Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha.
The summer riots that occurred in the UK left lasting trauma on police officers who had to deal with the violent unrest. The riots were sparked by the fatal knife attack in Southport which killed three girls. In Middlesbrough, the protest turned into a rampage with protesters setting fire to buildings and trying to set officers on fire. The police officers spoke of how they faced barrages of bricks, and one officer even suffered a heart attack.
Chief Inspector Zoe Kelsey, who led a team of riot-trained officers, said that “it’s like being in a warzone – but you’ve just got a shield and stick.” The frontline police officers spoke openly about the violence they had to face and the lasting trauma it caused. They stated that they feared that one of their fellow officers could have been killed.
The disorder was fueled by misinformation on social media, leading rioters across the UK to exploit the tragedy to attack the police, trash shops, and set cars on fire. In Middlesbrough, around 1,000 people gathered with only 125 officers on the ground. The force estimates that the riots caused more than £750,000 worth of damage, and 916 people in England and Wales appeared or are due to appear before the courts in connection with the national disorder.
Further reports from the police paint a grim picture of the events as they unfolded. Chief Inspector Kelsey described it as “mass disorder,” and that it was “very thin that day.” The police officers encountered people offering money to burn police cars out. Meanwhile, Inspector Adrian Dack commented that when a wheelie bin was set on fire and thrown towards them, the crowds cheered. Rioters smashed the windows of homes, shops, and takeaways during the disorder.
The police officer’s testimony highlights the trauma and emotional distress that the UK riots caused. The long-term financial and emotional impact on forces and officers involved, the caseloads, and budgets will be felt for 18 months, police chiefs warned MPs during a parliamentary select committee this week. These officers’ lasting trauma serves as a reminder of the brutal reality of events that occur in areas with unrest
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha.