Written by Stout Yeoman
Frederica posted a YouTube video in response to an article by Janice on last Monday’s protest (19th July) in Parliament Square. It covered the arrest of an attendee. We do not know why he was chosen for arrest, but it was not a pleasant scene to witness. It was an example of something we have seen often in the past year. The police wrestle someone to the ground. Several officers sit on him or otherwise pin him down while other officers handcuff the person. They seemed to take their time while a ring of other police encircled them and kept possible interference at bay. Although the technique is commonplace now I have seen worse and something that is even more disturbing.
Last September, Mrs Yeoman and I happened upon a gathering in Trafalgar Square. There were a few thousand people there listening to Piers Corbyn and the ‘5G’ nurse whose name escapes me. We wandered around the edge of the square and bumped into people we knew. It was a sunny day, the atmosphere was festive, and it was good to see people again. I had no interest in the conspiracy theories but neither did most people we spoke to. They were there to enjoy being out, to protest in ill-defined ways about the government generally and it looked set to be a very jolly afternoon, notwithstanding the gathering (of more than six people) was illegal. In fact, so festive was the atmosphere, Mrs Yeoman and I joined in.
About 1pm, while Mrs Yeoman was socialising as she likes to do, I made my way to the north-east corner of the square and stood on a grassy knoll in front of the National Gallery to get an overview and take some pictures when something odd happened. I was joined by a dozen or so photographers and video camera people from Sky, The Mail and others. Congratulating myself on picking the spot the professionals choose I took some pictures. Oddly, the press corps was not taking pictures.
There were quite a few people in front of me on the terrace along the front of the National Gallery. Not all would have been overspill from down in the square. Off to my left, a line of policemen was forming. Not the TSG (Territorial Support Group – the one with helmets and shields) but ordinary police. They advanced on the people in front of me and started pushing. It was no more than that, not especially aggressive, and no batons drawn. Once they had forced the crowd back so that their line was directly below the press corps they started shoving more vigorously. Some of the men in the crowd started pushing back. Suddenly, the shutters started clicking. The shoving lasted a couple of minutes whereafter the police simply disappeared as did the media.
A short while later, Mrs Yeoman and I walked west out of the square into Pall Mall in search of lunch. We passed Suffolk Street and saw a large number of TSG assembling. The penny dropped.
After lunch, we checked the lunchtime news. Although not prominent, the narrative was there sustained by the photographs. Belligerent troublemakers were in Trafalgar Square. It was paving the way for the TSG we had seen. They would not be breaking up a peaceful gathering, when wielding batons might be too much, but dispersing thugs and troublemakers. Except there were no thugs.
After lunch we returned to the square. It was carnage. The TSG were hitting people on the head – I saw several with blood pouring from wounds – and I saw a gratuitous assault by a policeman on a defenceless woman.
There was one particularly serious case. I only saw the aftermath of policemen around a man on the ground inside the circle of police that surrounded them. I could hear cries of ‘you’ve killed him’. It was half an hour or so later that he was taken away on a stretcher – not moving.
I was surprised to see such a very peaceful gathering broken up with such unnecessary violence and especially because it seemed planned in advance and not a response to provocation or to protect property. It may have been happenstance that the media joined me on the grassy knoll, all at the same time, and happenstance that some policemen decided to amuse themselves with some unprovoked shoving of people in front of the press and TV, their half-hearted effort having no purpose other than moving a crowd a few feet without arrests being attempted. After all, it must be boring attending a rally with nothing to do because everyone was festive and peaceful.
I was being facetious in considering happenstance. What I think happened that day was that the carnage meted out by the TSG was planned and the little theatre I witnessed at 1pm was in preparation of the news. I doubt the media were in on the final outcome. It is more likely they were just useful idiots. Tipped off that the police were making a move they raced to the grassy knoll. Some disorder was newsworthy whereas peaceful assembly was not. But did any of them later reflect that they had been used?
I read later that an inspector on the ground had issued a dispersal order and the TSG were sent in when no one obeyed (if they heard it that is). The bloody ending shows it was not a case of let them have some fun first then gently order them to disperse. More a case of let the TSG assemble out of sight first.
The organisers made several mistakes. They had no extinction rebellion disguise, they were not Black Lives Matter, and they were not Muslims protesting about Israel. Had they adopted such disguise they would have had a trouble-free afternoon with no interference from the police. Indeed, as happened a few weeks ago in London, they could have left the rally and driven through Jewish neighbourhoods shouting racist slogans and making death threats.
My previous articles highlighted some ways in which the relationship between citizen and state has been changing. The events of September show that even with basic policing we are not all equal before the law. No longer does the behaviour of a crowd determine how the police behave, but the political significance of the gathering and the make-up of attendees does.
An anonymous police officer, commenting on the football fans disorder at the Wembley Euros final, is reported to have said :
“…senior officers were reluctant to sanction more robust measures because “it’s all about the brand image. It is just annoying we are held back from doing our job. We are in public order gear for a reason.” He explained that although police officers should not be “let off the chain . . . many of those in charge are hesitant to let us put [helmets] on or get robust with those that need it”.
There were serious public order offences at Wembley. Yet, it was at Trafalgar Square where the TSG was “let off the chain”. Given the bill going through Parliament that will turn journalists and others into enemies of the state, we see our country turning into an authoritarian regime. The TSG will be “let off the chain” for groups defying the government.
