Cyclist and the Olympic torch relay

Is this an appropriate response to a young lad not appearing to present any sort of a threat?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18756050

They wouldn’t have gone near him if he had bombers up front.

A££e hole coppers yet again , no threat what so ever

No, but this was:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18671509

Dont go near the torch unless you want to be stopped/pushed away.

Its not a hard concept to grasp is it. Silly people :)

who’s in the big yellow bus following?

Bit of an overreaction to throw him to the floor causing the car behind to slam it’s brakes on after you’ve stopped him though.

The police traveling with it were really friendly in Cambridge….

Whole atmosphere was really nice, no one was rude, all the 100s of entourage / police / escorts were really polite.

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Friendly Poice[/url] by brf[/url], on Flickr

brakes – Member

who’s in the big yellow bus following?

It’s not a bus it’s a covert tactical rocket launcher ready to deploy in case anyone over the age of 16 gets too near the torch and the coppers can’t cope.

The police traveling with it were really friendly in Cambridge….

Whole atmosphere was really nice, no one was rude, all the 100s of entourage / police / escorts were really polite.

You’ll find this is the case everywhere, right until the moment some **** decides to try and have a moment in the spotlight, this is then very quickly and effectively managed and it all continues as normal. Personally I really like the way the police have been dealing with things – swift, effective, then immediately move on

There was no ‘security bubble’ when it passed through here. Torch was completely surrounded by people, with hundreds of kids running and riding behind. Bit like on Rocky… Is it that big a deal if someone tries to be clever by nicking it?

Is it worth going to see though? It’s going through our town in about 10 days and I’m being very meh about it. Would seem weird not to go as it would take so little effort but on the telly it’s looked a total non event.

It’s a nobody jogging slowly in a one size fits all trackie with a big oversize lighter repeating a tradition started by the Nazis. I’ve even looked up the “runners” through my town and they are not even hot. What’s to like?

I’m not going to see it simply because of the gang of thugs running alongside.

Edit: And there’s a big difference between the normal police out working the route that day and the self appointed wannabe ninjas in grey guarding the torch.

The crowd need to realise they’re only there to see one of the 8000 replica torches that the runner has paid £250 to hold while they have their ego stroked. It’s not for the general public to get near and enjoy!!

Came past my house yesterday. I thought the way it was policed was fantastic. Friendly and interactive, including the Met escort team in grey. I was very disinterested in the whole thing, but found I actually really quite enjoyed it. May have helped that my 2yr old was waving a flag and shouting “f*ck f*ck” instead of “flap flap* at all the policemen. He’s convinced all flags and winged animals make this noise.

right until the moment some **** decides to try and have a moment in the spotlight,

That didn’t seem to be the case with the young lad on the bike though. He just seemed to wonder out in the road a bit far on his bike. Totally inappropriate response. More like the copper having his ‘moment’ in that case.

The Met’s torch security team prevented him from gaining access to the torchbearer and the male fell off his bike. He immediately got back on his bike and left.”

I too have been known to fall off when being rugby tackled by 15 stones of asshat!
All a bit silly, but then again, much like the M6 bus incedent, how quickly would we be complaining if the security system hadn’t worked and people had lost lives, eyes been gouged out, baby robins killed?

The atmosphere in Cambridge was great! I’ve never seen the place so packed. I only went along to keep the GF company but was really impressed by it all.

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Mill road completely packed[/url] by brf[/url], on Flickr

It’s very easy to criticise. My impression is they are doing a good job, whether you agree with the torch procession or not.

The lad seemed to come from side/behind, not the nice frontal view we have in the clip. If he ignored it to wait to see what was going to happen it might be too late.

I’d be interested to see how other countries police forces would have reacted.

I’d be interested to see how other countries police forces would have reacted.

As I understand the reason we have this set-up was because in the Beijing Olympics the torch was often interfered with by protesters, and this was considered embarrassing for the government.

Make of it what you will that the decision was made to have a more oppressive police escort in Britain than China decided on.

Kid certainly seemed to be putting a sprint on to get nearer the torch, rather than ‘just riding along’ to get a better view.

However, the ‘men in grey’ have clearly had a couple of extra training sessions between this:

and this:

Split second decision making surely, it’s not like theres firearms involved here, if something moves quickly from the crowd the escorts have a split second to deal with it or leave it.

It’s very easy to criticise. My impression is they are doing a good job, whether you agree with the torch procession or not.

Indeed. What if al-Qaeda steal the torch ? Presumably without the Olympic Flame the Olympic Games would have to be cancelled – a huge propaganda victory for the terrorist organisation which despises our way of life and friendly relations between peace-loving nations.

Personally I think the Olympic Torch is too precious to be paraded around the streets of Britain – imo it should be held in a secure environment free from the threat of attacks. But if we are going to expose it to the threat of terrorist attacks, then it should defended with the utmost determination.

Wise words indeed. However, I understand that al-Qaeda’s own alternative relay involving electronic cigarettes was disrupted by the police near Brum recently, so they’ve got every right to have a go back.

And as the clip shows, something awful nearly happened to a child’s face right there, so perhaps cancellation is the best option. Now it’s left Yorkshire, it’s not as if there is anywhere else decent for the flame to visit – head straight for the stadium and put it in the safe, I say.