Reading the news today I was rather surprised to see the phrase “pre-emptive arrests” being used in relation to a UK police force :

Police have made 97 arrests as part of a clampdown on potential troublemakers ahead of the Notting Hill carnival, Scotland Yard said on Monday.

Most of the people were detained on suspicion of possession of drugs in a series of “pre-emptive” arrests ahead of the event later this month.

Operation Razorback aims to stop individuals and gangs who are suspected of planning criminal activity at the August Bank Holiday weekend event.

Note the use of “potential” there to justify the operation. I suspect that these wonderful results are a little window dressing to cover for the fact that they have just arrested a load of low level scrotes who they have probably been saving up in order to get the best coverage for their little game whilst sendign the message out to everyone that the plice are watching everyone.

Whilst the police seem to have knowledge of all those arrested, one has to wonder just where this is leading especially when people are encouraged to report their suspicions of others potential behaviours :

Chief Inspector Chris Allmey, from the Met’s territorial support group, said: “Operation Razorback is a highly sophisticated and detailed operation aimed at ensuring those who set out with the sole intention of causing trouble at carnival will not succeed.

“Four weeks of intense activity targeted at preventing troublemakers from getting anywhere near carnival has been planned and we’re committed to making Notting Hill carnival as safe as it can be, ensuring that the thousands of people who go along to carnival each year can enjoy this unique and vibrant event.

“We’re asking anyone who may know someone intending to cause trouble to get in touch.”

Intentions being, of course, far removed from actual deeds – not that you actually have to break a law these days to get your collar felt it seems.

One final point from the article, which again makes me wonder about the current state of affairs here, is the police “warning” to those arrested :

Those arrested were told not to attend the carnival. The crackdown will continue for the next four weeks.

I wonder if the warning was verbal or part of the agreed caution?

Either way, apart from possible evidence of low level drug activity with 88 of 97 arrested being released with a caution, the police seem to be making things up as they go along here by telling people not to attend a public place without a court order in sight. Unfortunately, I am sure they have the necessary powers buried somewhere in the avalanche of Law and Order legislation brought into existence by the last lot and conveniently ignored by the current lot despite their earlier promises to protect freedoms if only you would vote for them.

All in all, enough to make you wonder who they will be coming after next but then we won’t complain until they get around to us by which time it will far too late to complain.