Police must tackle menacing mobs
Amob demonstrates outside the home of a Conservative MP in a Dorset village, brandishing pro-palestinian placards. An organiser bellows insults aimed at Tobias Ellwood, a former defence minister, over his perceived support for Israel’s invasion of Gaza. Meanwhile, in London, a Christian preacher in a shopping centre quoting from the Bible has apparently offended a passer-by who alleges homophobia.
In both instances, the police are involved. In Dorset, they speak to the demonstrators and advise them how to stage a lawful protest, even though it is clearly intimidatory and disruptive. In Uxbridge, north-west London, the preacher is threatened with a night in the police cells.
What is going on here? The law is supposed to apply equally to all and yet latitude on the grounds of free speech is given to a group of around 80 demonstrators apparently intent on browbeating an elected parliamentarian. But a preacher can be threatened with arrest even though the police officer has heard nothing untoward and has no idea if the allegations of a “hate crime” are true.
The confusion exhibited by officers in these circumstances is nothing new and framing guidance in a world where anyone taking offence can seek police intervention is difficult. But chief constables need to inculcate a sense of proportion in their officers and greater clarity is required about when and how their powers are exercised.
The failure to disperse the crowd outside Mr Ellwood’s home for hours is an especially worrying development. The MP and his children were in the house and the demonstration could clearly have been perceived as menacing. Indeed, even if they are not directly threatening, these protests risk having a chilling effect on the willingness of our politicians to take a stand on a particular issue.
The police now trigger Operation Bridger to protect the security of MPS. But earlier this month, Tory justice minister Mike Freer said he was stepping down after “a constant string of incidents” including death threats, abuse and narrow escapes. His constituency office was the target of a suspected arson attack over Christmas. The Prime Minister yesterday emphasied the importance of protecting MPS’ security.
The danger is that allowing mobs to besiege the homes of MPS will simply encourage the more deranged in society to take more direct and potentially harmful action. Police chiefs need to sort out how these protests are dealt with.