It is a SHAME that the hands in which lie the responsibilities of maintaining law and order and protecting the innocent, sometimes turn unlawful, disorderly and brutal. Several incidents have taken place all over the world, where some 'guardians of law' have demonstrated the most unjustified, inhumane and  cruel behaviour. Such happenings surely question the trustworthiness of the policemen who are entrusted with the safety of the public. The recent death of a man, during the protests that accompanied the G20 London Summit is one such incident. Ian Tomlinson, a newspaper vendor, was making his way back home from work when he was attacked from behind by a police officer. Some of the people around helped him up. While some others took photographs with their cameras. Many of them who owned mobile phones with cameras managed to shoot pictures as well as videos of the shocking incident. The pictures captured and the videos shot would have been much clearer had a high resolution (like 8MP) camera phone been used. Exclusive footage from Guardian.co.uk show Tomlinson, who was not part of the protests, walking with his hands in his pockets, when he was attacked by the police officer. The 47 year old victim suffered a cardiac arrest a short while later and breathed his last.



Peaceful protesters of the G20 Summit were also pushed by some cops for no reason at all. The pictures show protesters raising their hands, indicating that they mean no violence. However, it seems like the men in uniform themselves were trying to start a riot by pushing the innocent protesters.

A number of incidents have taken place in different parts of the world, before, that are a black mark on the reputation of the police force. In the year 2007, Thomas Fox, a pub owner, his wife Linda Fox, daughter Nicola, and friends Sharon Walton and Terence Watson, were brutally assaulted by the Lancashire police force, for no fault of theirs. The Fox family and friends suffered injuries and needed medical aid. The police were also accused of having dragged Mrs Walton over broken glass pieces and kicking her on the head. The woman is said to have developed psychological problems after this heinous incident, suffering from anxiety and depression. Counselling sessions and behavioural therapy had been prescribed to her. The Fox family too, went through some rough days of mental disturbance and depression. A Police Complaints Authority investigated their case and an out of Court settlement was made, in which the Fox family and their friends were given a compensation of £47,000. This case rested in the favour of the innocent victims, because they fought for their rights and stood up for justice. But can the amount paid as compensation really cure the scars of mental agony and torture, left behind by the violent incident?

There have been occurrences of innocent people, being tortured in police custody and who suffer life threatening injuries thereafter. Baber Ahmad, a 30 year old IT professional from London was arrested during the David Blunkett's raids in the year 2004. Baber was kicked and punched and had wounds all over his body. He was released a week later without charge. The doctor who was called in by the solicitor of the victim, to attend to him, was demanded to produce his degree certificate. The IT worker suffered from head injuries, renal contusion and was suspected to have a skull fracture as well.

Even innocent women and children have been subjected to the outrageous behaviour of some policemen. These happenings are really shocking and mentally very disturbing. A little girl was held by her hair and lifted by a police officer for no evident fault of the child. In another part of the world, a woman was stripped naked by 6 police officers and kept in a cell for 6 hours. Women in police custody have undergone brutal atrocities and sexual assaults too. Do the guilty officers get some kind of sadistic pleasure by doing such savage acts? Or do they assume that they can take the law and order in their hands, misuse their power and nobody can do anything about them?

It is indeed disgusting that some policemen who had once taken an oath to protect the innocent, are themselves turning into barbarous beasts. Such misbehaviour on the part of the protectors of law and order should be brought to light and the guilty must be punished. These offensive and unpardonable acts must definitely not be excused.

Yes, there are many police officers who have dedicated their lives to protecting the people and fighting crime. Some of them have even given up their lives in the course of performing their duties. Hence we cannot categorise all policemen as inhumane and monstrous. Recently 2 lady police officers, Linda Tooth and Hayley Humphries, saved the life of a woman in Halesowen, when she was attacked with a knife by her 37 year old ex-partner. In another incident, police officers Terry Shutt and Richard Nunn saved the lives of a man and a woman, who lay across the railway tracks, in a drunk state, when a train was approaching them. In the year 2006, some police officers along with transport, health and emergency workers, were honoured by the Queen at the Buckingham Palace for their selfless service rendered during the suicide bombings in London in the year 2006. Hats off to such brave officers. The world really looks up to and respects such brave and dedicated officers, who live up to and do complete justice to the responsibilities that lie on their shoulders.

Special thanks to Guardian.co.uk for the images.

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