, and they're even less likely to suggest that you provoke it by disagreeing with me in the debate and actually it was all your fault. I would suggest that very few crimes in fact are committed by people who are perfectly relaxed and in control of themselves. We don't apply this ridiculous standard to private citizens who commit crimes.

The difference essentially comes down to people who regard the police as mere enforcers of the law with no discretionary power or special status of their own, as they were originally intended, and those who regard them as sort of commissars or school masters whose job it is to beat the sheep back into line. The latter group can fuck off to Zimbabwe, as far as I'm concerned, because there's no place for that sort of thing in Britain.

[Eriscia]

I think, while some Police are corrupt, it is overly exaggerated. Tell me if you're job is getting shot at every day (did you know there's a gun problem in England?) and you tell someone to back off and they don't, and all you have is a friggin' night stick, you aren't gonna start beating some skulls? I mean, when it comes down to it, their life comes before their job and other people's "rights". Not saying that some cops don't just beat people up for no reason, but, a lot of times, people push it.

[New Central Europe]

Police + (legal violence - sports) =

[Saint Clair Island]

Clearly, memos mandating that a certain number of police per year hit people undeservedly and not get punished for it have circulated already throughout the British government. We should feel sorry for the poor policemen, forced to beat up people for no reason just because the government wants to establish a brutal ironfisted dictatorship.

Wut -_-

Don't make that face at me. As a Briton, it is your solemn duty to revolt against the government's assault on civil liberties by blowing it up and installing a democratic and libertarian paradise with no taxes and wherein the government's sole function is to maintain a military to conquer the world defend against attacks from the evil communists.

Also, AK-47s: the best defense against police brutality.

Quite, see Saddam-era Iraq... oh no... wait...

Nonsense. There's no Saddam anymore, is there? See, it worked.

[Augmark]

The thing with police is, they are humans, just like anyone. They have emotions, they have feelings, and they have limits. They are given a high degree of authority, that not everyone gets to experience. It looks like its all fun and games, but its not, its a tremendous amount of responsibility, and tests them everyday both mentally and physically. They have to deal with every day, the possibility that they may have to take a life, or their own lives may be taken. Police brutality is not common. There are certain idiots out there who have no respect for what these people go through to protect the whole of society. They push police beyond their limits, and they will respond with force. As much as people will call out "Police Brutality", they really need to look at both sides of the issue. Was the guy an idiot? Yes. Did the officer need to use that much force? Maybe, Maybe not....but they are trained to make those decisions, and have the ability to follow through with them. If people want to see "police brutality" end, they need to realize the consequences of their actions, and watch what they do and say to police officers.

If you piss me off in a debate and I decide to smash your face in with a cricket bat, the Magistrates are unlikely to regard the anger and stress I felt as a valid defence, and they're even less likely to suggest that you provoke it by disagreeing with me in the debate and actually it was all your fault. I would suggest that very few crimes in fact are committed by people who are perfectly relaxed and in control of themselves. We don't apply this ridiculous standard to private citizens who commit crimes.

The difference essentially comes down to people who regard the police as mere enforcers of the law with no discretionary power or special status of their own, as they were originally intended, and those who regard them as sort of commissars or school masters whose job it is to beat the sheep back into line. The latter group can fuck off to Zimbabwe, as far as I'm concerned, because there's no place for that sort of thing in Britain.

I'm sorry but your example is irrelevant. How can you compare you being angry that I beat you in a debate to..."I wonder if today is the day I have to take someones life" or.."Does the guy in this car I'm pulling over have a gun, ready to kill me?" Much higher level of stress, life and death is on the line.

[Jordaxia]

I think, while some Police are corrupt, it is overly exaggerated. Tell me if you're job is getting shot at every day (did you know there's a gun problem in England?) and you tell someone to back off and they don't, and all you have is a friggin' night stick, you aren't gonna start beating some skulls? I mean, when it comes down to it, their life comes before their job and other people's "rights". Not saying that some cops don't just beat people up for no reason, but, a lot of times, people push it.

I think if every policeman was getting shot at every day the gun problem would be somewhat more noticeable. And the answer to your question is; No, I would not start cracking skulls because in that scenario I am not a -paid government thug- I would be a police officer, and so I'd expect a degree of professionalism from myself because that's what I got ALL THAT TRAINING to exhibit. Professionalism and self restraint. Yes, police officers are humans. And they are not -more- than human, and that is exactly why they shouldn't get special exemption from the law.

