On 10 Nov 2007 at 10:17am why Knock the police wrote:
Why does everyone knock the police I have members of the police in my family and friends. The individual police officers
as a whole are not against bonfire its the chain of command
who tell them what to do. I bet most of you have to do things on a daily basis because your boss tells you to do it.
most often than not you prob know its wrong but you have to do it regardless.
but i bet you dont get punched kicked spat at and called everyname under the sun doing your job.
one of my friends booked a 3 day holiday from the police only to have the holiday revoked because of lewes bonfire trust me
she would have rather been in spain than lewes on the 5th
please give them a break.
On 10 Nov 2007 at 10:31am FA wrote:
It's the same old story mate.....slag the police off untill you need them.
My father was a dog handler for 35 years in Lewes/Brighton and you would not believe some of the things he was subjected to.
It's also amaizing how many people who slag the police off have criminal records.....they do something wrong then hate the police for bringing them to book.
On 10 Nov 2007 at 10:51am The Super K wrote:
I've nothing against the police at all, after all the LBN wouldn't happen with out them. I just think its a case that one or two bad ones ruin it for the rest. The same as the one or two id0its of the public that put rookies in glass bottles near public toilets give "the powers that be" an excuse to ban the night.
As for missing a holiday because of Bonfire night, thats not Lewes's fault thats the nature of the job, the same as my wife misses christmas every year because she works in a hospital.
And No I have no criminal record.
On 10 Nov 2007 at 11:33am CROSS wrote:
Well in that case WKTP, according to your recent post about chains of command, Rudolf Hesse and the rest of his henchmen (during the Nuremburg Trials), should have been let off because their defence was "I WAS ONLY FOLLOWING ORDERS".
Your post also supports the fact that Chief Inspector Parrot ordered the Lewes Borough President to be maced, beaten, robbed (ripping his watch off and throwing in the road) and humiliated in front of thousands of people?
The police are to Protect and to Serve, not to intimidate and repress the people.
Super K. Bonfire night has run for years without the police. We employed Marshalls to encourage the crowd to stay out of the raods on on the pavements. We never wanted barriers; the police enforced this and thus restricted ease of movement for the people of Lewes. We've been doing it longer than the police - who do you think would have more experience in crowd movements in Lewes????
On 10 Nov 2007 at 12:51pm Arctic wrote:
If the police want to improve public order on the 5th then they should close Lewes Station. It's the crowds that need policing not Bonfire!
On 10 Nov 2007 at 1:45pm me wrote:
well said Arctic
On 10 Nov 2007 at 1:59pm The Tooth Fairy wrote:
I'm no anarchist, but the police offer appalling value for money and only exist to serve themselves. The public have no confidence in them, and at worst, dislike/distrust them. They are only interested in easy targets to improve crime reduction figures. Next time you get burgled or your car gets vandalised call the plod and see if anyone turns up or gives a toss. However, next November 5th four hundred will turn up to police an event that the societies do well anyway.
All British cops are distant and aloof to the public. I have travelled extensively in the USA, over there the cops are approachable and friendly. You often see them taking their meal breaks in public restaurants and they will pass the time of day with you, especially if you have kids with you. Compare that to the attitude of ours. You can't even walk into Lewes nick any more without using that stupid intercom in the street. On the whole, the police have a poor reputation. Ian Blairs bare faced cheek in staying on despite one of his officers shooting an innocent seven times in the head sums up the institutional arrogance of the boys in yellow.
On 10 Nov 2007 at 2:18pm The Super K wrote:
Fair do's CROSS the socities did use to marshall well, however they also kept all the pocessions together something that never happens now! I also think you'll do well in this day and age to hold an event where 60,000+ people to turn up and not have a police presents.
On 10 Nov 2007 at 6:33pm Cliffebimbo wrote:
I think the societies do marshal well, but I have to say their efforts are made more difficult by the amount of crowds coming in. My solution would be: Get the train company, whatever they may be called nowadays, to stop putting on extra trains, then there would not need to be so many police and the marshals can do their jobs more easily. The police and the bonfire societies hold meetings before the event about safety, but I bet the train companies are never involved.
On 10 Nov 2007 at 7:02pm Arctic wrote:
The train company makes a big profit out of bonfire, they've been known to put up posters in Victoria Station! We pay the cost of extra, unnecessary, policing and have the town filled with idiots. The police have no problem telling us (the taxpayers) what to do, but shy away from doing anything that might hit shareholders in the pocket.
Do the police want the overtime?
Why don't they close the station?
