Skateboarding, dancing, snoozing... ano ther hard day on police front line
SCOTLAND Yard chiefs were in the dock last night after failing to explain how they will clear the streets of ecowarriors involved in crippling protests across the capital.
As they faced mounting criticism over their softly-softly tactics, they issued a rambling 880-word statement insisting they have a ‘robust policing plan’.
But they gave no guarantees the protests will be brought to a halt any time soon – meaning widespread disruption to commuters could last until after the Easter break.
The row came as footage emerged of police officers dancing and skateboarding in the street with protesters – and one officer apparently napping in a police car.
And in an extraordinary admission, the Met said it had ‘no legal basis’ to physically and forcibly stop the protesters from moving around London. ‘These are peaceful protesters. While disruptive, their actions are not violent towards police, themselves or members of the public,’ it added.
The lack of any firm action from the authorities seemed to give the protesters fresh impetus. Organisers said they expected more to join the protests, issuing a statement – which was later deleted – saying: ‘Easter weekend is tomorrow and thousands more rebels will join. Police struggle to arrest 350 and there are ten times that number prepared to be arrested. The hollowed- out British State is overwhelmed.’
As the row over police tactics intensified, the Met revealed only eight protesters have been charged out of more than 460 arrested.
It added it had called in back-up officers from other forces and cancelled leave.
Last night Sajid Javid and Sadiq Khan were at loggerheads over the force’s controversial methods.
The Home Secretary said he expected the police to ‘use the full force of the law’ against activists who act illegally, saying everyone had the right to peaceful protest but ‘I totally condemn any protesters who are stepping outside the boundaries of the law’.
But London Mayor Mr Khan - who on Wednesday praised the eco-warrior group for its ‘co-operation’ – tried to make political capital out the handling by police, suggesting in a letter to Mr Javid that the Met’s ability to enforce the law had been made ‘ significantly harder’ by ‘the huge cuts to Government police funding’. Government sources accused Mr Khan of ‘deflection tactics’.
Last night London Assembly Member Andrew Boff called for an inquiry into how Mr Khan and Scotland Yard had responded to the protests. He said: ‘Questions have to be asked about whether the Mayor has tacitly encouraged Extinction Rebellion to bring our city to a grinding halt, having admitted he “shares passion” with the group.
‘Sadiq Khan and senior Met Police officers owe Londoners an explanation; how have they failed to bring an end to this chaos and how long will it continue?’
In its statement last night, the Met said it had more than 1,000 officers on the streets policing the demonstrations, which have seen activists blockade four major routes through London.
‘This is putting a strain on the Met and we have now asked offic
ers on the boroughs to work 12hour shifts; we have cancelled rest days and our Violent Crime task Force (VCtF) have had their leave cancelled,’ it said.
It added it has a ‘duty to balance the rights of those engaged in protest and who are acting within the law, against the needs and rights of Londoners to go about their daily lives with minimum disruption’.
Police at oxford Circus – where a pink boat appears to have been bolted to the ground – yesterday persisted with a tactic of sporadically selecting a protester to arrest before carrying them from the crowd to whoops and cheers from activists. Each arrest took at least four officers, as every protester would ‘play dead’ and had to be carried away.
among those led away by police was a 77yearold anglican vicar. reverend Sue Parfitt, from Bristol, locked herself under a lorry which was used to block the road at the protest at Marble arch on Monday. a friend described her as ‘an inspiration’, adding: ‘She was prepared to get arrested if it came to it.’
a senior Police Federation official said on Wednesday that officers had not cleared the protests because the Govern ment and senior officers had not given clear instructions to do so. hours later, images emerged of his colleagues enjoying an overnight rave with ecowarriors, smiling in hivis jackets as they danced to music blaring from a pink boat.
the officers looked appreciative of the protesters’ chants of ‘we love you’. one officer can be seen applauding as the crowd cheered.
But a police chief yesterday described their antics as ‘unacceptable’ after the footage appeared on twitter.
Scotland Yard said inquiries were being made to identify the officers involved. Met Commander Jane Connors said: ‘I’m disappointed by the video and the unacceptable behaviour of the officers in it.
‘We expect our officers to engage with protesters but clearly their actions fall short of the tone of the policing operation at a time when people are frustrated at the actions of the protesters.
‘We will be reminding officers of their responsibilities and expectations in policing this operation – however the majority of officers have been working long hours and I am grateful to them for their continued commitment.’
her condemnation came as footage also emerged of an officer apparently asleep in his car, while another was seen skateboarding in daylight on Waterloo Bridge along a section of road where ‘climate justice now’ was sprayed in pink letters.
‘Unacceptable behaviour’