so, what's your alternative?
personally I think there are massive flaws, but it's still as good as it's going to get in a world where some people are happy to rob and maim and terrorise and rape and murder others.
( rachelswipe with a fork, Thu 9 Jan 2014, 15:41, 2 replies, latest was 11 years ago)

What Al said
"The better alternative is that when people die an open and thorough investigation is carried out and the police don't close ranks and lie."
( tangledupinblue hairy badge with moving eyes, Thu 9 Jan 2014, 15:42, Reply)

right
so what kind of investigation do you want to see, other than a british court case, british justice being the model justice system in many countries around the world?
( rachelswipe with a fork, Thu 9 Jan 2014, 15:44, Reply)

I'd like to see that in every case, but it isn't.
I'm not saying the situation didn't warrant the officers shooting him, they may well have done, but as soon as it happened the police lied to the press stating that he had opened fire on them first, which they knew not to be the case. But nobody got censured for that.

In the case of Ian Tomlinson it was only because a member of the public passed their evidence to a newspaper that an officer was investigated, and despite being found guilty of unlawfully killing a man, the chap was discharged.
(Bazongaloid, Thu 9 Jan 2014, 15:48, Reply)

precisely this
Lying and closing ranks.
(dozers, do fuck off ur a nob m8, Thu 9 Jan 2014, 15:49, Reply)

The alternative is to have actual accountability to those that we give huge power to
if you are a police officer you should be held to a much higher standard and there should be a truly independent investigatory body to look at any officers when there is suspicion of them being involved in the death of a member of the public.
(Bazongaloid, Thu 9 Jan 2014, 15:43, Reply)

let's not forget that they do an often dangerous job, and get paid fuck-all
who would do the job with that hanging over them as well?
( rachelswipe with a fork, Thu 9 Jan 2014, 15:44, Reply)

They get paid very fucking well
and nobody forces them to do that job.

They have so much power they ought to be held accountable.
(Bazongaloid, Thu 9 Jan 2014, 15:49, Reply)

i disagree
I don't think police or teachers or nurses get paid anywhere near enough
( rachelswipe with a fork, Thu 9 Jan 2014, 15:54, Reply)

They could be paid more, they could stop trying to steal their pensions
but they are not paid badly.
(Bazongaloid, Thu 9 Jan 2014, 15:58, Reply)

I'm all for paying public servants properly.
You should know that.
( tangledupinblue hairy badge with moving eyes, Thu 9 Jan 2014, 15:50, Reply)