I like Polanski but he really needs to learn when to keep his mouth shut.
I was stopped by a policeman once, for running a red light. Luckily he didn't kick me in the head on the off chance I was wearing a suicide vest.
This is one if the most ridiculous comments I've ever read on this forum.
I've not watched the vid, as I have no desire to see some fella get his head kicked in despite him clearly being a violent criminal. But if the police felt they were in danger then all power to them. They are the guys on the front line putting their lives at risk.
Polanski should consider what would have happened if armed officers had turned up on the scene. Comments like his just serve to put off the majority of his potential voters base
Since this, I've been following Spencer on instagram and sadly it's been very disappointing
I think the whole "Mrs Everyone goes to Westminster and is shocked by what goes on" seems to be the angle she's aiming for. I'm honestly tired of it already.
I can't make up my mind if Polanski just didn't watch the video, and just re-posted without checking, or genuinely believes that the cops was over-zealous. Even his own members are piling on now
This is one if the most ridiculous comments I've ever read on this forum.
And yet you wrote ...
I've not watched the vid, as I have no desire to see some fella get his head kicked in despite him clearly being a violent criminal.
A violent criminal who was tased and subdued, so no need for assault, unless of course you are advocating delegating punishment to the cop in the street?
He wasn't subdued, he still had the knife and wouldn't let go of it.
A violent criminal who was tased and subdued, so no need for assault, unless of course you are advocating delegating punishment to the cop in the street?
Were you there, were you having to make split second decisions knowing two people had already been stabbed. Are you trained to respond in these situations, do you have extensive experience of being in these situations?
I'm guessing not, so maybe you're not qualified to be criticising the people who are.
And your original comment was one of the most ridiculous posts on here in a while.
A violent criminal who was tased and subdued, so no need for assault, unless of course you are advocating delegating punishment to the cop in the street?
I imagine from behind your laptop you've convinced yourself you would have non violently subdued the chap and taken the weapon off him, but in reality you'd have shat yourself and run a mile
And incase it's not obvious, equating tackling a nutter who has just stabbed 2 innocent folks to running a red light just makes you look like a fool
Were you there, were you having to make split second decisions knowing two people had already been stabbed. Are you trained to respond in these situations, do you have extensive experience of being in these situations?
That's where actually reading the thread comes in handy, in which case you'd have seen that I was specifically referring to the notion that suspects should automatically be assumed to be wearing suicide vests. Instead you just started flailing away at your keyboard.
He isn't exactly a good advert for his party right now. Governance by social media and barely watching video's doesn't give me hope for his capabilities in the future
So how would you have disarmed a violent attacker who was still refusing to let go of the knife despite being tasers? Ask him awfully nicely and hope you dont get stabbed
I was specifically referring to the notion that suspects should automatically be assumed to be wearing suicide vests
When involved in a possible multi victim suspected terrorist attack, not for just running a red light.
When involved in a possible multi victim suspected terrorist attack,
1. At what point was the assumption made that this was a "terrorist attack", and on what evidence?
2. How reasonable is it to assume that a "terrorist" is wearing a suicide vest? Does this happen on a regular basis in the UK?
Luckily we’re not relying on you (or me) to make such difficult decisions.
That's where actually reading the thread comes in handy, in which case you'd have seen that I was specifically referring to the notion that suspects should automatically be assumed to be wearing suicide vests.
I had read the thread and other than some totally stupid comment you made about not being kicked in the head by a policeman for running a red light there's nothing from you critiquing standard police procedure based on years of experience and the need to not fanny about when members of the public and police officers lives are in danger.
That doesn't inspire confidence in your reading comprehension skills, then.
I think it's more a reflection on your inability to make a coherent point.
He isn't exactly a good advert for his party right now. Governance by social media and barely watching video's doesn't give me hope for his capabilities in the future
Surely their present polling puts them in what used to be the Lib Dems natural territory? So you can say what the hell you like, safe in the knowledge that you'll never have to enact any of your policies?
It never seems to bother Farage, who pouts utter twoddle and (somewhat unbelievably) he's being talked up as a potential PM, despite none of his policies holding up to even the most cursory of scrutiny, as they're all utter nonsense
I think it's more a reflection on your inability to make a coherent point.
Maybe. Next time I'll be sure to call my interlocutors "fools", "stupid" and "ridiculous".
He'd just stabbed 2 people and appeared to be looking to stab more.
He'd ignored requests to stop and drop his weapon.
It happened at what appears to be a time of heightened tensions for Jews living in the UK.
On a warm day, he was wearing a bulky looking jacket.
While you can't readily assume that bulky jacket = "terrorist with possible suicide vest", I can't say I blame them for assessing that that may be a risk in the heat of the moment in that situation.
So you can say what the hell you like, safe in the knowledge that you'll never have to enact any of your policies?
This, though Badenoch does to take the biscuit!
Correction, the pack of biscuits.
As well as ignoring the previous 15 years. Impressive
The guy had just been stabbing people, a kick to the head seems pretty reasonable.
If reports are true that Mr Stabby Somalian has previously been convicted of stabbing a copper why was he still here?
The Police should be backed to the hilt in situations like this, no question.
