foolhandy

In July 2005 Brazilian Jean Charles de Menezes was chased and shot seven times in the head by officers of the Metropolitan Police. It later transpired that he was a completely innocent. Yesterday the Metropolitan Police were found guilty of endangering public health and safety on 19 counts and fined £175,000.
The Head of the Metropolitan Police Sir Ian Blair has said that he will not be considering his position. Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Home Secretary Jacqui Smith and London Mayor Ken Livingston have all backed Sir Ian Blair saying that his job should not be under threat.

In October 2007 Brazilian Dida was gently brushed against by Celtic supporter Robert McHendry who had run onto the pitch in a moment of euphoria. Celtic were later fined £25,000 and Dida was banned for one match for unsporting behaviour. Yesterday Robert McHendry was found guilty of a breach of the peace and ordered to do 120 hours community service. He has already been banned from all Celtic matches forever.
Sheriff Craig Scott, when sentencing, said “The circumstances of this offence mean that serious consideration must be given to a sentence of imprisonment.”

So to sum up :

Run the Metropolitan Police in such a way that your officers chase an innocent man through London before shooting him in the head (and in doing so endanger the public’s safety), and you keep your job and receive backing from the PM, Home Secretary and Mayor of London.

Run onto a football pitch in a moment of excitement, and you narrowly avoid a custodial sentence.

Who is a greater danger to society - Sir Ian Blair or Robert McHendry?

And they wonder why there’s a lack of faith in the justice system…