Guardian UK: Police revolt against David Cameron's reform agenda

[marmar]

Senior police officers were in open revolt over the government's police reform agenda on Friday, reacting furiously to criticism of the way they handled the riots, and turning their fire on the home secretary, Theresa May, after she suggested she had instructed the police to take a tougher line.

Faced with an onslaught from all levels of the police, David Cameron tried to beat a retreat, lavishly praising the force after he and May had described police tactics in the Commons on Thursday as timid and highlighted police admissions that their initial plans to counter looting had been misguided.

Cameron is understood to have phoned Tim Godwin, the acting Metropolitan police commissioner, on Friday and the message was posted on the Met's internal communications system for its staff.

It read: "The prime minister has this morning telephoned the temporary commissioner, Tim Godwin. He wished to express his personal thanks and admiration to the entire command team, gold, silver, and bronzes – and all the many officers and staff who have worked so hard during the recent disorder." ............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/aug/12/police-revolt-cameron-reform-agenda

[sabrina 1]

1. Well, where was he? Away on vacation when the results of

his government's Austerity programs, including cut-backs in policing, finally caused an eruption of Civil Unrest, as was predicted by many people, over the past few months.

And for someone who hired one of Murdoch's hackers as his media Rep, not to mention the policies of his government which have completely failed, as they are doing here, to help the economy, maybe he would be better served to reflect on what he has been up to himself, over the past year or so.

Typical Conservative politician who is attempting to use anything and everything to take the focus off his own failed policies and disastrous decisions not the least of which was to put a Murdoch hacker in charge of 10 Downing St.

With Murdoch controlling who gets elected apparently all over the world, is it any wonder that there are so many ineffective leaders everywhere? I hope the collapse of the Murdoch empire will help turn things around as their influence has been disastrous for this planet.

[fasttense]

2. Ah well. you knew it was coming.

Really, decades of watching the idle rich and corporate aristocracy raid pensions, sell off corporate assets for personal gain, use your mortgages for a gamble and crash Wall Street along with the economy while political leaders cheered them on and covered their backs. It was bound to happen.

They gave the working class a perfect example. But instead of riots and looting, the corporate aristocracy uses bonds, bail outs and cons.

Then... they shoot one of them, reduce the number of police, take away the few amenities they allow the working class, and go on vacation.

Really it was as if political leaders were saying, "I dare you".

[xchrom]

3. +1