Debate Over Policing in Recent Protests

There’s been a lot of chatter recently about how police handle different protests across the UK. Some folks, especially from the far-right, are claiming that they’re being treated unfairly compared to other groups. They argue that this is all part of a so-called ‘two-tier policing’ system. One of the loudest voices spreading this idea is Tommy Robinson, or Stephen Yaxley-Lennon as he’s officially known.

This week, the tension boiled over in Belfast as protests turned violent, and many of the far-right groups involved are now pointing fingers at the police for being heavy-handed. This sentiment was echoed by others, including Laurence Fox. They believe that since the police were relatively lenient during the Black Lives Matter protests, they are now being tougher on white protesters.

Notably, political figures like Yvette Cooper, Keir Starmer, and Priti Patel have all pushed back against these claims. The chief of the Met Police, Mark Rowley, seemed to avoid the debate but acknowledged that there have always been different levels of police response depending on the situation.

Graham Wettone, a former police officer, explained that policing isn’t about favoritism; rather, it’s about managing the severity of any given incident. He pointed out that incidents in Rochdale from years ago, involving abuse by Asian grooming gangs, are often brought up but don’t reflect current practices where police have notably improved their approach to safeguarding.

He also clarified that the Black Lives Matter protests were largely peaceful, and the police response then was very structured, unlike the recent rioting which included violence and targeted attacks on officers. Arrests from the recent chaos have surpassed 400, showcasing that it’s a very different scenario.

Some detractors from the far right are drawing parallels with events in Harehills, Leeds, where protests followed the controversial taking of children from a Roma family. They claim police did nothing amid unrest from minority groups, but once again, investigators say those claims don’t hold up under scrutiny.

In a twist, some videos have circulated showing confrontations between far-right protesters and groups of Asian men, but those incidents appear isolated compared to the greater violence carried out by far-right groups this week. Police describe the situation as exceptionally violent and organized, quite distinct from other protests seen in the past.

Senior policing officials, including BJ Harrington, have noted that the level of violence faced from these protests is unprecedented, stating that this isn’t a simple misunderstanding of policing strategies but rather an attempt to intimidate communities and harm property.

A different approach by police is warranted in these instances, as they must prioritize public safety. The right to protest is respected, but once it devolves into violence or intimidation, police are well within their rights to intervene more forcefully.

Conversely, the 2020 Black Lives Matter demonstrations were largely peaceful with only sporadic incidents of trouble, good enough for authorities not to impose heavy intervention measures. Critics argue that many of the recent charges against protesters involve serious crimes and that the system is now being diligently used to handle any repeat disturbances.

The historical context of protests in the UK shows that there has been pushback against police doing their jobs. After the 2011 riots, for instance, the government mandated tougher measures to curb rising violence, something that seems to be rising to the forefront again given the current unrest.