(no subject)

[mandragora]

Following the discovery of poison at a flat in North London near me, there was a raid today in Manchester in an associated counter-terrorist operation.

One policeman died in the operation, stabbed to death.

I am surprised by how shocked I am. Given all that we've heard recently about violence in Britain perhaps I shouldn't be, but I am. Upset, too.

My feelings are similar to when I heard about the 2 teenage girls killed in Birmingham, caught up in inter-gang warfare. Because we just don't do that in Britain. Except that, clearly, we've started to do so.

I can't remember the last time there was news of a policeman killed in the course of his duties. And that is a good thing, notwithstanding the poor man who died today.

The fact that I am - still - shocked by these events is because they do not happen often. Yet.

Comments

[yonmei.livejournal.com]

Well, primarily, of course, I'm talking about police violence against people held in custody, not negligence, which is always difficult to prove. Police violence is, relatively speaking, easier to prove - but no policeman is ever prosecuted for it.