More on police

From an email I just sent to my local MP:

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While I am pleased to be able to give praise when it is merited, I also consider I should provide criticism where it is appropriate.

The violence shown by a physically larger male officer in grabbing this woman (see here) by the throat is unacceptable.

It does not matter that she was not not wearing a facemask, nor that she broke the law by refusing to give her details: that specific part of her arrest creates a major risk of injury, and sends a terrible message in relation to domestic violence (of particular significance to me, as I have also been strangled by a physically larger male) as well as creating fear around the way health orders are being enforced. The officer showed later that he was capable of using more appropriate forms of restraint (i.e., the judo throw), although the whole situation has many unanswered questions, especially around de-escalation and a possible predilection to domination (sitting on her?!), which is damaging to the victim, society, and may feed problems in the perpetrator.

Other officers have also been seen applying chokeholds to women: do our police have a problem? I have no doubt that force command has good intentions, but is their message reaching everyone?

Sadly, given recent events, I have no faith in our police's investigation of this matter: such matters need input from the community, particularly minorities and the vulnerable, if they are to be effective, rather than an exercise in self congratulation.

I also consider this may be evidence of the need to better manage the mental health of police. They should be regarded as being in situations equivalent to that of soldiers, with appropriate rotations of duty. They should also be monitored for trauma - which can show as increasing authoritarianism. Such increasing authoritarianism renders such members of the police unfit to serve the community.