AGAINST THE LAW TO BE GRUMPY?
I'm sure most of us sympathise with the 22,000 policemen who marched in London today in support of their pay-claim. Anyone who feels they've been shafted by the government is probably right, so far as I'm concerned.
But let's face it, some police officers are their own worst enemies. Take for instance the officers who arrested 73-year-old Bill Marshall of Worksop.
Bill was expecting them to investigate his complaints about being repeatedly taunted by a gang of youths. Instead he was taken to a cell and accused of attacking the teenagers. Mr.Marshall, who has a heart condition and diabetes, was left distressed and angered by the arrest (I'm sure he was. But why do the newspapers always feel compelled to dwell on people's infirmities? Do they make the injustice any worse? - GOS).
The retired miner said that he thought the police had been responding to his complaints about anti-social behaviour by some local youths. "I was quite happy to invite the officer in but then he said I was being arrested and taken to the station accused of assault," Mr Marshall said. "I thought it was a joke at first but then I realised he was perfectly serious. The officer ordered me to take the laces out my shoes as I was being arrested for common assault. I didn't know what to think. One of the yobs said I had hit him and so they took his word against mine. I might have lost my temper and shouted at them, but I did not hit anybody."
"I felt degraded spending time in that cell. I can't believe I ended up in jail at my age. I've never seen the inside of a cell before and I don't want to see it again. The police seemed to automatically assume I was guilty instead of talking to me first."
Bill had complained to police that he and his wife, Margaret, 72, had been targeted by the gang in recent months. He said "It started for us with kids ringing the doorbell. When my wife opened the door one of the boys was making really lewd gestures."
His brush with the law began a week before Christmas, when he spotted the group of teenage boys throwing bricks at the ducks as he walked along the banks of the Chesterfield Canal. He shouted at them to stop. He said he received abuse from the gang and shouted back in anger but did not touch or hit any of them.
It took the Nottinghamshire Police a full two weeks to come round to his home. When they did he assumed it was in response to his complaints, so he was shocked to be arrested and taken off to the police cells. After waiting two hours for a duty solicitor to arrive, Mr Marshall was interviewed by officers who later released him pending further inquiries.
Now police have dropped any charges and apologised.
Of course the police are duty-bound to investigate any complaint that is made to them, so when one of the youths claimed Bill had hit him, they had to act. It's hard to see, though, how their action had to take the form of an arrest.
However the police in Kent had no such excuse when they stopped an 82-year-old driver as he drove home from Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve last year, dragged him from his car, manhandled him to the ground and handcuffed him. When ex-Mayor of Gravesend Frank Gibson OBE, tried to defend himself, they charged him with assault. He was found guilty this week and has to pay almost £1,000 in costs, though to be honest I should think having to spend five hours of Christmas Day in police cells is punishment enough, especially for an innocent man.
Frank plans to appeal, although his friends doubt whether he is strong enough to see it through. He has arthritis, walks with a stick and until recently was confined to a wheelchair.
Frank Gibson OBE
When Frank saw flashing blue lights in his mirror as he drove home from midnight mass on Christmas Eve, naturally he pulled over to let the police pass. He was driving safely, listening to carols on Classic FM, and the only alcohol that had passed his lips was a drop of communion wine, so he was taken aback when it became clear it was he the police were chasing. The next thing he knew, two burly officers had dragged him out of his Rover, clapped him in handcuffs and bundled him into the back of their car.
Yesterday his misery was complete after magistrates decided it was he who was guilty of assaulting the two officers. PC Steven Cole said Mr.Gibson twisted his thumb so hard during the arrest it made him "yelp", while PC Thomas McGregor said he had been shoved in the chest.
He had been stopped on suspicion of drink-driving. But this charge was dropped after a breath test showed he had no alcohol in his blood.
PC Steven Cole. Mmm, nice … … but dim. PC Thomas McGregor
A spokesman for the CPS (Crumbly Persecution Service) said Mr.Gibson's prosecution was in the public interest as it involved two police officers going about their public duty. Well I've got news for you, Mrs.CPS - the majority of people won't agree with you.
The majority of people will think that it's not a policeman's public duty, or in the public interest, to terrorise old men.
The majority of people will think that when that old man, no doubt confused and frightened at his ordeal, reacts in an irrational manner, he should be treated with sympathy and consideration.
The majority of people will feel nothing but contempt for two young policemen who have difficulty controlling an 82-year-old invalid.
The majority of people will be shocked and dismayed that a magistrate's court could stoop to aiding and abetting this vicious official bullying.
And the majority of people will remember other things …
… the Blackburn Rovers versus Manchester City football game recently when four football badge sellers were approached by Blackburn Police and ordered to stop selling England badges as they were 'racist'.
… or Ebbw Vale painter and decorator who has been jailed for more than two years for making Nazi salutes. Or the five boys who only got two years detention for killing a father who collapsed with a heart attack after being pelted with stones and rocks. Or the clergyman arrested because he remarked in his Parish magazine about a Muslim girl wanting to wear a veil at school.
… or the father who phoned 999 when his son was knocked unconscious by a drunken thug, only to be told to write to his MP rather than bother the police because they were busy.
… or Alastair Oram from Rotherham who complained about yobs terrorising his girlfriend and got a letter back saying he should not call them "hoodie scum". His girlfriend had traffic cones hurled at her car by yobs who blocked off a road in a "no-go" area for locals, so Mr.Oram wrote "Do we take it that Thurcroft is a no-go zone, run by mob rule into which the police are afraid to venture or was it too difficult for you to deal with? What can only be described as a gang of around ten hoodie scum aged about 14 jumped out in front and behind her car with traffic cones and blocked her." Superintendent Keith Lumley of South Yorkshire Police replied "You can't go branding youths 'hoodie scum' - that doesn't give off the right impression."
… or public-spirited bus driver Paul Gibbs, who was told that two passengers were smoking crack cocaine and thought he would do the community a favour. As he stopped the number 47 bus at a police station and passengers ran in to alert officers. But, to their astonishment, police said they were too busy to investigate the crime and suggested they call 999 for assistance. Mr Gibbs waited for five minutes outside the station before reluctantly driving off.
No, Mrs.CPS, the majority of people are not impressed by your argument, or by your patronising attitude. You seem to think that you only have to make a pronouncement and everyone will roll over with their legs in the air, crying "Oh, yes, of course! Why didn't we think of that?"
And PCs Cole and McGregor? I'm afraid we don't think you deserve any pay rise at all. You are not the Messiah. You are a very naughty boy!
And please, pretty-please-with-sugar-on, please don't tell us "you were just doing your job" or "you were just following orders". Like Ken Livingstone's concentration-camp guards, we all have to take responsibility for our own actions. If your job forces you to do things you know to be wrong and silly, you should have the balls to quit and find another job. But then balls aren't exactly your strong suit, are they?
That's it. Evenin' all. Mind how you go - and be careful, there are a lot of these vicious OAPs lurking in the shadows, ready to pounce …
either on this site or on the World Wide Web.
Copyright © 2007 The GOS
This site created and maintained by PlainSite