British police arrest 19 at London protest against social distancing

 

A protester is detained by police officers during a demonstration in Hyde Park, following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), London, Britain, May 16, 2020. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls

 

LONDON (Reuters) - London police arrested 19 people on Saturday for deliberately breaking social distancing guidelines in protest against the rules, on the first weekend since Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a slight loosening of England's lockdown.

 

The Metropolitan Police said that a group in central London's Hyde Park had been protesting about the government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and had failed to comply with repeated requests to disperse.

 

"It was disappointing that a relatively small group in Hyde Park came together to protest the regulations in clear breach of the guidance, putting themselves and others at risk of infection," Laurence Taylor, Deputy Assistant Commissioner at the Metropolitan Police, said in a statement.

 

"Officers once again, took a measured approach and tried to engage the group to disperse. They clearly had no intention of doing so, and so it did result in 19 people being arrested, and a further ten being issued with a fixed penalty notice."

 

Last Sunday, Johnson outlined plans to ease the lockdown, and people in England are now allowed to meet with another person from a different household in a park. However social distancing must be maintained under the rules, and gatherings of large groups are not allowed.

 

The protesters represented a minority of those the police encountered on Saturday, Taylor said.

 

"It was pleasing to see that people were largely compliant with the government guidance. Where they weren’t, and after we engaged with them, they quickly were," he said.

 

(Reporting by Alistair Smout; additional reporting by Peter Nicholls; Editing by Alexandra Hudson)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-05-17

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

- Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Is London a city in North Korea?

2 minutes ago, Retarded said:

Is London a city in North Korea?

Nope, but Whan king, is a city in China.

3 police on top of 1 guy ...... nobody wearing masks.

Tell me again how to do this social distancing?

 

Amazing England where the police 'bully boys' can crush innocent people walking in the park to the ground.

Edited May 17, 20206 yr by BritManToo

In a city of nearly 9 million people this is bound to happen in places like Hyde Park.

 

Changes that came into force in England on 13 May extended the permission to allow people to exercise “with one member of another household” in outdoor public spaces, such as parks or the countryside.

16 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

3 police on top of 1 guy ...... nobody wearing masks.

Tell me again how to do this social distancing?

 

Amazing England where the police 'bully boys' can crush innocent people walking in the park to the ground.

Would you rather it was the US and they shot him? 

They were breaking the law.

6 minutes ago, Rookiescot said:

They were breaking the law.

 

 

As you well know from Thai Visa, that is irrelevant  -  it seems many posters are either above the law or choose the laws that they abide by, and those that they don't.

Too many people listening to know nowts like Chris Whitty and not enough folk listening to know it alls like Piers Morgan I'm afraid.

16 minutes ago, Rookiescot said:

They were breaking the law.

 

Edited May 17, 20206 yr by Andrew65

This was a deliberately confrontational political protest, claiming the pandemic is fake,

and not some innocent bystanders getting pounced on by the police. Recognise this guy?

 

As for the headline photo, obviously incited; yeah, we all know the trick - "Police Brutality, Police Brutality".

2 minutes ago, nausea said:

This was a deliberately confrontational political protest, claiming the pandemic is fake,

and not some innocent bystanders getting pounced on by the police. Recognise this guy?

 

As for the headline photo, obviously incited; yeah, we all know the trick - "Police Brutality, Police Brutality".

Not commenting on the topic, but just to say that I'm amazed at the police attire.  I can understand that it's difficult for them to always stay 2 metres apart, so where on earth are their face-masks???

51 minutes ago, Retarded said:

Is London a city in North Korea?

No. 

33 minutes ago, Rookiescot said:

They were breaking the law.

And knowingly endangering others lives.

27 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

It used to be slam-downs were for violent criminals ....... now you can get it for a walk in the park.

I remember the past when some trivial offence like'being in the park when it was closed' would be a policeman shouting, "Oi .... get out" from the distance.

 

Presumably you'd be all in favour of police shooting motorists driving at 31 in the 30mph area?

How about illegal parking?

forgot your morning stroll, so better you do your morning troll

 

keeping on topic have you ever had to face a mob, and ' slam down' someone who is violent to wards you. 

Just now, vogie said:

And Boris and co tried to kill themselves with the virus just to prove the point

I don't know Boris .....

