More Judicial Madness?

[ToraToraTora]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-23852854

[Sqad]

So........how does one, practically, TRAIN a policeman, not to react when someone "gobs" him in the face?

Uba, doesn't sound very British.....he could be an immigrant in which case he could well have PTB.

[anneasquith]

spitting onto someones face must be more disgusting than being physically assaulted . yuk :(

[ummmm]

No, you don't just stand there, you are trained in restraining techniques, you use them!

[Mattk]

Its the 'red mist' where your initial response is to lash out. Even politicians (Prescott) have done it.

[tonyav]

I think the police officer involved showed great restraint.

[hc4361]

Even his colleague wouldn't back him up in court, it must have been bad.

[sandyRoe]

PC O'Hara clearly hasn't learnt the unwritten code of the boys in blue.
A simple, 'The prisoner attacked my colleague.', would have ensured that this never troubled the learned magistrates.

[youngmafbog]

Ludicrous decision.

Scum need to be taught a hard lesson not one that shows they can now spit at Policemen with impunity.

Once more liberal justice flies in the face of common sense. This should have warrantied no more than an inquiry to ensure he did not repeatedly bash him (not acceptable) and maybe some further training to assist the Policeman in further duties.

Mr O'Hara would not support Rohan, Mmmmm. The Met is still inherently racist according to our liberal friends so I wonder .....

[pixie373]

It wasn't at all professional of the policeman. But i completely (secretly) understand his reaction.

[hc4361]

Had the policeman acted as he should have done, that yob would have been charged with Assault on a Constable in the execution of his/her duty, contrary to section 89(1) Police Act 1996 in addition to the offence he was arrested for.

That's the way police should retaliate - the days of the thug police officer should be long gone.

[ummmm]

Do you really think that this doesn't happen in other professions? Nurses, mental health staff, prison officers....

[anneasquith]

im not aware of any nurse who has been assaulted by a patient, then punched them in the face and had to be restrained by a colleague ?

[emmie]

i am not so sure i would have exerted such self control, he would have ended up out cold.

[Just-Jude]

It's interesting that the CPS went ahead with this. The blood was left for all to see and his "mate" gave evidence against him, not the usual cover up.

I wonder if his colour had anything to do with it.

[ummmm]

Anne, I meant other professions have been spat at and manage to control their reaction.

[FredPuli43]

A lay bench found a policeman guilty ? Blimey ! Mind, it was Highbury and Islington.

Don't why you lo are discussing this. He is going to appeal. The appeal is automatic; it doesn't require permission; and is a complete retrial of the case before a Crown Court judge and two lay magistrates, not from the same magistrates court.

Let's wait for that before we ask about 'judicial' madness.

[Peter Pedant]

Having been spat at - not by a police officer I hasten to add,

yes it is obvious that you have to stay put with a tired expression on your face - (every other bystander and gawker is now braced for a full fight...)

Actually it was a woman - there with her cousin - and she missed,
so she hoicked and did it again....

but there was no fight -which I think was the object of her actions, and then she would walk away and ring the police....

[flump1]

I don't blame the policeman , a knee jerk reaction to being assaulted by spittle. They don't get paid enough to suffer at the hands of these little rats.

[Orderlimit]

"I wonder if his colour had anything to do with it."

No, why would it?.