People
should not be able to flout the law and get away
with it.
That's why the illegal rave party at Tolworth
angered me so much.
It is appalling that hundreds of residents
endured a weekend of noise violation and
disruption.
The organisers must be found and prosecuted.
Let's hope the current investigation by
detectives to identify and charge these criminals
is successful.
Yet the rave raises other issues.
First, did police have powers to stop the event?
I looked at this earlier this year, when
"travellers" severely disrupted local
people's lives. The answer is, yes, police do
have such powers. Police have recently started
using those powers to stop "gypsy
travellers" trespassing: they could have
used them again with these "New Age
travellers".
Second, did police have resources to exercise
those powers, on this occasion?
Again, the answer is yes. Not locally, because,
as I frequently argue in Parliament, Kingston
does not have enough officers. But Kingston can
call for re-inforcements, through the Met's
Service Mobilisation Plan.
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Third,
why were the powers and resources not then used
at Tolworth?
Because the police officer in charge chose not
to: he feared the result would be a violent
confrontation, potentially involving running
street battles and casualties. His decision,
given those circumstances.
I have made my concerns known. I have sought and
received assurances that on another occasion, a
different decision might be made. But I would not
have liked to take his decision.
Indeed, he should not be in that position,
without advanced intelligence to defend the
local community from these highly organised
criminals, some of whom were allegedly involved
with anarchist riots in the City.
So I am meeting experts at New Scotland Yard on
"ePolicing" - using the InterNet for
proactive policing. I am pushing for improved
intelligence gathering so the police are ready.
And I will be asking the Home Secretary and Mayor
of London to back the police on this.
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