South Yorkshire Police will increase their presence at felling actions in Sheffield. A tree protector responds. "POLICE COMPLAINT Please use any or all of my info for your own complaint. The email address is: Complaints_and_Discipline@southyorks.pnn.police.uk Police complaint regarding the conduct of Assistant Chief Constable David Hartley of South Yorkshire Police. On 23/02/18 David Hartley was interviewed on BBC Sheffield's Breakfast show by Toby Foster. The nature of my complaint can be summarised as follows: 1) David Hartley (DH) said "... we did see real change in the protest you know, we saw some violence, we saw disorder....so we have to change our approach." This statement appears to be without basis. At no time has there been any violence forthcoming from tree protestors. 2) Toby Foster (TF) asked "Did you see that disorder coming from the protesters" to which DH answered, "Yeah.. indeed it's the protesters and the protestor base around the activities that we've seen injuries caused and we've seen some harm caused..." This appears totally at odds with what occurred on the streets at the time of the particular incidents being discussed. To my knowledge no injuries were sustained by anyone at the hands of protestors intentionally or unintentionally. The only evidence i've seen is one of the Amey staff accidentally hitting a steel barrier against the head of his co-worker. 3) TF stated...."Amey have been transgressing, they've been chucking people around when they weren't in cordoned off areas, we've seen big bouncers prising people's fingers off railings...we've seen what everybody 'apart from Darren Butt' pretty much accepts as a hell of an uppercut (punch), we've seen people being threatened." DH replied "....the offences have flowed from the protesters and their actions against the security and against Amey staff, so we take an absolutely impartial stance here, we assess the evidence in its fullest nature." This is a complete fabrication, no one has any knowledge of any offences taking place. Far from it, in fact a number of lawful peaceful protesters were assaulted by Amey staff, many of whom were elderly. 4) TF asked "Are you currently investigating this broken wrist because we can't really find when that happened?" DH responded, "Yeah...What I can say so far is a number of arrests have been made, they've been made for assault and for injuries caused and there are more arrests to come." This again is another complete fabrication designed to intimidate the public from lawful peaceful protest. The tacit threat of further arrests is designed to have a psychological effect on people, deterring them from taking part. In summary, It appears obvious DH, knowingly or unknowingly, has become embroiled in an ongoing campaign of spin directed at the tree protesters. He appeared on the BBC touting Amey/SCC propaganda ahead of another offensive on the ill fated 'tree felling programme'. DH should apologise and redact the above statements on BBC Breakfast, or produce evidence purporting to support his accusations and defamatory statements. Defence by SYP of the wholly indefensible environmental ecocide being perpetrated by Amey/SCC (attracting worldwide condemnation), is perplexing. By their own volition the independence of the police will yet again be bought into question. Previously when subsuming peoples property rights at Chippinghouse road, under S241 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations Act 1992, a rapid U turn had to be undertaken. SYP do not have a great record in this area and would be ill advised to continue pursuing the Amey/SCC agenda. SYP seem to have started a trend cosying up to Amey/SCC over media spinning and propaganda. Most recently we had the 'tea-gate' debacle, which was totally childish in its conception and delivery and to-date without any foundation. There appears a total disregard of the Public's rights over and above that of the corporatist agenda and an extremely relaxed attitude towards the truth, which makes this all the more concerning. I would care to remind SYP of the seventh Peelian principle, 'To maintain at all times a relationship with the public that gives reality to the historic tradition that the police are the public and that the public are the police, the police being only members of the public who are paid to give full-time attention to duties which are incumbent on every citizen in the interests of community welfare and existence.' Furthermore the Police also swear an 'oath of office' to uphold the common law and therefore by default not to act as enforcers for any corporatist agenda. The word 'law' in the oath of office refers to Common Law and not Statute Law. Facilitation of Amey's corporate contract by SYP should be outlawed and the public should be allowed to legally peacefully protest in whichever way they see fit. Amey/SCC have civil action remedies that they can bring to bear, if they so choose, and do not require SYP to be involved at any stage. Video evidence clearly shows SYP officers looking-on whilst violence was perpetrated against peaceful protestors by civilian SIA badged bouncers. Despite many pleas for intervention, none were forthcoming. I don't need to remind you of how serious an offence this, in itself, is. SYP should practice what they preach and maintain a wholly impartial standpoint regarding these issues. Reputational damage and public confidence in SYP will otherwise be severely effected. Here is an abridged transcript and details of the interview. Tony Foster BBC Radio Sheffield Breakfast interviewing David Hartley Assistant Chief Constable South Yorkshire Police Date: 23/02/18 7am Mins into show 41:22- 46:36 TF: Are you used to protest like this? DH: ...we did see its real change in the protest you know, we saw some violence, we saw disorder...so we have to change our approach TF: Did you see that disorder coming from the protesters DH: Yeah indeed it's the protesters and the protestor base around the activities that we've seen injuries caused and we've seen some harm caused... TF: ...there have been some suggestions that Amey have been transgressing they've been chucking people around when they weren't in cordoned off areas we've seen big bouncers prising people's fingers off railings...we've seen what everybody 'apart from Darren Butt' pretty much accepts as a hell of an uppercut, we've seen people being threatened DH: ....at this point no arrests have been made in terms of the actions of SIA security indeed so far it's seen to be really professional....the offences have flowed from the protesters and their actions against the security and against Amey staff who, so we take an absolutely impartial stance here, we assess the evidence in its fullest nature TF: Are you currently investigating this broken wrist because we can't really find when that happened DH: Yeah...What I can say so far is a number of arrests have been made, they've been made for assault and for injuries caused and there are more arrests to come"