People are right to worry about the royal wedding. The violence at the TUC anti-cuts demonstration on Saturday showed yet again that all large gatherings are now vulnerable to the malice of a few. Friends of mine walking with the marchers noticed how the people causing trouble were allowed to wear masks, and were unmolested when they attacked shops and banks, sometimes smashing them up for 15 minutes. They were often armed with fireworks loaded with coins which they threw among the police. These activities were all well-planned in advance on the internet. UK Uncut targeted specific businesses online in advance. Why should it be immune from prosecution? When this happens with football hooligans, the police know exactly how to interdict it; but when it comes to protests, a misapplied attitude to human rights prevails, and the officers are frightened off. Tolerance of such behaviour gives hugely disproportionate power to the extremists.
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