Untruths - Lies, misinformation or mistake

[Gromit]

- There was a shootout with police
- The police were fired at first
- The police were just returning fire
- He was shot dead after wounding the police officer

Yesterday the IPCC confirmed that all the above statements are untrue.

The version of events widely published last week was completely false. He may have deserved it anyway, it may or may not have caused the riot, that is not my question. I would like you to ponder how such an inaccurate story was told to the public.

Do you think:
- It was all a mistake and the story got confused in transmission?
- The operation was botched but they didn't want to admit that?
- They deliberately lied because the truth would cause disorder?
- It was misinformation. They said an handgun had been recovered and an officer shot. They just left the bit out that the officer was shot by the police.
- He was a black drug dealing lowlife who deserved to die (This one for R1G)

Seriously. We should be able to believe the Police. This is not the first time the Met Police's statements and actual events have varied widely. If they are shown to be constantly lying how will we know the bits that are the truth?

[DrFilth]

did the met say the first bit or was it in the paper

the police usually say we have an ongoing case and can make no comment

[Old_Geezer]

i suspect at least some of it is down to confusion at the time and any early statement will have unverified understanding of what happened, that may prove flawed later. Also a bit of the rose coloured glasses, believing one's own "side" is bound to have got everything right.

[DrFilth]

in fact gromit did the family of the person shot not have the protest because the police would say nothing

[Ankou]

- There was a shootout with police
- The police were fired at first
- The police were just returning fire
- He was shot dead after wounding the police officer

when they were first published, the person saying them might have believed them to be true or that is what the cops on the ground told him / her ?

[modeller]

You do love bashing the police don't you Gromit second only to bankers and Tories.
Ah well if it keeps you happy.

[ummmm]

Agree with DrF...it's not even been a week yet.

[Gromit]

DrFilth,

I believe the family saw the 'Official' version of event publish the follow day (see link). This was before the riot, and they had questions of police, as (unattributed) eyewitness versions differed from the police account. The Official version appears to have come from the IPCC, so you would have hoped they would have got their story straight before talking to the press.

// A gun was found at the scene and a spokesman for the independent police watchdog said it appeared the officer was shot first before police returned fire. //

http://www.thisislond...olice-in-tottenham.do

[Booldawg]

Everytime the police fire a bullet its awash with media hysteria, internal and external scrutinisation, reams of paperwork, disciplinaries, investigations and witch hunts.

I doubt (post Brazilian electricians) they fire randomly at indiscrimate targets.

[DrFilth]

the london evening standard has a worse name than the mail

notice how it says >> it appeared <<

do they have to rush everything for certain familys, the ipcc will check everything and make their report.

[youngmafbog]

Part of the problem is that in an age of instant news and messages the Public expect everything laid out immediately. In this country the Police are not gung ho and it probably takes them by surprise when a shooting (Police or third party) takes place. There is bound to be confusion, hence the usual silence until the truth is known. Unfortunatley silence lends itself to rumour and mis truth, hence the problem we see here.

[youngmafbog]

Oh, and I'll support R1 on the last point

[sandyRoe]

Reminds me of the John Charles De Menezes shooting. The entire police account of the events leading up to the shooting were false.

[rojash]

Your problem, Gromit, is that you have no respect for tradition.

It is a well established tradition in the Police to punt out stories which throw the best light on their own actions and the worst light on their victims, as soon as possible after the event.
It's also a well established tradition to do their best to obfuscate and obstruct any attempt to establish the true facts.