This copper’s justification for this ridiculous bit of heavy-handed policing by Derbyshire Police is pure police state reasoning:
By AndyRozza’s logic, any time the NHS gets full then we’re into police state mode, where no-one, except the police and essential workers, is allowed outside. We’re only free to leave the house if there are available NHS beds, in case we have an accident. If we can’t treat you if you cut your hand or bang your head or fall off your bike then you’ll have to stay inside for your own and others’ safety. The bureaucrats can then determine when it’s safe for the police to let you go outside.
I’ve always noted that a national health service provides authoritarians with an excuse to punish behaviour they don’t like. You can see that when health puritans start to talk about how we should think about not allowing smokers or drinkers to access NHS services. That’s never quite taken hold, because the UK is not that bad a country, but the current lockdown is providing a good chance for the Covid Nazis to start pushing the police state they’ve always longed for. And now they have the Corana Police on their side.
Update:
21 thoughts on “Apparently your freedom depends on whether there’s a hospital bed with your name on it”
This must be a wet dream for Britain’s useless Plod. No need to bother with actual crime, they can devote the whole day to harassing the hapless citizenry.
These eco Fascists also assume that you are going to crash your car while driving on country roads. It raises the question of how they would know
They really are nasty little authoritarians aren’t they.
The obvious thing to do if they are so bloody concerned about it is to make it optional like oh Switzerland or Australia, where you take out private insurance and get a much better health service, but of coursr they really hate the idea of people having a choice.
For the nasty little policeman threatening a family walking in the fresh air – the whole sodding justification for the lockdown is social distancing. That is being achieved by this family already, the way the police are conducting themselves is going to give them major problems with policing by consent later.
Of course they only pick on an isolated, easy to bully family, no mention of how heavily the more vibrant areas of our cities are being policed.
” If we can’t treat you if you cut your hand or bang your head or fall off your bike then you’ll have to stay inside for your own and others’ safety.”
This is the logical destination of the “Your safety is our priority” culture.
we are the police
These are the same nasty authoritarians who would love to stop me riding a motorcycle because I risk causing the NHS to treat me. This would be the same NHS that I’ve paid through the nose for all my adult life. Yes, indeed, what we are seeing here is the kind of authoritarian that’s always been there, given an excuse to show up their true nature.
It’s amazing isn’t it? Plod can’t do anything a bit difficult, like stop moslem rape gangs, muggers, acid attacks, burglars, drug dealers, knife crime etc. etc., but give them an opportunity to harass easy targets and they are all over it.
“No mention of how heavily the more vibrant areas of our cities are being policed”
By utter “Jobsworth’s”, like this one:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UO9-S5PhxUs&feature=emb_logo
A letter in this morning’s Tel says something to the effect of the police having a remarkable capacity to misdirect their resources. He can say that again. But what is the explanation – all the bosses are craven moral cowards?
If so, what is it about their incentive structure that encourages them to misbehave so much?
Look no further than Common Purpose.
Why? What incentives does it provide?
Interesting how many maggots come out of the woodwork in trying times. Where is Mr Ecks at the moment, I think we need him.
Nessimmersion
“Of course they only pick on an isolated, easy to bully family, no mention of how heavily the more vibrant areas of our cities are being policed.”
Modern policing is built around bullying the law abiding while ignoring the vibrant end of town. Note it’s also done at a distance to prevent them having a say too.
Dont for a second get the idea that just because you paid for it you get any say. That would be inconceivable. Your role is to take what you are given and praise them.
This, via Perry de Havilland at Samizdata, says it all:
https://www.samizdata.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/sounds-of-music-arrest.jpeg
“the way the police are conducting themselves is going to give them major problems with policing by consent later.”
They haven’t policed by consent for a few years now, have they?
I don’t believe all of them are.
But I don’t believe that all frontline cops are desperate to do a proper day’s coppering if only the boss would get off their back, either. A lot are morons. Power happy morons, as we’ve seen.
So some police forces are overmanned.
“What incentives does it provide?”
Look no further than CP’s original moto “Leading BEYOND Authority”. Which is exactly what we’re seeing now…
@ Julia – It’s fairly certain (from numerous FOI requests) that ACPO and most senior officers have done the CP course(s), but unlikely that the average rank & file coppers will have.
Apparently with everyone locked down they don’t have much to do and as there is no doubt overtime on offer (it’s an emergency!!!!!) they have to be seen to be doing something to justify their presence.
I’ve no doubt that the average policeman will do quite well financially out this crisis and do very little to help the practical situation.
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