‘Two-tier policing’ does not exist in the UK, says former police chief
![](https://nation.cymru/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/01J4CFJY3VJ7FSCXP26M4TVKHM-scaled-e1722765406809.jpg)
Claims that protests in the UK are subject to “two-tier policing” are unfounded and contribute to “a perception of unfairness which is not correct”, the former chief inspector of constabulary has warned.
Sir Thomas Winsor, whose role saw him oversee the efficiency of police services in England and Wales between 2012 and 2022, made the comments in response to allegations that right-wing protests are policed more harshly than left-wing ones.
It comes as violent unrest has broken out in parts of the UK, with the Prime Minister announcing on Monday that a so-called “standing army” of 6,000 specialist officers will be ready by the end of the week.
‘Even handed’
Asked on LBC with Nick Ferrari on Wednesday whether he saw evidence of selective policing during his time as chief inspector of constabulary, Sir Thomas replied: “No.”
“It doesn’t exist – policing is even handed,” he continued.
“If people are committing offences, and individual cases have to be dealt with on their individual merits, then they’ll be stopped and they may be charged and prosecuted.”
Sir Thomas said there is a “fundamental difference” between “noisy” pro-Palestine protests and “violent disorder that we see now”, adding that accusations of two-tier policing “increases a perception of unfairness which is not correct”.
More than 400 people have been arrested after disorder around England and Northern Ireland, according to police sources, with the number expected to rise in the coming days.
The violence was sparked by false claims about the identity of the teenager suspected of killing three young girls and injuring several others in a knife attack in Southport on July 29, and has seen shops looted and hotels housing asylum seekers attacked.
‘Criminal liability’
Sir Thomas also suggested there should be “criminal liability” for senior managers at social media companies that tolerate “harmful material” and incitement of crime on their websites.
When asked how the online sector should be policed, he said: “It should be policed according to the law and vigorously.
“I think the Online Safety Act is a big step forward but it doesn’t go far enough.”
He added his 2018 State of Policing report had suggested some social media companies were now “significant pieces of public infrastructure” and “merely fining” them was not sufficient.
“I said there should be criminal liability for senior managers and that should be at the heart of a system of regulation,” he continued.
Sir Thomas took aim at comments made by Elon Musk, who called the Prime Minister “two-tier Keir” in a series of tweets on Tuesday and had previously written: “Why aren’t all communities protected in Britain?”
“Mr Musk, it seems to me, should stick to batteries, cars and rockets – because he’s very good at it – and leave to the UK authorities the job of dealing with the protection of the safety and security of our communities,” he said.
Public trust
Former home secretary and Tory leadership contender Dame Priti Patel told GB News on Tuesday night that Sir Keir Starmer should recall Parliament to respond to claims of two-tier policing, which the Government denies.
She said: “The fact that that perception exists undermines public trust and confidence in our police. That’s not a good place to be.”
Communities minister Jim McMahon also rejected claims of two-tier policing on Times Radio on Wednesday but said he understands “where the narrative comes from”, particularly in relation to an incident in Birmingham where counter-protesters targeted a pub.
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Looking at some videos from the goings on in Stoke on utube the other day I beg to differ.
Oh really? What ‘goings on’ would that be? Been drinking the Kool Aid have we?
I’m appealing to your reasonable self here: are you even interested in debate? Do you not want to know why people think what they think? It’s just that you seem to be straight out of the gates with insults. I genuinely like to engage with people I disagree with, but in some cases there’s simply no point – is that the case with you, or is there some glimmer of hope?
1). I don’t engage with the far-right.
2). It would appear that the far-right are very fond of trolling but not so keen on being trolled.
3). You’re not interested in debate, merely peddling far-right misinformation – the two-tier policing BS being a case in point.
4). Snowflake.
“He who knows only his own side of the case, knows little of that”John Stuart Mill.
I shan’t trouble you again.
Only the far-right & right-wing media & papers would state such a thing. The very same a few years back called those Supreme Court judges who decided in favour of Gina Millar court action against Boris Johnson’s Article 50 Prorogation of Parliament were , and I quote: “Are enemies of the state” , end quote. And the millions who marched in support of Palestine and a Gaza ceasefire where a handful were arrested can’t be compared to the devastation caused by all those far-right thugs who attacked the police , Mosques , Muslims wearing traditional dress, hotels holding asylum seekers.… Read more »
If you are violent thugs, you must expect to not be treated like peaceful protestors. But then again I do expect when they get to court the will get far more leniant sentences that just stop oil ones. Bet they get pathetic sentences that deter nobody.
