Devon and Cornwall Police faced riots in Plymouth, showcasing bravery and dedication while managing public safety during challenging times
Plymouth: This summer, the police had a tough time dealing with riots. The chair of the Devon and Cornwall Police Federation, Nick Jones, praised the officers for their bravery and commitment during the chaos.
He mentioned that even while facing violence, the officers managed to keep things under control. A recent report highlighted their courage but also pointed out that the police weren’t fully prepared for the situation.
Nick noted that the riots were particularly challenging, especially in Plymouth, where officers faced both verbal and physical assaults. Despite this, they worked hard to restore calm and order in the community.
He emphasized the importance of officer safety and acknowledged that the police’s intelligence assessments could have been better. They had to quickly deploy a lot of officers to handle the situation.
The report also mentioned that some officers were initially sent out without proper protective gear, which could have put them at risk. It suggested that training for public-order situations needs improvement.
Interestingly, many community members stepped up to support the police during the unrest. People helped by moving barricades and even treated injured officers, showing a strong sense of community.
However, the report criticized the police for not recognizing the potential threat from far-right groups earlier. It suggested that they should have been more aware of the risks based on previous incidents of violence.
Nick Jones responded by saying that the police will learn from this experience. He stressed that while the situation was tough, the officers showed incredible bravery until more resources could be deployed to manage the unrest.
