‘No-win’ situation for police faced with protests

ENFORCING lockdown laws has become a “no-win” situation for officers, the chairman of the Police Federation has warned, because of mixed messages from Government over pandemic restrictions.

Officers have been battling with the challenge of keeping up with “ever-changing” rules, John Apter said, and as a result have been “abused, assaulted and vilified far too often”.

Writing in The Sunday Telegraph, Mr Apter said the scenes at the Clapham Common vigil earlier this month for murder victim Sarah Everard had shown the difficulties of policing during the pandemic.

The police response had attracted considerable media and political comment, “some of it very hard, often unfair”, he said.

Mr Apter said police had faced similar criticism for their handling of Black Lives Matter or antilockdown protests, with officers “damned by some when they intervene, and damned by others when they do not”.

At least 36 people were arrested at an anti-lockdown protest in central London on Saturday which saw crowds hurl missiles at police and assault officers.

Thousands of people had joined the demonstration, ahead of the anniversary of the first UK lockdown.

It came after more than 60 MPs and peers signed a letter warning that allowing the police to criminalise people for protesting “is not acceptable and is arguably not lawful”.

Mr Apter thanked the majority of people for understanding the difficulties police faced, while citing federation research that showed only one in 10 officers thought powers were clear.

“We have repeatedly called on the English and Welsh governments to stop issuing mixed messages to avoid further confusion when lockdown measures are lifted,” he said.

“Despite the avalanche of unfair criticism my colleagues have faced this week, they will continue to be the first to arrive whenever these same critics call us for help.”