Inserts, Auditors, Abuse And A Whole Load Of Demoralised Police Officers.

By Chris Hobbs – Retired Metropolitan Police Officer and now police commentator

The recent protest against the state visit of President Trump saw a relatively small event, as compared to the 75,000 who took to the streets of London back in June 2019 when Trump paid his first state visit.

Nevertheless, around 5,000 protesters from a variety of organisations assembled close to the BBC and the flags and chants illustrated the fact that the Palestine issue would feature prominently.

As the march began, journalists and police swarmed to one location indicating that something was amiss. Placing himself on a small plastic table and clutching a scrawled hand-made placard in support of Trump, was an individual who was formerly regarded as Tommy Robinson’s number 2. 

His positioning would see him in the centre of the march once it was on the move and he refused all pleas to move. In the event, as the march enveloped him and his entourage of photographers, journalists and police, there were predictable insults thrown in his direction but no violence. 

After a while, he picked up his small table and walked on before pausing again thus allowing him and the above- mentioned entourage to be enveloped again. This pause and move tactic continued until Whitehall was reached. The individual was last seen engaging in a reasonably civilised debate with several marchers and throughout the event there was, perhaps to this individual’s great disappointment, no physical violence shown. 

The Issue of ‘Inserts.’

The issue of ‘inserts’ has become an increasing problem for the Met since the commencement of pro-Palestine protests which have become a feature of London life following the 7^th of October massacre. The objective of the Inserts appears to be to provoke rival protesters to violence; however, their claim mirrors that of the Tommy robinson’s above- mentioned number 2, namely that they are merely exercising their right of ‘freedom of speech.’ 

The most prominent and frequent ‘Insert’ is a well- known pro-Israeli Iranian dissident who boasts that he has been arrested on numerous occasions but never convicted. His arrests would appear to have been straightforward in that they were either for breach of the peace or for breaching conditions imposed on counter-protesters. Clearly the judicial system did not agree. 

The appearance of Inserts invariably means that officers have to be deployed to protect them in case opposing factions violently react to their presence. The large Palestine Solidarity Campaign protests have, despite claims to the contrary, seen relatively little violence; it has been the smaller ‘emergency’ protests which have occasionally caused problems to police.

During the first protest called in relation to the proscribing of Palestine Action, which took place at the Trafalgar Square junction with Duncannon Street, there had been several scuffles with police and a number of arrests. Suddenly a small group of individuals appeared in the middle of the protest and unfurled an Israeli flag which, as they had doubtless hoped, provoked  fury amongst the protesters.

Police quickly bundled the Inserts on to a stranded bus for their own safety. They were eventually led away from the scene. The subject of police denigration by means of fake or distorted news, is a subject for another day; suffice it to say police were pilloried for their actions against the above Inserts to the extent that Commissioner Mark Rowley illustrated a parallel scenario in terms of police having to keep Arsenal and Spurs fans apart. 

Officer vilified after ‘insert’ stunt.  

‘Footage of the most famous ‘Insert’ incident has just featured again on social media and is being displayed as a current event when it is, in fact, 17 months old. It shows a Met police sergeant preventing a prominent member of the Jewish community complete with security and a camera crew, from walking through a Palestine march. 

The sergeant’s objective was to prevent disorder and ensure the safety of the individual and his ‘team.’ This clip provoked outrage on social media with the unfortunate sergeant being vilified. The vilification continued until Sky news produced a full filmed version of events which was supported by a respected eye witness. The sergeant ended up receiving praise from The Met’s Commissioner, Sir Mark Rowley. 

However, the problem of ‘Inserts’ is likely to continue and undermines the long- established police tactic of keeping rival groups separate, be they football fans or protesters with diametrically opposite views. 

If current legislation is inadequate to deal with what appears to be an increasing problem accentuated by current ‘freedom of speech’ issues, then police chiefs need to lobby for further legislation which enables officers to ensure freedom of speech whilst keeping people safe.

The issue of Auditors. 