[Yootopia]

I think, while some Police are corrupt, it is overly exaggerated. Tell me if you're job is getting shot at every day (did you know there's a gun problem in England?) and you tell someone to back off and they don't, and all you have is a friggin' night stick, you aren't gonna start beating some skulls? I mean, when it comes down to it, their life comes before their job and other people's "rights". Not saying that some cops don't just beat people up for no reason, but, a lot of times, people push it.

Wtf are you talking about

If anyone pulls a gun out (exceedingly rare), Firearms Officers are going to be on the scene as soon as possible. Our police don't carry guns on the beat, but that doesn't mean that we don't have people available who do.

[Cameroi]

while law enforcement personnel are only human too, and perhaps require a certain amount of leeway to do their jobs, quite simply if you allow or encourage it, you don't HAVE civilization.

[Othyl]

Police brutality is a term made up by a liberal media who wants to sensationalize relatively mundane events to sell papers. Yes, there are cops who abuse their power, but there's a lot less of those than police brutality accusations. At least in the Western world, there's an instant gratification mentality that among other things means we love money, but don't wanna work for it. Criminals are usually the lowest rungs of society with the worst economic situation, and so they'll be looking for anyway to make a quick buck. What's a quick and dirty method to get some money, file a frivolous lawsuit. But of course you'll need some sort of reason. Hey, that cop punched me the other day! That's police brutality, I'll just go file a complaint and raise a suit. Tada! Despite the fact that the plaintiff tried to punch the cop first and missed because he was in a drunken stupor and the cop, thinking he needed to respond took a swing back before swiftly detaining him, the plaintiff will claim police brutality and the media will do its thing and sensationalize the case to sell papers. All of the sudden, there's a huge problem with police brutality, with cops abusing their authority as officers of the law. Instead of seeing the real issue of stupid people abusing their right to a civil court.

So, I don't really approve of cops using excessive force, but their duties require some force in a world that wants to criminalize any force. I don't think police brutality is really as much of a problem as people think. The media just loves to blow things out of proportion.

[Yootopia]

Police brutality is a term made up by a liberal media

Dunno about that, there are some dodgy polis out there.

[Greed and Death]

It is more complicated then peaceful person got hit with a night stick OMG police brutality. Never mind he hit those protesters because he need to get them out of the way, to get at the guy throwing bottles of urine over the peaceful protesters at the police.

[Rolling squid]

It is more complicated then peaceful person got hit with a night stick OMG police brutality. Never mind he hit those protesters because he need to get them out of the way, to get at the guy throwing bottles of urine over the peaceful protesters at the police.

If that's true, and I see no video evidence of it in the second or third video, it still doesn't excuse the first video, which resulted in the death of a guy who had the audacity to be walking in front of the police.

[Grays Harbor]

They have a tough and stressful job. If they say "get back" or something and you don't expect some punishment.

This is not even a sentence.

What you are saying is that we should always defer to the government without thinking? (Not to take it to its logical extreme or anything.)

I believe what they are saying is that when you are out raising hell and the police tell you to stop, it might be a good idea to stop. "should always defer to the government without thinking" is little more than an invalid extremeism used to justify whatever protesters may do.

[Robarya]

Of course the police has to use force at times to uphold order. How is that so hard to understand? That man who died due to internal injuries was probably participating in a violent demonstration.

[Rolling squid]

They have a tough and stressful job. If they say "get back" or something and you don't expect some punishment.

This is not even a sentence.

What you are saying is that we should always defer to the government without thinking? (Not to take it to its logical extreme or anything.)

I believe what they are saying is that when you are out raising hell and the police tell you to stop, it might be a good idea to stop. "should always defer to the government without thinking" is little more than an invalid extremeism used to justify whatever protesters may do.

There's a difference between disobeying a police order and being randomly hit while walking home. Especially if you die as a result

[Megaloria]

My official position on police brutality is on my knees with my hands behind my head, so as not to be mistaken as a violent protester.

[Rolling squid]

Of course the police has to use force at times to uphold order. How is that so hard to understand? That man who died due to internal injuries was probably participating in a violent demonstration.

because walking along the sidewalk is oh so violent.

[Jordaxia]

Of course the police has to use force at times to uphold order. How is that so hard to understand? That man who died due to internal injuries was probably participating in a violent demonstration.

Wow. You really didn't watch that video, eh?