Comments on: Police brutality?

By: Dan

Dan — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 13:10:20 +0000

The second and third ones might have been but that first one was definately to his head/face.

By: Joe

Joe — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 04:03:12 +0000

The blows were to the shoulder to ‘persuade’ the guy to move his arm – not to his head.

By: holeycoww

holeycoww — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 14:13:18 +0000

Agreed, love it. Bring on the next one!

By: Dan

Dan — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 14:05:54 +0000

Fuck the queen! – not literally, obviously…gross.

But yes you’re right, this could go back and forth forever so we’ll pack it in about now…

Nowt like a friendly debate.

By: holeycoww

holeycoww — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 14:01:58 +0000

Agreed even a taser can kill if used on the wrong person. Which is why police will only use it when they have no other option left – usually meaning the crim has resisted arrest for to long.

If he had a pacemaker – i guarantee he wouldn’t resist for long.

But i think were splitting hairs here, both crim and cop were wrong. Both should be punished but yes the cop will come off worse. But end of the day he punched someone while at work – in any other job you would be sacked for the same, what makes this worse is that this cop is meant to be a representation of our justice system and Queen

By: Dan

Dan — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 13:58:27 +0000

You’re right, I was just illustrating.

However, you say: “If a cop punches a criminal in the eye and blinds him he and the justice system is fucked.”

Imagine if that guy was fitted with a pacemaker and the taser killed it. Any application of police force has the potential to permenantly injure or even kill. I just think that the punishment for using one that isn’t “oficially sanctioned” shouldn’t be all that severe, particularly given the stressful nature of the job.

More specifically the punishment should relate to the circumstances under which the force was used not the type of application. If the guy was being compliant and freely giving himself up for arrest and he got punched then yes, the cop should be well and truly hauled over the coals. Like this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxzYbTIUKgM

That guy should be fired.

By: holeycoww

holeycoww — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 13:47:08 +0000

Dan i agree that a punch is no where near as painful as a taser.

The reason behind they give CS Gas and / or taser is because it has no lasting effects. If a cop punches a criminal in the eye and blinds him he and the justice system is fucked. Yet CS Gas or taser is a short lived pain that can cause no long term damage.

By: Dan

Dan — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 13:38:24 +0000

@HoleyCoww – That is true, but like I said in the post it’s funny how police are legally allowed to dish out much more traumatic force than a simple punch. I’d rather be punched in the face than tazered multiple times and/or hit with a baton or get CS gas in my eyeballs.

It must be something about the unquantifiable nature of a punch that carries connotations of brutality even when much more “controlled” force is seen to be acceptible when it is probably more traumatic/destructive.

@Olly – I know if I were that cop and I got anything more than a sharp telling off I’d probably throw down my badge (do they have them here?) and say “Fuck it! You deal with them then. I’m out.”

By: Olly

Olly — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 13:28:15 +0000

I see your point – however, i didn’t say give the cops guns and knives!

I said they should have more power/rights and should not have everyone on their backs all the time or sooner or later they’ll tell us all bollocks

By: holeycoww

holeycoww — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 13:28:08 +0000

True, but this isnt about what punishment the offender will get because YES he was in the wrong and i do believe the justice system is flawed when it comes to punishments.

This is about a police officer punching a civilian – its not allowed, it should be allowed and he should be punished accordingly by his employer