Cynical? moi?

[chickenfeet2003]

So the CPS has decided that no individual officers should be prosecuted over the killing of Jean Charles de Menezes but the Met is to be prosecuted for Health and Safety violations. I'm not surprised that there aren't any individual prosecutions. It's damnably difficult to get a conviction against a police officer and the CPS was no doubt under

Comments

[unblinkered]

Health and Safety????? Whose????? *boggle*

[chickenfeet2003]

It's an offence for an employer to conduct operations in a way that puts the general public at risk.

[rhythmaning]

Which is completely bizarre in this instance. For the Police to conduct operations with a full view of health and safety would restrict their activities so much - no speeding cars, then; no chasing people down the street (though I am not sure they do that any more); we could go on.

I must say though that your cynicism is resplendent. It hadn't occurred to me, but having read your post, I am sure you are right.

It amazes me that they can't just say "we got it wrong". And will we ever know if they will get it right next time? Particular after the Forest Gate debacle. (But they apologised for that, didn't they?)

[chickenfeet2003]

But they apologised for that, didn't they?

Not really. They apologised "for any hurt caused", which I think is more of a "I'm sorry you feel that way" than an "I regret my actions" apology.

[rhythmaning]

Actually, I thought it was more of a "well, the PR guy says I have to sit here and say this so we don't have a riot" kind of apology.

It is interesting how quickly things get forgotten, really.

* conceives an invasion of Lebanon as a cover for Labour Party's difficulties *

Actually - and seriously - I was astounded that Tony Blair said in an interview yesterday that no one in the Labour Party had done anything wrong in the "cash for peerages" scandal - before the police have finished investigating.

[chickenfeet2003]

I was astounded that Tony Blair said in an interview yesterday that no one in the Labour Party had done anything wrong in the "cash for peerages" scandal

I wasn't as he also said that there was nothing wrong with giving peerages to party donors as they were "working appointments" not "honours". Presumably the next Chief of the Defence Staff willl be appointed from among party funders too. Blair's been living in his little cocoon of sycophants so long that he has lost all touch with reality.

Labour's simulated outrage at the arrest of Levy does make an interesting contrast with their support for the police in almost every other circumstance but I think ultimately it's all of a piece. They really do believe that some pigs are more equal than others.

[rhythmaning]

Levy dismissed his arrest as "theatrical" and "heavy handed" - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/5177768.stm

There was a short letter in the Independent in response to this which just said "Welcome to Blair's Britain, Lord Levy"!

[chickenfeet2003]

I think the best answer would be to hit Levy and Blair with an ASBO prohibiting them from meeting with anyone who had ever given money to the Labour Party. Should be easy enough to get them in the slammer after that.

[rhythmaning]

Now, that is a really great idea!

[unblinkered]

Doesn't make me boggle any less....who is the general public in this case: the bystanders in the tube station or Menezes himself? Or am I being waaaaay too literal about this? Gah!

[chickenfeet2003]

I think there are only two possible explanations:

1. The CPS felt the Met's performance was so egregious that some charges had to be laid but lacked the balls to bring serious charges.

2. It's, as I suggested, a delaying tactic aimed at winning time for the Met and the government.

I suspect the latter.

The "sensibleness" of the charges are irrelevant.