The government is "abdicating responsibility to tackle violence perpetrated by members of the police service", said the Green Party today.
After Caroline Lucas MP posed questions about the home secretary’s stance on the "kettling" tactic and the alleged use of mounted police to charge a peaceful crowd, the Greens said the home secretary’s replies indicated "an irresponsible attitude".
Green Party leader Caroline Lucas had asked a number of questions, including whether the home secretary had in fact seen video footage which appears to vindicate the Greens’ claim that the Met had used excessive force in its handling of the tuition fees protests on 24 November, and whether the home secretary had discussed with the Met whether its tactics had perhaps been been disproportionate. The home secretary replied that she had not seen the footage in question, and that operational decisions were a matter for the police.
Caroline Lucas MP said today:
"The government’s attitude is irresponsible. Of course operational matters are for the police, but only up to a point. When the police use tactics that breach human rights or that break the law, the government must step in.
"Over kettling, Theresa May is aware that the police are abusing their powers, yet will do nothing about it. In fact it’s worse than that – by refusing even to look at the evidence in the video footage, Theresa May is deliberately turning a blind eye to the potential abuse of power by the police."
PRESSURE MOUNTS OVER THE MET’S USE OF "AGGRESSIVE, HEAVY-HANDED, INAPPROPRIATE AND DANGEROUS" TACTICS – AND ACTS OF VIOLENCE BY INDIVIDUAL POLICE OFFICERS
Last month Jenny Jones AM, the Green Party’s member of the Metropolitan Police Authority, called for witnesses to come forward with evidence regarding the conduct of police officers during the demonstration of 24 November. Jenny intends to incorporate the responses in an open letter to the commissioner and the MPA (1).
Meanwhile the Young Greens this week launched a petition calling for a ban on the kettling of lawful demonstrations (2).
Notes to editors
1. See http://www.greenparty.org.uk/news/2010-12-1-protest-police-violence-call-for-evidence.html
2. See http://younggreens.greenparty.org.uk/node/225
Links:
[1] http://www.greenparty.org.uk/news/2010-12-1-protest-police-violence-call-for-evidence.html
[2] http://younggreens.greenparty.org.uk/node/225