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 Over zealous Policing Last night !!

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    On Fri 6 Nov 2009 at: 09:25 Annoyed of Lewes wrote:
    I saw an old school friend last night, I had not seen them for some years. I as anyone would said hello, my old school friend proceded to put his arms around me (Normal behaviour for men) at this point we were both manhandled by two Police officers. We explained what we were doing ( Not that I feel we had to) They just went "Oh" and walked off. When I asked them why they had felt the need to manhandle us, I was told to behave and go on my way.
    What absolute idiots, Well done Sussex Police for over policing. You are a credit to the nations Police!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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    On Fri 6 Nov 2009 at: 09:43 spongebob wrote:
    My other half, who is in the procession, commented that there was hardly any police about this year compared to other years.

    If you've got a complaint annoyed, go to the poice complaints authority.

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    On Fri 6 Nov 2009 at: 09:51 Annoyed of Lewes wrote:
    No I am not going to go to those extremes I just felt that they were being a little heavy handed for no reason.
    I think there were just as many of them but they were hanging around in large groups so as they were not everywhere.
    I am just hopeful someone in authority at Sussex Police sees these forums and this thread, and realises that people are not happy with last nights Police effort. I know I am not the only one!!

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    On Fri 6 Nov 2009 at: 09:58 spongebob wrote:
    Annoyed...the police only seem to read this forum when people are slagging off p**eys etc etc....they're certainly quick enough to come on here then. However, ask them to respond to heavy handed tactics and you don't see them for dust. No wonder they're hated and have lost the respect of most people.

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    On Fri 6 Nov 2009 at: 10:32 veksy wrote:
    The following dialogue made me chuckle last night.
    Two anti riot vans and a squad car driving around aimlessly. They stop and wander over to a group of elderly ladies and gentlemen nr the Swan and said:
    Sorry - we not from around here, we have been sent to police the Southover fire sight but we errr... cant find it.
    much mirth as a crowd began to come over
    is that cockshot road - one asks
    yes but you wont be able to get your van under the railway bridge
    ah... er.. do you have any other suggestions
    park up and walk?
    errr, dont think we can leave our van
    well - your a bit stuck then, perhaps you could go round by the Rugby club - long description of directions followed.
    thanks - one last question said the riot officer. Is there generally much trouble at Southover - or is it quite family orientated?
    Er... not much trouble no and lots of families do come along
    and with that - off they went never to be seen again.
    one of many highlights on a great night....

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    On Fri 6 Nov 2009 at: 10:33 Citizen Cane wrote:
    What totally unfair tosh...they have a job to do...imagine the criticism they would get if they ignored a potential incident...bonfire night can be very intimidating for some...and I'm glad when I see a policeman..

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    On Fri 6 Nov 2009 at: 11:05 Toque wrote:
    It took two police officers to stop a young girl writing her name on the road using the blackened end of a discarded torch. Meanwhile drunks were pissing down the alleys and kicking bottles around.

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    On Fri 6 Nov 2009 at: 11:07 Annoyed of Lewes wrote:
    Typical Old Bill, Pick on easy targets

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    On Fri 6 Nov 2009 at: 11:40 Annoyed of Lewes wrote:
    Besides last nights Police. In Lewes we are very unlucky with the officers and senior officers we have to endure. They are very very poor.

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    On Sat 7 Nov 2009 at: 15:55 ziggy wrote:
    Damned if they do damned if they don't. Lewes Bonfire is an accident waitng to happen. So if there were no police and something disastrous were to happend then, people wpould be asking ' where are all the police' they cannot win.

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    On Sat 7 Nov 2009 at: 19:06 Brixtonbelle wrote:
    Trying to get over the bridge from Cliffe was a nightmare because of the 'bottlenecking' caused by the crowd control barriers. That was the only area I saw that could have been potentially really dangerous - and we weren't the only people to think so - the lines of police on the bridge - about 20-30 - of them were coming in for some ear-bashing over the policy apparently designed to stop Cliffe BS throwing coals in the river... If anyone had fallen over, or a panic ensued there could easily have been a crush injuries or worse. As walked around we saw quite a few grim faced police in riot gear obviously waiting for any possible trouble and also saw at least 7 potential arrests and one actual arrest. Anyone know the actual figures for the night ?? I have also never seen so many drunk students in one place since freshers week and suddenly understand the desire of some bonfire devotees to keep the commemorations local !

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    On Sat 7 Nov 2009 at: 19:23 Annette Curtin-Twitcher wrote:
    They've used barriers on the bridge for 2 or 3 years now. I was told it was because they were worried about its load bearing capacity when crammed with people.
    Afaik, no-one throws coals into the river, but Cliffe, along with some of the other societies, throw a burning tar barrel in. It represents the magistrate who was thrown in the Ouse by bonfire boys when he tried to stop the festivities by having the Riot Act read.

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    On Sat 7 Nov 2009 at: 19:24 Lopster wrote:
    asked the boys in blue why the bridge was stupidly narrowed again this year - answer (you'll like this) - to prevent the creation of dangerous pinch points!!!
    .
    .
    last year they told me it was to stop people from being accidently impaled on the railings (equally infantile reason) - not sure exactly what the statistics are for accidental impaling on the bridge railings on the fifth are - any one else know?

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    On Sun 8 Nov 2009 at: 20:00 Rocket Man wrote:
    Brixtonbelle, the figures you ask for, as per the Sussex Police press release:
    Over 40,000 people, including numerous local residents, are estimated to have attended Lewes Bonfire 2009.
    A total of 11 arrests were made throughout the night.
    Four were arrested for ABH, two of the offenders are now on police bail, one offender was cautioned and one received no further action. One offender was arrested for GBH and bailed.
    One arrest was made for cannabis possession and the offender received a reprimand. One arrest was made for Class A drug possession and the offender has been bailed pending drug analysis. One arrest was made for attempted theft of a vehicle and driving with excess alcohol, the offender was charged with being in charge of a motor vehicle whilst unfit through alcohol and no further action was taken for the attempted theft of an unattended motor vehicle.
    One arrest was made for criminal damage and the offender received a final warning and one arrest was made for drunk and disorderly behaviour and later for burglary, the offender is still being dealt with in custody.
    One arrest was also made by the Roads Policing Unit for driving whilst disqualified.
    Despite the large crowds, the event passed safely from a police perspective.

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    On Mon 9 Nov 2009 at: 14:28 Penguin wrote:
    I have heard on good authority (not the police) that the barriers on Cliffe bridge are there because the cast iron railings are very old and have become quite brittle. They have had to be repaired on several occasions already. Any weight of crowd pressing on them could therefore cause them to just break - the result of which would obviously be disastrous.

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    On Mon 9 Nov 2009 at: 14:50 Smiler wrote:
    That seems like a very reasonable reason but why oh why don't the police just say that then?

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    On Wed 11 Nov 2009 at: 13:03 ickle wrote:
    They may have been over zealous in the heat of the procession but the police 'policing' near Southover can only be described as lack. At the Swan Inn they were instructed not to serve any glass over the counter whatsoever not even to the regulars who simply sit inside quietly drink their pint then go on their way. Complying with this rule and understanding the reasonings for it i could not believe it when we saw two girls walk up to a police officer each clutching a glass bottle of whatever substance, talking to the officer then walking off on their merry way. I thought the idea was to have no glass on the streets to prevent any injury to others and to keep litter to a minimum? Obviously a difficult rule for the police to stick to.
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