On 10 Nov 2007 at 11:38pm SHS wrote:
Station looked pretty much closed today, they're taking up all the track. Maybe more flats planned??
On 11 Nov 2007 at 12:16am expat wrote:
So how long ago was it that the town wasn't policed on Bonfire night? 35 years ago it was policed, when my dad was at Lewes. Ok their presence was lower, but they were definitely there.
On 11 Nov 2007 at 2:44am lopster wrote:
its the police that are able to enforce the town closure to traffic on the 5th so that must be maintained - closing the station? what will that achieve? MORE people trying to drive and churn up verges as they park on the outskirts, thus causing even MORE disruption when leaving - far from closing the station extra trains should be put on (like they used to) to get those that do visit away as quickly as possible and NOT get stressed out with crowd control when they're leaving, and usually more alcoholled-up than earlier in the evening - seeing the vid on you-tube I hope there is an enquiry into the incident - all credit to whoever kicked the torch out from under the victim, under the plod! - can't quote before 1978 but I've always seen (initially much lower-profile granted) policing - became infuriating with the introduction of PA systems (sure they must have some advantage under certain circumstances), barriers, and one-way twittens however
On 11 Nov 2007 at 11:21am CROSS wrote:
The thing about the police 35 years a go was that most of them were in the pub and knew what was going on. The London beat boys that come down want some fun just like sick soccer thugs.
On 11 Nov 2007 at 6:18pm Arctic wrote:
Extra trains are already laid on (10 an hour I believe). Surely it's much easier to police the traffic trying to enter the town than it is to police the thousands of idiots that come in by train, then the police could leave us to celebrate our freedom as only we know how!
On 12 Nov 2007 at 10:28am Amethyst wrote:
If people had to find somewhere to park to come into Lewes on the 5th would get fed up and not bother. The train companies make a lot of money and they say they have to lay on extra trains for the safety of their customers as there are too many people on the platforms! Surely if the platforms are full you close the station. They also argue that they need to get Lewes people home from london after work - but if they know they can't get home after a certain time they will make alternative arrangements. The upshot is that if there weren't so many spectators the evening would run much smoother. The police are ill informed about the layout of the town and where the processions go. When the United Grand came down the High Street there was no exit for them and the procession was backed up, propably to the top of Western Road - all because the police had not cleared Eastgate Street. If the crowd were not there there would be no problem. You can walk out of your house dressed up, be told by a policeman that the alleyway at the side of your house is closed and then offered a map to get you to the High Street!
Also in years gone by the pubs were closed except for locals - now they open and also advertise with a massive sign across the door "OFF LICENCE". Whatever happened to the ban on drinking in the street. Where do they think that people on bonfire night are going to be drinking their beer. The majority of arrests on bonfire night are for drinking/drugs.
SO, close the train station and shut the pubs to non-locals and you will find the problem is solved. Crowds and drunkeness do not mix.
On 12 Nov 2007 at 12:30pm Arctic wrote:
Totally agree with you about crowds and drink, the difference between processing on a Monday (when most of the crowds have been at work) and a Saturday (when they've been on the p!ss) is huge.
On 12 Nov 2007 at 1:42pm Its Not Rocket Science wrote:
Quite agree, we dont want the crowds at all. They are a pain and just get in the way, particularly the ones who want to prove how 'hard' they are to their mates by intimidating people in the processions both verbally and physically (its not just the police on the receiving end!). The more of them there are, the worse it gets. Most people who are not invoved in Bonfire seem to assume that we want a big audience, but in reality we are not doing it to perform to anybody, and I am sure that most of those involved will agree the best part of Bonfire is after the spectators have all gone home and we have the streets to ourselves. Cliffe last procession - aahh.. you can't beat it. If you havn't seen it - please keep it that way !!
On 12 Nov 2007 at 3:24pm me wrote:
i agree the last procession when pretty much no-one is about is by far the best for marching.
On 12 Nov 2007 at 10:43pm Spinster Of This Parish wrote:
The trouble with the last procession is that each year, more and more members of the public are hanging around for it and (even more irritating) barging in on Bonfire Prayers at the end of the evening.
On 13 Nov 2007 at 3:14pm me wrote:
No barging this year. The sqaure was rightfully reclaimed for it's members.
On 13 Nov 2007 at 3:51pm Arctic wrote:
The best prayers I can remember. Next time the 5th falls on a Sunday I hope we do the 6th instead of the 4th.
On 13 Nov 2007 at 4:53pm Amethyst wrote:
If you put barriers up around the area of your prayers the police will know what you want and stop the public barging in. A thought for next year? It worked for us.