Henry Porter One of the troubling developments in the past few years, is the number of times police have been captured on film lashing out at innocent demonstrators and football fans, neither of whom can rely on ready sympathy from the public, but who nevertheless have rights in a democracy.
Three weeks ago, the east Lancashire derby between Burnley and Blackburn Rovers took place in normally tense conditions, in which fans from both sides were isolated before and after the fixture at Burnley's ground, Turf Moor. Trouble after the match was reported in the media with Superintendant Terry Woods, of Lancashire police, issuing a standard statement about a few troublemakers. "Unfortunately we have had to deal with some disorder inside and outside the ground," he said. "However, the operation that is in place has enabled us to successfully deal with those pockets of disorder rapidly."
Yesterday, the Police State website publicised a video that shows shocking levels of violence by the police and which certainly puts a different slant on what actually happened after the game. Officers are seen wading into the crowd with batons flailing. It is only a 40-second video, but the fans did not appear to be presenting a violent threat ........
Article here : http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/henryporter/2010/apr/19/football-police-burnley-blackburn
Video here : http://policestate.co.uk/articles/74
