Heavy Handed Police Again

This month police were criticised for not breaking up the party that led to the deaths of 16-year-olds Hannah Rossiter and Jane Young in Edgeware Road, Christchurch.

Now parents of teenagers at a party in Ladbrooks on Saturday night say police destroyed a "trouble-free" teenage party.

It was supervised by 23 adults – one of whom was arrested for assault – because parents wanted to avoid an Edgeware-style situation.

Parent Lisa Walker said the party for her son's and daughter's 18th and 16th birthdays respectively at Ladbrooks Hall, near Lincoln, was broken up by police in "flak jackets" who "marched in without speaking to anyone, formed a human chain at the back of the hall and herded everyone onto the street".
Walker said the police swore at children and adult supervisors, threatened them with pepper spray, and arrested one of the adults when he touched an officer's hat to get his attention.
The man spent a night in jail and was charged with assault.
Eight parents laid official complaints with police on Sunday.
Walker said in the wake of the Edgeware Road tragedy they decided the party would be strictly supervised.
Police seemed intent on relying on "heavy-handed" tactics, she said.
Five adults patrolled the only gate, children were stamped on entry and not let back out. Parents knew where their children were by invitations and phone calls through the week.
The party, which Walker had agreed with police would end at 1am, was shutting down when 14 police with two paddy wagons arrived at 12.40am.
"I said to them, 'Please don't cause trouble'. The kids were absolutely terrified."
Parent Jacqui Hudson said police behaviour inflamed the situation and endangered kids. "They were putting lives at risk."

Policewatch says: 1939 Brownshirts - 2007 Blueshirts