I can only say about people I know and correspond with.

Edited May 17, 20206 yr by BritManToo

35 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

It used to be slam-downs were for violent criminals ....... now you can get it for a walk in the park.

I remember the past when some trivial offence like'being in the park when it was closed' would be a policeman shouting, "Oi .... get out" from the distance.

 

Presumably you'd be all in favour of police shooting motorists driving at 31 in the 30mph area?

How about illegal parking?

Never short of a bit of hyperbole.

 

 

19 minutes ago, Dap said:

And knowingly endangering others lives.

 

Not if they believed the whole thing is fake.... !?!

1 minute ago, BritManToo said:

How else can you explain the extreme reaction of all governments to a virus that seems slightly more dangerous than the common cold?

You're off on one and I am not going with you.

 

Apart from CV spreads more easily and kills more people I guess you could say it's similar, not.

40 minutes ago, simon43 said:

Not commenting on the topic, but just to say that I'm amazed at the police attire.  I can understand that it's difficult for them to always stay 2 metres apart, so where on earth are their face-masks???

...and they all have the same beardy look, except the girls of course.

48 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

It used to be slam-downs were for violent criminals ....... now you can get it for a walk in the park.

I remember the past when some trivial offence like'being in the park when it was closed' would be a policeman shouting, "Oi .... get out" from the distance.

I'm pretty sure the police tried to disperse the crowd verbally first. And when they don't comply, they have to retort to tougher to a more hands on approach.

 

If you compare society today with 20 years ago, I agree there is a huge difference. Today nobody respects authorities, and everybody believes they are the center of the universe.

It's the "Me-Me-Me Generation" that's behaving like spoiled children.....

There are people on here that The Amazing Lucas (youtube) describes as OTLs. Obey The Law without questioning. The sort of people who cannot wait to report minor transgressions AKA Karens. Don't be one of them.

Just now, rasmus5150 said:

Today nobody respects authorities,

........ hardly surprising IMHO.

46 minutes ago, simon43 said:

Not commenting on the topic, but just to say that I'm amazed at the police attire.  I can understand that it's difficult for them to always stay 2 metres apart, so where on earth are their face-masks???

The UK government has not made mandatory or even recommended the wearing of face masks although it is now being considered.

31 minutes ago, Dap said:

And knowingly endangering others lives.

 

Really? Were these protesters going around spitting at passers by? Were they all infected with WuFlu? Do you have a link to this please?

 

More likely citizens exercising their right to protest government policy that is being called into question by doctors and experts all over the world right now.

 

Thing is that dissent (in public like this, on YouTube, etc) is not tolerated and so the police moved in to protect our freedoms...

 

 

1 hour ago, Retarded said:

Is London a city in North Korea?

No. Nigeria.

24 minutes ago, notmyself said:

 

Not if they believed the whole thing is fake.... !?!

True enough.

10 minutes ago, Antonymous said:

 

Really? Were these protesters going around spitting at passers by? Were they all infected with WuFlu? Do you have a link to this please?

 

More likely citizens exercising their right to protest government policy that is being called into question by doctors and experts all over the world right now.

 

Thing is that dissent (in public like this, on YouTube, etc) is not tolerated and so the police moved in to protect our freedoms...

 

 

Of course, but please don't come anywhere near me without a mask, because if you do, I may be forced to defend myself with the bat that will maintain the required safe social distance 

Edited May 17, 20206 yr by Dap

Plod acting as Parliaments Army doesn't bode well under the 1688 bill of rights & I couldn't help noticing a number of fines have been dismissed by the appropriate authorities which presumably will lead to charges for wrongful arrest/malicious prosecution being brought against them in due course.

Edited May 17, 20206 yr by evadgib

11 minutes ago, Antonymous said:

 

Really? Were these protesters going around spitting at passers by? Were they all infected with WuFlu? Do you have a link to this please?

 

More likely citizens exercising their right to protest government policy that is being called into question by doctors and experts all over the world right now.

 

Thing is that dissent (in public like this, on YouTube, etc) is not tolerated and so the police moved in to protect our freedoms...

 

 

Does any one know that if an opinion turns into nonsense, does it become libelous, asking for a friend?