Independence is not just freedom from the ECJ. It is independence of mind and conscience, independence from coercion and control. It is full equality before the law under a constitution of separation of powers. Our freedoms, our independence needs to be defended –(Independence) Daily!
I have been very disillusioned with the police for a very long time but this article by Stout Yeoman has tipped me over the edge. Anger does not adequately describe the feelings I have for what is very aptly described as “the gestapo”. Unfortunately, any good members of what used to be the Police Service will be keeping their heads down just to hang on to their jobs. They can offend with impunity and are rarely disciplined. Yes, a new political party, or one that can encompass all the small ones would make a difference. How on earth can we bang heads together, the government must be laughing all the way to the bank.
Stout Yeoman I saw the video of the incident that you described in Trafalgar Square and was horrified then that this Country had become a police state without our seeming to notice. The blind, unquestioning, almost automaton approach by the police towards fellow countrymen who were protesting peacefully (as many in the video were audibly asserting) was chillingly horrific! I remarked at the time that these were scenes more redolent of the Communist bloc than our (once) Great Britain!
Your account now makes perfect sense and explains the way in which the situation was manipulated for propaganda purposes. Those ‘tame’ journalists and photographers are as full of blame because of their complicit obedience to suppressing truth as the thug police who actually perpetrated the act.
The man in my video was apparently a ‘free’ journalist who has been regularly ‘watching’ and filming the police activities at such events. Thus the police, knowing he was there, targeted him specifically! So martyrs are made! I have not heard how he fared after his inhuman treatment at the hands of those who are supposed to protect us!
Sorry. For accuracy it was not ‘my’ video but one I found in another comment thread and re-posted
I agree that is more likely than not that he was recognised. Outside of China, London is the most surveilled city in the world. Facial recognition technology is used extensively by the police not just on their film of events but also through congestion charge cameras at every road junction and with the oyster card system. It’s how the clear up rate for murders is so high at least for those committed in public spaces such as gang fights and teenage stabbings. It represents a complete change in policing, courtesy of Theresa May. No longer do the police try and prevent crime. They sit back and let it happen then use all the surveillance technology to locate and follow a perpetrator home. We saw this particularly with the 2011 riots in London. For two days the police stood back and let people loot and burn. Later, miraculously, they arrested a lot of people. This ‘let it happen and arrest later’ approach is allowing people to be killed. I have seen people snatched from marches and rallies for no apparent reason. I doubt the victims, for that is what they are, were singled out randomly nor do I think there will be outstanding arrest warrants to justify the arrests (though possibly in a few cases). The demonstration is, I suspect, an excuse to settle scores. I’m fairly promiscuous in the demonstrations I attend so it will not be long before I am flagged as a regular. Well, I am sure I am already, but my turn may come to be taught a lesson.
Absolutely right! Independence everyday.
I just can’t feel that a fair few people don’t like independence because that comes with responsibilities for the individual. How the Nanny became the Big Brother.
I am optimistic though. There are many forms of protest that can be really disruptive. A run on the banks perhaps? Sitting on trains and busses all day long. I am sure that would grab media attention.
Thank you Stout Yeoman. You are quite right. You’ve shown me that it really has got worse than I thought!
That is truly Tiananmen Sq, Hong Kong scary – since, unlike posts on Twitter, I have no reason to doubt Stout’s sincerity, I’m sure he’s no ‘bot.
” I had no interest in conspiracy theories but neither did most of the people we spoke to. …. they were out to protest, in ill definedways about the government generally”. I think that sums up how the ‘anti lockdown’ protests, now aptly named freedom rallies, have grown from a handful of it’s a hoax, it’s not a virus, it’s 5G cult believers, to massive demos as people have grown more and more weary of the Gvt’s mismanagement.
It’s fact, not fiction, that most, if not all, anti-lockdowners are on the political right, conservative with a small c and BLM, ER are on the political left. The Yeoman experience tells you all you need to know about policing protests. The police decide, it’s not political? Pull the other one, it’s got a huge bell on it.
Stout – that honest account of your experience needs MUCH wider publicity.
The report is indeed a faithful account and I am confident Viv will confirm I am not a bot (or a crackpot or fantasist) as she and I have met on many occasions.
My first reaction was one of shock at what appeared to be naked collusion between police and media, a reaction that intensified once I saw the conclusion of it. But, there is the (slightly) less worrying interpretation that the media were manipulated by an increasingly politicised and PR sophisticated police. I say slightly less worrying because a deep collusion between media and police would be something a whole order worse. Confronted by competing explanations one needs to consider what evidence one has for deciding between them. I settled on the useful idiots idea as the more probable.
Assertions unwarranted by any evidence (not even flimsy inconclusive evidence) – the conspiracy theorists – are a problem as they put off ordinary people who might otherwise support peaceful protest. There is nothing wrong with questioning government, displaying our exhaustion with mixed messaging, with contradictory and seemingly capricious rules, and the continual moving of the goal posts. But we do not need speeches about lizard people. Last September I treated the speakers that day as a celebration of English liberty and eccentricity, except our protests need to become as PR savvy as the police appear to have become. Inviting David Icke et al as speakers for this Saturday’s gathering, for example, is an own goal.
Stout – yes I agree with you, David Icke is now talking complete bollocks, making a living out of the gullible. As for the Police, perhaps we should now call them Gestapo.
Yes, Stout – regretably any cause that attracts David Icke is manna from heaven for those seeking to discredit it.
Talking of Tiananmen Square and Hong Kong, when China’s president made a state visit to the UK in 2015 the police got really vicious with protesters then.