Use technology to deal with park party problem
I WHOLE-HEARTEDLY support the right to protest and deplore current repressive moves to penalise people doing so when they are socially distanced or causing embarrassment to the powers that be.
But I have no sympathy for those who repeatedly think drinking in the park flouting guidance to protect innocent people can be justified. (‘Disgusting’ party and its aftermath, M.E.N. Friday, March 19)
The police have a difficult job. Move in to arrest one and you may face a fracas where more viruses are spread.
I don’t want our surveillance state to get any worse, but many years ago the army faced similar problems with stone throwing at patrols in Northern Ireland.
We got round it with telephoto lenses and then arresting people retrospectively.
With modern digital communications surely it would be possible to warn the crowd they were about to be photographed and had five minutes to go home. Then people at the ‘party’ could be photographed and the images sent to remote officers (at park gates or halls of residence) where they could be stopped and dealt with.
Once the word got out it might disperse the crowd.
Some will slip through the net. Their images could be shared on ‘NOT wanted for selfishness’ posters and social media. They and their families would recognise themselves.
‘Fallowfield resident’
Gracy drove change
THANKS to your reporter Adam Maidment for his article about Dame Gracy (‘A very special character whether in wellies or stilettos,’ M.E.N. March 20).
The account of how he and a couple of friends “walked down the streets of Manchester’s city centre with a banner loudly proclaiming ‘We’re out, we’re loud and we’re proud.’ Police soon turned up and dispersed the group for disturbing the peace” caught my eye for two reasons. Firstly, the Police Bill just withdrawn (for now and thanks to the campaigning efforts of Sisters Uncut and others) would give the police yet more power to do this sort of thing, further undermining democracy.
Secondly, it reminds me of the brutal assault on gay rights campaigners in Sydney in 1978, where people were arrested, beaten and their names and addresses given to the media, which published them.
Australia was deeply homophobic at that time, and people lost employment and accommodation.
Things are better (but far from perfect) now. In Sydney police now march in the gay pride parades.
The lesson is that it takes brave bold people to drive change. Decades later, once that change is embedded, official organisations will come in and claim they were supportive all along.
The history always needs re-telling, and your reporter did that well.