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Arrests figures:
26 individuals arrested:
- 12 for violent disorder
- 2 for arson
- 4 for assault on police
- 3 for criminal damage
- 1 for drunk and disorderly
- 4 for burglary
Injured figures:
43 protestors attending hospital
12 officers have been injured
Editorial
The Metropolitan Police failed to control the actions of thousands student protestors yesterday despite repeated warnings that organised groups would attempt to cause mass disruption in central London at the time of the student protests. It is now time the current Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police resigned or be sacked by the Mayor of London Boris Johnson, for failing to prevent the disgraceful scenes on the streets of Whitehall and the West End.
The London Daily News reported on 7 December that a group called the "National Campaign Against Fees and Cuts" would use "direct action" tactics to demonstrate on Thursday, why did the Met Police not monitor, track down and prevent this group from orchestrating a well organised day of violence in London?
The Met Police issued a statement in the aftermath of the first wave of violence on Thursday:
"Police completely condemn the outrageous and increasing levels of violence that some of the protestors are now involved in. This has nothing to do with peaceful protest, students are involved wanton vandalism including smashing windows in Oxford and Regent Streets. Innocent Christmas shoppers are being caught up in the violence and disruption."
What is the point of having the Met Police, if we cannot secure and keep law and order on the streets of Whitehall, the centre of the British government?
"The Metropolitan Police Service is extremely disappointed with the actions of many protestors who from a very early stage deviated from the agreed route. There were people on this protest who came with no intention other than one of violence and to commit disorder"
There has to be a new approach to protests, and there will be more in the New Year. The police must make it clear to the groups wanting to protest, that these are the "rules of the game" if you break them, then you will face immediate arrest. London is hosting the 2012 Olympic Games the damage these protests have made to the image of London as safe place to do business, and enjoy a holiday cannot be understated.
The Met Police justified the use of mounted police by saying it needed "to provide essential re-enforcement to police officers who were coming under attack". What a state of affairs that a group of students provoked the use of coppers on horse back!
Moreover the Met Police in its current shape is not fit for purpose, we need to slim it down, make it more "relevant" to the needs of London with more highly skilled officers trained to deal with intelligence lead operations. Its no good saying "we were caught out by surprise". If The London Daily News reported three days ago that student groups were preparing for protest then the intelligence services should also have been made aware. If students want to demonstrate, the police must contain protests in secure areas, any deviation should be dealt with immediately and harshly. Londoners are waking up this morning, to the humiliating scenes of teenagers destroying some of the most important elements of the capital, like the Cenotaph and statues being vandalised like that of Winston Churchill. A total disgrace these thugs should be apprehended and arrested; Commissioner Stevenson should resign. The headlines from around Europe:
Violent face-à-face entre étudiants britanniques et policiers - Le Monde France
(Violent face-to-face clash between British students and police)
Violencia en Londres al aprobar los Comunes el polémico incremento de las tasas universitarias - El Mundo Spain
(Violence in London to approve the controversial increase in university tuition fees)
Hochschulfinanzierung in Großbritannien Die ruhigen Tage sind vorbei - Frankfurter Allgemeine - Germany
(Funding of higher education in Great Britain, the quiet days are over)
«Σοκαρισμένος» ο Ντ. Κάμερον από την επίθεση διαδηλωτών κατά της λιμουζίνας του πρίγκηπα Καρόλου -
Kathimerini Greece
Shock of David Cameron over the attack from protestors against limousine of Prince Charles
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