[Rictor]

http://washingtontimes.com/functions/print.php?StoryID=20050618-115936-3506r

I must say guys, it sucks to be you. Is Blair off his medication or has he just gone completely batshit insane?

[aldo_14]

Naw, it's because Darth Blunkett has taken his place at his side as his apprentice.  He was always bat**** insane.

[IPAndrews]

Sounds like a Blunkett special.

[vyper]

Hey, at least they're in their real uniforms this time. Unlike during the coal miners strikes where they were sent in dressed as police.

Is it possible to get a visa to stay in tenerife while remaining a british citizen? I could happily run my business from there and be able to avoid these idiots.

Edit: On a more serious note, this simply is what it looks like - facism.

[Fineus]

They're opperating in Brighton eh? Should be interesting... I think I'll go take a look some time and let you guys know how it is

In all honesty though, I'm glad. There are some complete ****ers on the streets these days, the drunks and the violent idiots who've been allowed to run riot as opposed to being given a firm smack in the face as they so rightly deserve. I rather wish the army was allowed to intervene with them - just to show them what it feels like to be the ones on the recieving end of some unpleasent violence and behaviour.

That said though, something tells me this is just the start of something bigger. We'll see...

[Rictor]

Deploying the army at home, during peacetime, is just about the biggest no-no you can commit in a democracy. There needs to be a crystal clear division between the army and the police.  

If you do it, it needs to be for a damn good reason, and not merely to keep a few drunken teenagers in check. It happened only once in Canada, but that was during the "October Crisis" in the 1970's, that involved numerous kidnappings and bombings by a local terrorist cell.

[Swamp_Thing]

<---- *starts singing "Sunday, bloody Sunday"*

[Mr Carrot]

The army soldiers have NO powers at all, they are there as a mediating presence.

The Royal Millitary Police have always had police powers in this country (they as an organisation of enforcing civil order predate the real police).

theres a reason for this that the gov doesnt want to admit to, the police have become so mired in pointless paperwork, idiotic directives and a general malaise they cant even deal with the firday night pissed yobbery.

The RMP are simply going to act like the police used to be able to and as such deal with the oiks in a quick and common sense manner without having to file 300 pages of documentation in triplicate.

[EtherShock]

All in all it's just another brick in the wall

*Strums guitar*

[kasperl]

This acutally seems like a good idea to me. We're talking MP's here, not standard soldiers. They already have some police power, and will patroll unarmed. That means that unless some ****head decides to start fighting, they'll be mainly there to give the police more eyes. A good thing if you ask me.

[vyper]

Except MPs are going to be a lot more violent than PCs, and have a different perspective on justice and the law. What works in the army is not what works in a free society.

You cannot deploy the forces designed to protect the population, against that population, without essentially creating a state of civil war.

[Mr Carrot]

Actually there will be normal squadies out and about (only in barrack towns) in some areas BUT this isnt anything new, youve always had squads roaming

[aldo_14]

Neither MPs or regular Army troops are AFAIK trained in the application and details of civillian law; the rights of the individual prior, during and after arrest, for example.

The problem with 'removing paperwork' by using MPs (for example) is that you are also risking removing accountability or oversight.  That's one of the reasons, i believe, the military isn't used for these tasks.  If they have a shortage of people, they should recruit more policemen.  If it's down to too much paperwork, fix that problem. But they can't claim it's a good idea to compund the mess with 2 disparate groups of law enforcement, trained in very different ways.

(for example - who has the final say in policing in this type of case - the constable or MoD?)

[vyper]

We currently have the highest number of serving policemen in the history of the United Kingdom.

Keeping that in mind, as yourself why else do you need the army on the streets except for emergency control of the people? Something is coming. Something that's going to cause riots - and this is preparation.

[vyper]

edit: mother****ing double post... someone kill dynamic.gamespy!

[Zarax]

Well, considering how Blair killed the last EU balance session i guess you're going to join again with your former colonies

[Fineus]

On the subject of MPs, they operate a lot in Portsmouth (where I go to University) because of the naval base there. I have to say.. it really does work quite well.

Any fights that do break out are dealt with incredibly quickly, and I for one have always felt safe wandering the streets in the area.

[Roanoke]

At a time when the British Army is suffering some serious funding shortfalls too.

[Jetmech Jr.]

No worries. If worse comes to worse, the U.S. W1LL L1B3R4T3 j00!11!1oneone1!

[Flipside]

I thought that said uninformed soldiers, not uniformed...

Seriously though, this is typical Blair reactionism to Media Hype, because the rag-papers have been going on about the terror of hoodies, Blair has, as usual, gone off like a cheap firework.

It's funny, I think hoodies look more like little groups of Jawas out trying to sell droids, but to each their own I guess