In the news

I've had fireworks launched at me by kids in Victoria park, this was years ago. I was with a mate and his 6yr old kid, the kids shooting them weren't much older than him and didn't give two fucks if they hurt someone, just thought it was funny

If they're not in prison by now, I'd be amazed.

I was never interested in buying and launching rockets from milk bottles or letting off bangers on our estate. Sadly a girl we all knew lost her sight, she was 10 yo.. victim of careless and mindless act. The estate was our traffic free playground. There was a time when we (as teenagers) would head to Ally Pally or Primrose Hill (mid 80s) to watch annual bonfire display, without fear of injury.

Today I couldn’t be arsed, same with New Years Eve..

Lolz

https://twitter.com/thijsniks/status/1588987670356668417

Very good

Legends

Very, very cool

Needs Benny Hill music and playing at 1.5x the normal speed.

Scroll down a little on Twitter.

Mark Francois proving Will Self was right, again.

Norwegian Royal promotes Republicanism.

Guess it's easier than arresting protesters...
https://twitter.com/richfelgate/status/1589838847642243072

Edited.

Tossers.

Scary shit

I guess the idea is to scare journalists off covering the protests so the protesters get less publicity and decide to stop.

Feels like that won’t work.

1312.

World at One is suggesting it was just inexperienced coppers making a mistake. It's bizarre to arrest someone and search their home when they have a press card, which is usually issued by the Commissioner of the Met.

No way man. Has to be an order. an inexperienced PC wouldn’t arrest someone for taking pics. And a home search without a warrant would surely need to be authorised by at least Bob Cryer.

I tend to agree. To detain and question an accredited journalist for that long there ought to be involvement by the borough commander or something. But you never know with the police, especially a rural force. It could be a particularly thick sergeant without adult supervision.

it was just inexperienced coppers being thrown under the bus by the superiors who actually made the decision

FTFY

I don't have a high opinion of some of the inexperienced coppers either FWIW.

Even Nick Ferrari is like wtf, arresting journalists is not OK
https://twitter.com/charlotterlynch/status/1590264372945092609

I listened to that...
I'll readily accept that some thick/inexperienced/poorly trained copper can't tell the difference between a press card and library card but inexperience cannot explain the 14h detainment but and house search...
I was also very surprised at how ready to accept this 'inexperience' bullshit their expert correspondence (Danny Shaw?) was.

The Herts Police statement is a load of nothing
https://www.herts.police.uk/news/hertfordshire/news/2022/november/statement-regarding-arrests-of-journalists--9-november

Snipped version below. The insinuation behind the phrase "legitimate media" is ugly.

Chief Constable recognises the concerns over the recent arrests of journalists who arrived at these locations and have been present with the protestors at the scenes. Additional measures are now in place to ensure that legitimate media are able to do their job. Mr Hall is today requesting an independent force to examine our approach to these arrests and to identify any learning we should take

Even if they weren't press they weren't doing anything illegal! Press cards have little to do with it.

Even if they weren't press they weren't doing anything illegal! Press cards have little to do with it.

To make that statement wouldn't you need a lawyer to opine on things like "joint enterprise"?

Even if they weren't press they weren't doing anything illegal! Press cards have little to do with it.

Isn't it 'illegal' now to just be suspected of protesting? So if you're in the area, looking like you might be involved (bags, cameras etc?) then you're in breach of that new law thing?

I might be a bit out here though, happy to be corrected!!!

Hasn't the Supreme Court already done that? I'm not sure I see how it might apply here either way. Even wrongly applied, joint enterprise was never just guilt by association.

Not that the police would give a fuck either way.