As the Israelis allegedly teach US police the horrific neck choke hold, a Florida sheriff describes how Scottish police taught him ways to reduce violence:
Sheriff Mike Chitwood requires all new officers to take 40 hours of crisis intervention classes developed in consultation with the Police Executive Research Forum, a reform advocacy group. He said at a recent forum sponsored by the group that his goal is to reduce the “warrior mentality” he found in some officers when he arrived at the department in 2017. He said he was also inspired by a trip to Scotland in 2015 organized by the group, during which he learned new strategies to minimize violence.
I remember writing about this story back in 2015 when only Sky News covered it.
Sadly, today, many are writing to protest the brutal ‘kettling’ technique used against peaceful protesters in George Square last Saturday. Not only was the use of kettling selective, after racist Loyalist groups had been allowed to run free, attacking members of the public, on two previous occasions, but its effects are known to be damaging especially on the elderly, the infirm and children in the group.
Kettling has been used notoriously on protesters in London in the past but is now not considered acceptable by the police themselves. Ten years ago, her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary, Denis O’Connor, described the ‘kettling’ technique as “inadequate” and belonging to a “different era” of policing.
I can find no account of kettling being used in Scotland before so where did the expertise apparent on Saturday come from?
It makes me wonder – who is controlling Police Scotland? Is it the SG? Or is it being run by some shadow organisation in order to deliberately create friction?
LikeLiked by 2 people
Agree, something not right about how PS operate…who is they actually answer to?
LikeLike
Perhaps something to do with Home office and the requirement ( willing ) from the Chief Constable of Scotland to supply Scottish Officers to help in NI. Maybe part of the training was Kettering.
LikeLiked by 1 person
My memory, now I am in my eighth decade, might be letting me down here, but, I have always understood that “kettling” was a technique, developed by the City of Glasgow Police back in the day to curb the enthusiasm of the Old Firm support, when they wished to exchange pleasantries before and after games.
LikeLike
In the 1960s, when I was a student, the Rectorial elections were often towsy affairs,Charities Week, could be quite ‘hairy’ and there were also political demonstrations, since ‘the Troubles in NI were beginning, the War in Vietnam was raging and Czechoslovakia had been invaded.
I can recall, in some of these, the Glasgow Polis surrounding particular groups and marching them back to the campuses either at Gilmorehill or on Cathedral St. The term ‘kettling’ was not used at the time, but that, in effect, was what it was. I can also recall football fans – my memory says “Airdrieonians” – being marched back from Firhill to Queen St and put on a train.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Kettling was used only a few years ago by Glasgow Police to prevent a group of Celtic supporters ( Green Brigade ? ) from marching from Glasgow Cross to Celtic Park on a match day . There was no suggestion that the march would be anything other than peaceful , yet the officer in command took this extraordinary decision .
Like many others , I have been ‘surprised’ by the recent lack of ‘kettling’ against the openly violent ‘loyalists’ in George Square yet peaceful , decent protesters are ‘targeted’ instead .
Go figure !
LikeLike