So called auditors originated the USA and claim to hold police accountable by creating encounters with law enforcement officers. These encounters are normally filmed and posted online. The criticism of so called ‘auditors’ is that their motivation revolves around ‘clicks,’ monetary reward and popularity amongst those who despise police. Much UK approbation in respect of auditors can currently be found on the far right of the political spectrum. 

Auditors ‘modus operandi’ was initially to frequent police station gates and attempt to provoke and confront officers who were entering or leaving. Officers themselves initially would confront auditors concerned that their presence constituted a potential terror threat but generally will now simply ignore them. However, auditors have ‘spread their wings’ and attempt to find their ‘clicks’ at events where they have a captive audience of officers.

In one infamous example, as officers were policing a midweek protest in Parliament Square, a female cyclist, to the horror of watching officers, went ‘under the wheels’ of a lorry and was seriously injured. Officers rushed to assist; the injured female was transported to hospital and a large part of Parliament Square was cordoned off so traffic officers could investigate the circumstances. 

One officer, who was ‘guarding’ a section of the cordon was approached by a known auditor who, with his camera visibly in the officer’s face, demanded that he be allowed to enter the cordon. This confrontation went on for some considerable time; those witnessing it felt that the actions of the auditor merited arrest. The officer, however, was perhaps aware that, as with the above- mentioned inserts, the courts were likely to be less than sympathetic to police assuming the case got past the Crown Prosecution Service. The officer would also have factored in the support he would or more likely would not, receive from his senior officers.

At a recent pro-Palestine protest, also in Parliament Square, an ‘auditor’ walked along a cordon of officers stopping at each constable andholding a camera close to their face. Each officer has a name patch which shows their rank and surname. This auditor demanded their full name and then further demanded that they produce their ‘badge’ for his inspection by which he clearly meant warrant card.

Officers were varied in their response but none produced their warrant cards. 

TBL patches. 

Another auditor has an issue with Thin Blue Line patches.* The Commissioner dealt the first of several blows to morale when, after complaints from activist groups, he banned officers from displaying the patch. It’s worth noting that other forces permit the wearing of the patch and officers are positively encouraged by some Chief Constables, to display it. 

This particular auditor roams the streets, especially on protest days, looking for officers who may still be displaying the patch; most Met officers do still wear it but out of public view. Others have it attached to their protective vests where it is wholly or partially visible. 

This auditor, if he observes the patch, will chase after the officer and while filming, demand to know why is wearing the ‘gang patch’ whilst shouting out the shoulder number of the officer and the officer’s surname, if he is able to view it.

Foulmouthed abuse.

Another point of conflict, which poses similar issues to those referred to above, concern scenes of crimes where officers stand on cordons for hours; there they are confronted by abusive members of the public demanding access or who simply take the opportunity to abuse police.

Linked to the above, is the current propensity of those who loathe police to scream foulmouthed abuse into the faces of officers during incidents in the street be they related to public order or otherwise, which will be filmed by onlookers and captured on police body worn camera. 

Retired officers, including myself, will tell whoever wishes to listen that, in our day, those hurling abuse at officers in this way, would, after one warning, have been arrested for a relevant offence. Those days have largely gone. The Crown Prosecution Service, the courts and indeed senior officers have made it clear that officers should expect such abuse and tolerate it. 

It begs the question as to whether the Police Federation, chief officers and indeed retired officers should be lobbying politicians in order that they introduce appropriate legislation to counter this demoralising and increasing trend. A starting point might be ‘failing to obey the instructions of a constable,’ complete with appropriate safeguards. 

Meanwhile a police service in crisis continues to haemorrhage experienced, disillusioned officers as fake, distorted and misleading posts which denigrate police, swamp social media.

The “thin blue line” patch represents solidarity and remembrance for fallen police officers, with the blue line symbolizing the police force standing between law-abiding citizens and criminals. The design often features the national flag with a single blue line through it to show respect and support for law enforcement officers and their families, and to commemorate those who died in the line of duty.”

Stay up to date with all of our latest updates and content by following us on our social media accounts!

We have created community pages where we will share our up-to-date stories happening in the area. Add the area closest to where you live.