Sadly, the only ones saying this loudly enough are Reform. Ridiculous assessments like the one Polanski shared will only serve to push voters further to the right, and alienate them from some of the genuinely good ideas that Green does have.
My initial reaction on seeing the video was that the cops went over the top.
Taking the wider context of the attack into account, I wouldn't criticise them for it. Whether it's the right or wrong way to disable someone holding a knife and maybe hiding some sort of bomb is thankfully out of my experience. From past attacks, it's been obvious armed officers will take no chances.
I'm a big Polanski fan but he got this wrong.
What I don't get is how quickly and viciously he gets pulled up for it. He seems to be judged much quicker and more harshly than other politicians, despite not having a proven record of failure like Labour and Conservatives, nor a strategy built around hate and division (and now failure) like Reform. Is he such a threat to the two party system that the (right wing) media and normally balanced commentators on here need to blow this poor judgement call into such a big issue?
And worth mentioning that yet again, like Southport, like Nottingham, the systems are failing to protect people with mental health issues and the public.
When involved in a possible multi victim suspected terrorist attack,
1. At what point was the assumption made that this was a "terrorist attack", and on what evidence?
2. How reasonable is it to assume that a "terrorist" is wearing a suicide vest? Does this happen on a regular basis in the UK?
DrJ - You like to chip in on threads about anti-semitism attacks, under the 'cover' of being pedantic/educated. Last time you had zero sympathy when I mentioned a friends husband was shot in the Bondi Beach Shooting.
I'd like to see you be such a brave keyboard warrior in the real world. Also back in the real world, my community are in panic how to keep safe. I go shopping in these areas with my children.
It's easy to hide being anti-semitic under the cover of careful language, I know how people like you behave. How nice it must be to have the privilege to not worry about your families safety.
The Police should be backed to the hilt in situations like this, no question.
I get the inclination to do this, and I get the cops are often the people running into things when every one is legging it as fast as they can, but the cops, - and especially the Met have a tawdry history of just:
"Doing the wrong thing and then lying about it, and then trying to cover it up, and then letting people retire on full pensions who are guilty as ****, and then being angry at people when we point out that this shit happens with dull regularity".
I'd like to support the police, and I've met with a few round here who're genuinely trying to stop dickheads on electric and cross bike from being, well, dickheads on bikes really, but as an institution, my first reaction to anything involving the cops and argy-bargy is generally to think, "I wonder how badly the cops have ****ed it up this time".
He seems to be judged much quicker and more harshly than other politicians
That's what happens to any politician left of the Conservatives, and it's been like that for decades. Anyone who wants to be in public office must know this. It's not "fair", but it is the way the game is played at the moment and Polanski does not set the rules.
My initial reaction on seeing the video was that the cops went over the top.
Taking the wider context of the attack into account, I wouldn't criticise them for it. Whether it's the right or wrong way to disable someone holding a knife and maybe hiding some sort of bomb is thankfully out of my experience. From past attacks, it's been obvious armed officers will take no chances.
I'm a big Polanski fan but he got this wrong.
What I don't get is how quickly and viciously he gets pulled up for it. He seems to be judged much quicker and more harshly than other politicians, despite not having a proven record of failure like Labour and Conservatives, nor a strategy built around hate and division (and now failure) like Reform. Is he such a threat to the two party system that the (right wing) media and normally balanced commentators on here need to blow this poor judgement call into such a big issue?
100% this, a thousand times over.
It's also quite striking how vigorous the response has been to what may have been an antisemitic attack, and rightly so - I don't recall the same level of urgency in response to Islamaphobic attacks, or any other kind of crime where religion, race or ethnicity are the drivers, and I'd very much like to see an equal reaction to all.
I think we expect more from people like Polanski (and Starmer) so the bar is lower in terms of what's forgivable. We expect utter garbage from Farage and Badenoch so are not surprised when they spout excrement. It's not fair and it's making politics even more toxic. John Major was making similar points yesterday about the state of British politics and the trivialisation of it by the desire to score points rather than actually try and change things. For the more left leaning politicians who actually do want to make things better the constant attacks about trivia don't help when it comes to discussing the serious issues that face us as a country.
I don't recall the same level of urgency in response to Islamaphobic attacks
Yes that thought had occurred to me as well. There do seems to be double standards at play. It did also occur to me what the backlash would be if the Muslim community had self appointed security teams out patrolling the streets.
Doing the wrong thing and then lying about it, and then trying to cover it up, and then letting people retire On full pensions who are guilty as ****
Agreed.
Have you read 'The Broken Yard' by Tom Harper? A tough read.
It did also occur to me what the backlash would be if the Muslim community had self appointed security teams out patrolling the streets.
The government provides funding for mosques to organise private security as well. It’s not news right now because attacks are down rather than up. But that security is in place at mosques up and down the country. The current news is about attacks on Jews, their shops, their charities, and their places of worship, and the steps taken to protect them, because of a recent rise in attacks, including a fatal one.
There are no double standards in terms of gov policy and the use of private security. There may well be a double standard in terms of the way we talk about attacks on Muslims and Jews by some.
