A few days ago, I was a guest on the spiked podcast alongside Professor Ian Acheson, a former prison governor and senior advisor to the Counter Extremism Project.
Paul, I predict you will do a Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and abandon the Labour Party. In a speech he gave recently I heard him say something like... I have been asked why I abandoned the Democratic Party and my reply is I didn't; they abandoned me... and went on to explain why. Your cool-minded rational thinking would better be described as conservative (small c). That level-headed thinking is something that the Labour Party appear to have abandoned some years ago, sadly.
13m22s. Interesting point, and well made. Conversely, I have many ex and retired police friends. After the murder charge and naming I was alone in advocating toning down inflammatory postings that could only up the ante. I reminded my friends and former colleagues that the rule of law obtained in the UK, that maybe the IOPC and CPS had access to info we did not and that WE, ex-constables should simmer down. All would be revealed in the trial. If THAT showed an evidential deficit, THAT was the time to get angry, but authorised firearms officers handing in their ‘tickets’ helped nobody except the armed criminals of London. (There actually IS an offence of ‘police mutiny’ and my belief was that some came close to it.)
So I was surprised when it all came out that there WAS nothing we did not already know. I am surprised the Judge did not stop the trial at the halfway point to tell the prosecution that they had not made out their case. I also do not understand the decision to exclude Mr Kaba’s prior convictions and behaviour, which WERE relevant to the defence’s case, in my opinion.
When ‘terrorists’ are shot the investigation is usually concluded that week by the IOPC. If anyone else is shot it takes months, or years or in one case a decade to clear them. That is NOT justice.
The main thing for me, which Paul might like to explore, is why in 2024 police officers, UNIQUE almost in the public service, are not allowed a Trade Union. The Federation is often referred to as one but it isn’t. An effective trade union would have been better in putting across its member’s case that the Fed.
Just to show the depth of the injustice here, had I posted that as a serving police officer, then I could be criminally charged with an offence against the Police Act, and potentially be jailed.
Excellent interview. Thank you.
Paul, I predict you will do a Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and abandon the Labour Party. In a speech he gave recently I heard him say something like... I have been asked why I abandoned the Democratic Party and my reply is I didn't; they abandoned me... and went on to explain why. Your cool-minded rational thinking would better be described as conservative (small c). That level-headed thinking is something that the Labour Party appear to have abandoned some years ago, sadly.
5:22 secs. On a point of order, Kaba WAS armed. He was driving a ton or more of high performance car. That can be used to kill.
13m22s. Interesting point, and well made. Conversely, I have many ex and retired police friends. After the murder charge and naming I was alone in advocating toning down inflammatory postings that could only up the ante. I reminded my friends and former colleagues that the rule of law obtained in the UK, that maybe the IOPC and CPS had access to info we did not and that WE, ex-constables should simmer down. All would be revealed in the trial. If THAT showed an evidential deficit, THAT was the time to get angry, but authorised firearms officers handing in their ‘tickets’ helped nobody except the armed criminals of London. (There actually IS an offence of ‘police mutiny’ and my belief was that some came close to it.)
So I was surprised when it all came out that there WAS nothing we did not already know. I am surprised the Judge did not stop the trial at the halfway point to tell the prosecution that they had not made out their case. I also do not understand the decision to exclude Mr Kaba’s prior convictions and behaviour, which WERE relevant to the defence’s case, in my opinion.
When ‘terrorists’ are shot the investigation is usually concluded that week by the IOPC. If anyone else is shot it takes months, or years or in one case a decade to clear them. That is NOT justice.
The main thing for me, which Paul might like to explore, is why in 2024 police officers, UNIQUE almost in the public service, are not allowed a Trade Union. The Federation is often referred to as one but it isn’t. An effective trade union would have been better in putting across its member’s case that the Fed.
Just to show the depth of the injustice here, had I posted that as a serving police officer, then I could be criminally charged with an offence against the Police Act, and potentially be jailed.