So what went wrong with the Manchester Airport thugs then? Smashing females in the face but not even charged yet.
https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/police-update-arrests-after-manchester-29668881
Took me less than 10nseconds.
What’s your excuse?
Incompetence, Laziness, Believing what’s spread on far right websites, other?
I made this comment to another “Adrian” earlier this week.
Are you one and the same or are there two Adrians who can’t or won’t use Google?
Nice one!
So they’re still on the street, yes?
Still not been charged?
It may be because you use Google that you’re so ill-informed. Try DuckDuckGo: you might learn something.
Immediately criticises someone for Google and then suggests DDG…
The information was published by the Manchester Evening Post.
A newspaper, you know one of those disseminators of news that are subject to regulations designed to protect the public by raising accountability, standards, and trust.
You appear to get (and to provide maybe) “news” from sources that don’t have any such requirement for accountability, standards and trust ie accuracy, fact and truth.
Trope propagated by the far right and useful idiot politicians.
And Patel? Really? A few weeks from her government complete car crash of the UK police force and NOW she says two tier, never in power? Did she do anything about this perceived issue that doesn’t exist?
Now, who else in Wales power lauds gbeebies….
All the recent video evidence suggests there is a two tier system of policing and prosecution. Where were the police in Birmingham for instance? Nowhere to be seen. Probably a consequence of being fearful of the accusation of racism or Islamophobia. This two tier system has been going on for years, it’s a mindset that allowed, for example, the mainly Pakistani grooming gangs to traffic and rape white children in many parts of the UK and almost with impunity. Criminality that many claim is still going on. A few were prosecuted out of the thousands thought to be taking part.… Read more »
Exactly…compare the lockdown protests to the BLM protests, the Harehills riot to the Southport one – and of course, lightning justice for white thugs, but brown ones can get filmed punching women in the face and walk away.
A pitch for Reform/Abolish the Assembly(sic)parties?
The difference is that the BLM protests were mostly peaceful, even Priti Patel has acknowledged that.
What you really mean to say is: ‘I don’t like black people protesting against social injustice against black people therefore why aren’t the police locking them up?’
There we are fixed it for you.
https://youtu.be/czkMLNpuGh4
I’ll choose my words, you choose yours.
So, you selectively pick out just one incident at a BLM protest (note that I didn’t claim that the BLM protests were completely peaceful, but mostly peaceful) and then immediately equate that with the violence and outright thuggery that we’ve seen in the past few days. The difference is that the BLM protests were intended to be peaceful – admittedly there were some bad actors amongst them who were dealt with by the police, contrary to what right-wing extremists like yourself claim. By comparison, the recent riots by right-wing extremists were intended to be just that – riots right from… Read more »
Hardly think getting kicked in the head and stamped on is walking away.
A pitch for Reform/Abolish the Assembly(sic)parties?
I’m sure that’s what you see mate…I can’t help you I’m afraid.
I disagree, your comments have been most helpful in revealing your actual views and motives. .
Firstly: “No deportation I believe”. If they are UK citizens they can’t be deported. Only a person with a racist mindset believes that non-white UK citizens should face deportation, clearly you are a person who believes that non-white UK citizens aren’t really UK citizens at all. Secondly: “This two tier system has been going on for years, it’s a mindset that allowed, for example, the mainly Pakistani grooming gangs to traffic and rape white children in many parts of the UK and almost with impunity.” Almost with impunity? From what I recall the grooming gangs were put on trial, found… Read more »
Duh-oh! If you throw bricks at policemen and try to set fire to buildings with people trapped inside, of course you are going to be treated with more severity than a peaceful protest is. If a person can’t work that out, they must be exceptionally stupid.
The question is whether the police are even handed on violent crimes. Ate they coming down harder on white working class people as opposed to their Islamic counterpart.
https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/police-update-arrests-after-manchester-29668881
So if you’re on film smacking female police officers in the face, what’s supposed to happen? Free pass?
Google is your “enemy”.
https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/police-update-arrests-after-manchester-29668881
Is that the same incident where a policeman was filmed stamping on someone’s head after kicking them in the face? Why, I believe it was. Highly selective outrage, hmmm?
Two separate offences. The Police officer was immediately suspended. The thugs are still on the street: you see the difference?
No. Stop being Woke
If there was a team event in the Olympics for stupid arguments, you and Linda would be odds on for gold.