Attacks in London 22 March 2017

They were murdered in cold blood. Pre meditated murder.

Natural justice was dispensed to the murderer. More cost effective than him being alive.

Totally agree with the sentiments so far!

As an Ex cop myself I am very proud of the way the Mets responded to this terrible act, but I feel that I should point out two things.

How many of you realise that as a result of huge funding cuts there are 22,00- less Police Officers on our streets than there were just a few years ago?  Outside of the London area many forces are struggling today to respond to unplanned incidents.  Community policing has all but ended, yet the beat PC has always been the one that picked up the info leading to the discovery of the terrorist lair.

It is becoming harder for forces to man up the firearms units because of the dreadful way that the authorities treat any officer who uses his gun. They are treated as potential criminals, suspended or isolated sometimes for months until cleared of any wrongdoing.  Would you volunteer for that?  I carried firearms for many years but was always more worried about using them than doing the job properly!

TF

To be honest I thought that community policing had finished very many years ago

Your first point has not been lost in debate these past days. In fact it has just been discussed this very minute on the BBC.  The weapons issue just been called a 'witch hunt' of the copper discharging their weapon in the line of duty. Those casting aspersions the CPS, IPCC, media should walk a mile in the coppers shoes in the split second they take the decision to fire; not the 18-24 months it takes to ostracise and threaten the officer with prison, job loss, pension loss.

In respect of your second, no different to how squaddies are treated for actions on the battlefield. Recent events (the dodgy claims guy and Marine A) show that it takes time and concerted effort to out the wrong/do gooders.

Some good will come out of this and your 2 points should be top of the list. Joe public has the power to lobby their MP, constantly, to ensure our safety. Unfortunately apathy prevails, which is what the elected and authorities rely on.

Andrew Neil has been widely praised for delivering an exceptionally strong monologue at the beginning of the This Week show.
The BBC journalist delivered a searing message to terrorists looking to frighten the British people in the wake of the Westminster attack.
He first paid tribute to PC Keith Palmer, killed in the attack on Westminster, saying: “Keith Palmer had been a copper for 15 years, a husband, a dad, brother, uncle, public servant. Before joining the police, he’d been in the army, defending our nation.
“Yesterday he was murdered defending our democracy, defending the very heart of our democracy from a barbarian at the gate.
“Just doing his duty, reminding us of something we badly needed reminding, that this most important people in this country are not the rich, the powerful, the famous but those who run to confront the enemies of our civilisation while the rest of us are running away. First responders like PC Palmer.
BBC
Andrew Neil delivered a strong message to those trying to frighten the British people
“Brutally stabbed to death by a jumped-up jihadi, not fit to breathe the same air as the man he killed.
“Now I know there are still some ‘Jihadi Johnnies’ out there who think they will eventually triumph because their love of death is greater than our love of life.”
Neil then turned his attention to the terrorists themselves.
He said: “Do you have any idea who you’re dealing with? This is the country that stood up alone to the might of the Luftwaffe, air force of the greatest evil mankind has ever known.
“If you think we’re going to be cowed by some pathetic, Poundland terrorist in an estate car with a knife, then you’re as delusional as you are malevolent.
“Yes, you have the power to hurt us. Sometimes the hurt is more than we can bear - but you cannot defeat us.
“Because for every brainwashed, brain dead Islamist you send to do us harm, we have thousands upon thousands of Keith Palmers. You find them in every walk of life and in every part of the land, they come in all shapes, all sizes, all colours, all faiths. They are the British people and against them you will never prevail.”

Thank  you  for  that,  Easy T

If  I  may  add  a  point,  I  have  heard,  but  only  once,  that  the  Armed  Officer  who  put  down  the  terrorist  was  not  a  Uniformed  Officer  but  a  Plain  Clothed  Member  of  the  Protection  group  allocated  to  a  member  of  the  Ministry  of  Defence.  Out  there  doing  the  job  with  no  obvious  personal  body  armour. 

He was Sir Michael Fallon's protection officer.

The Letters section in the Telegraph today, had several letters reflecting your comments.

British foreign affairs minister Tobias Ellwood who tried to resuscitate a police officer stabbed to death in the attack on Britain's parliament has been honoured by Queen Elizabeth, the prime minister's office said on Friday.

I like Andrew Neil.......he says it like it is. Doesn't sugar-coat it for the more precious amongst us.