I don't recall the same level of urgency in response to Islamaphobic attacks
No - I missed the Cobra meeting or the words of support from the Prime Minister when a Sikh woman was raped, or when an Iranian was stabbed by a Zionist, or indeed when the "stabby Somali" stabbed a Muslim.
It's easy to hide being anti-semitic under the cover of careful language, I know how people like you behave. How nice it must be to have the privilege to not worry about your families safety.
You do realise how completely meaningless accusations of "anti-semitism" have become, right?
Polanski has apologized.
He was not in a rush was he.
It's meaningless. He has revealed his true thoughts.
There we go again.
I can't see it on this thread but Polanski tore strips off GMB the other day because in the run up to the local elections and all the issues the country is facing, they started asking him about the hyonoboob saga, which was over 10 years ago iirc. That's the level of media discourse he has to deal with.
And then all the "non right" folk on here jump on every mistake. Even his apology isn't good enough.
The centre/left leaves the door wide open for the right because the insistence on "perfect" crushes the concept of "better".
No - I missed the Cobra meeting or the words of support from the Prime Minister when a Sikh woman was raped, or when an Iranian was stabbed by a Zionist, or indeed when the "stabby Somali" stabbed a Muslim.
Maybe it is posturing. Maybe there's intelligence around the recent Jewish attacks that is wider and more concerning than the other tragedies. Maybe us armchair experts don't have all the facts.
It's meaningless. He has revealed his true thoughts.
I'm not privy to his true thoughts. I do know that I occasionally misjudge things, and change my mind as a result. I also think that if we expect perfection from our politicians, we're just asking to be lied to.
My initial reaction on seeing the video was that the cops went over the top.
You want to try having a roll about with someone who has a strong incentive to resist arrest 😉
I thought the police were proportionate in their response. The guy has just stabbed people in what appears to be a terrorist attack, he's been tasered but still has at least one knife on him and is actively not compliant. The police now have to go in close to establish control before more people, including them are stabbed. Control is getting the weapon off him and him cuffed. The taser, quite clearly, hasn't disarmed him, a strike to the head doesn't seem like a disproportionate tactic. All he needs to do when flailing on the ground is catch someone who is leaning in to subdue him in the thigh with that knife and you've a potential fatality, it's quite a high risk arrest.
There are 3 Green choices on my ballot paper for Rastrick. A quick Google of each name revealed nothing and they are are listed as 'address in Calderdale'. I emailed them 5 days ago asking for more information and received a 'we are experiencing a high volume' reply.
This is not meant as a dig, more of a how can I choose Green with so little information.
My initial reaction on seeing the video was that the cops went over the top.You want to try having a roll about with someone who has a strong incentive to resist arrest 😉
I thought the police were proportionate in their response. The guy has just stabbed people in what appears to be a terrorist attack, he's been tasered but still has at least one knife on him and is actively not compliant. The police now have to go in close to establish control before more people, including them are stabbed. Control is getting the weapon off him and him cuffed. The taser, quite clearly, hasn't disarmed him, a strike to the head doesn't seem like a disproportionate tactic. All he needs to do when flailing on the ground is catch someone who is leaning in to subdue him in the thigh with that knife and you've a potential fatality, it's quite a high risk arrest.
I got pelters for saying this on a football forum, but I found it deeply uncomfortable to watch. I get it, I understand that they had to do what they had to do, but I can't be critical of them for doing it - it just looked awful, is all. But better that by far than a more gently-handled suspect wounding police.
The Police should be backed to the hilt in situations like this, no question.
I get the inclination to do this, and I get the cops are often the people running into things when every one is legging it as fast as they can, but the cops, - and especially the Met have a tawdry history of just:
"Doing the wrong thing and then lying about it, and then trying to cover it up, and then letting people retire on full pensions who are guilty as ****, and then being angry at people when we point out that this shit happens with dull regularity".
At the risk of being a tedious Centrist Dad: we have hundreds of years of laws built up over time to deal with these questions. The police shouldn't be "backed to the hilt...no question". They quite often lie appallingly about this stuff. They are, and should be, subject to the law, which is that they (and anyone else making a lawful arrest) can use reasonable force. Reasonable means whatever a jury of random normies (or judge) decides what it is, having heard the evidence. If a prosecutor has a reasonable chance of getting a conviction and its in the public interest, they should prosecute.
But the other side of this is that if you're a grown-up in the public eye, you shouldn't leap in with both feet and broadcast a snap judgment to the world on social media based on having watched a few seconds of video. That goes double if you're the leader of a political party that's doing quite well - and it's not impossible that you could become the boss of the boss of the police force you're criticising.
Polanski is not too bright, has not made the transition from social media politics to accountable politics, and he isn't secure in his role as leader. All of this adds up to him saying hare-brained stuff he hasn't thought through in a desperate attempt to keep the likes rolling in from the disparate bits of his party.
To be fair, he retweeted this:
""Essentially his officers were repeatedly and violently kicking a mentally ill man in the head when he was already incapacitated by Taser."
I appreciate there's an unspoken criticism in that tweet I don't agree with, but I am unsure what's otherwise inaccurate about it apropos the video associated with it.
