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30 Mar 20
17:55
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Date Joined:
30 Mar 08
Lord Sumption continued: "The tradition of policing in this country is that policemen are citizens in uniform, they are not members of a disciplined hierarchy operating just at the government's command."
"The police have no power to enforce ministers' preferences but only legal regulations which don't go anything like as far as the government's guidance," he said.
"I have to say that the behaviour of Derbyshire Police in trying to shame people into using their undoubted right to travel to take exercise in the country and wrecking beauty spots in the fells so people don't want to go there is frankly disgraceful.
"This is what a police state is like. It's a state in which the government can issue orders or express preferences with no legal authority and the police will enforce ministers' wishes.
"I have to say that most police forces have behaved in a thoroughly sensible and moderate fashion. Derbyshire Police have shamed our policing traditions."
Hear hear
"The police have no power to enforce ministers' preferences but only legal regulations which don't go anything like as far as the government's guidance," he said.
"I have to say that the behaviour of Derbyshire Police in trying to shame people into using their undoubted right to travel to take exercise in the country and wrecking beauty spots in the fells so people don't want to go there is frankly disgraceful.
"This is what a police state is like. It's a state in which the government can issue orders or express preferences with no legal authority and the police will enforce ministers' wishes.
"I have to say that most police forces have behaved in a thoroughly sensible and moderate fashion. Derbyshire Police have shamed our policing traditions."
Hear hear
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exellent listen on radio 4 this afternoon,
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000gt59
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000gt59
Thanks Elisjohn
The real problem is that when human societies lose their freedom, it's not usually because tyrants have taken it away. It's usually because people willingly surrender their freedom in return for protection against some external threat. And the threat is usually a real threat but usually exaggerated. That's what I fear we are seeing now. The pressure on politicians has come from the public. They want action. They don't pause to ask whether the action will work. They don't ask themselves whether the cost will be worth paying. They want action anyway. And anyone who has studied history will recognise here the classic symptoms of collective hysteria.
Completely agree with him again here. Its clear we’re going down this authoritarian road now and it may even be too damaging to turn it around now but im glad there are other people who have this concern and surprised more commentators arent expressing it.
The real problem is that when human societies lose their freedom, it's not usually because tyrants have taken it away. It's usually because people willingly surrender their freedom in return for protection against some external threat. And the threat is usually a real threat but usually exaggerated. That's what I fear we are seeing now. The pressure on politicians has come from the public. They want action. They don't pause to ask whether the action will work. They don't ask themselves whether the cost will be worth paying. They want action anyway. And anyone who has studied history will recognise here the classic symptoms of collective hysteria.
Completely agree with him again here. Its clear we’re going down this authoritarian road now and it may even be too damaging to turn it around now but im glad there are other people who have this concern and surprised more commentators arent expressing it.
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