Balancing the book, PC David Rathband...

Last night I watched an interview with PC David Rathband, victim of the shotgun wielding Raoul Moat, I have been waiting to hear more of this part of the story and to tell the truth was surprised to see him make a statement so soon.

His quiet dignity and measured tone showed me what a brave man that he is, his determination to recover and return to service in his obviously beloved Police force speaks volumes.

This is the face of the cool head that I have been writing about wanting to see in our Police, I have nothing but admiration for this man who though seriously injured tried under extreme duress to do all the right things. I watched and listened to his account of what he believed at the time were probably his last moments in this life, his immediate concern was to let his fellow officers know what had happened and where Raoul Moat was, to try to ensure that this chain of events would be no longer than absolutely neccessary.

It was easy to feel the emotion welling inside him at the thought of not being ever again in the arms of his wife and family and I for one choked up when he talked of that fear and choked on it. I had hoped to put that interview with him in this post but could not find it on Youtube, so the press release from his brother will have to speak for him.

PC Rathband and his brother show the dignity this situation demands, in complete contrast to the media frenzy over the other side and the statements made by Moats brother. Mr Darren Rathband  reitterates his brothers previous statement and also gives the news that David will be welcomed back to service with the force whenever he feels he is ready.

There were no accusations, no railing against the injustice of what had befallen his brother, just a bare statement and then he slips away through the crowd . Two very brave and dignified men who's calibre we could all do well to emulate!

I cannot for a moment imagine Raoul Moat even attempting to pick himself up from such a situation, indeed he preferred to use violence rather than sort his life out and become a man!

I wish PC Rathband a speedy recovery and hope that medical science will one day be able to give him his sight back, so he may enjoy his world and family once again. He deserves that, Good Luck David!

Some sense and perspective from Anna Raccoon

Is this the face of Tasercop? was he the trigger man?

To me this is NOT the face of anyone I want to be in the Police force, how does he strike you?
Does he come across as a person weighed down with the responsibilities of an armed siege, looking for the best outcome?
Or does he look to you as he does to me, a blood thirsty gung-ho yob who is itching to pull the trigger ?

This is the sort of face I have seen too many times on drunken yobs, about the business of starting a fight, nasty, brutish and just eager to do as much damage to someone as they possibly can...

This is not the expression that we need on the faces of those who uphold the law, it is a difficult enough job to ask anyone to do but those who should be doing it should, to my mind, NEVER look like this...

This is the face of hatred, the face of Papa Baby Docs enforcers, the face of totalitarian state police who care little if anything for the people that they are supposed to protect!

Seriously look at him, would you want that face anywhere near your life/family? I wouldn't!

It is the expression of the animal rage and blood lust that lies under the surface of far too many of the people who have positions of power over us, we have seen it before in the Hunt protest policing and various other places where confrontational situations have occurred.

It is time these (people) were weeded out of the Police service and cooler heads put in their place.

Was he, or someone like him, the one who tasered Mr Moat? I am sure he would have if he could have, aren't you?

Funnily enough out of all the pictures I have seen of Mr Moat if you had put the worst of them beside this face and asked me to choose who was the more dangerous to my well being... I would unhesitatingly have answered this one!

No wonder they waited till it was dark, eh!

Mr Raoul Moat was undoubtedly a bad and dangerous problem for society to deal with, but it should have been the duty of the Police as PEACE OFFICERS to arrest this man to stand trial for his crimes. Society needed to see what if any reasons he had before pronouncing sentence on him, (I will agree that such sentences that are available are too lenient for this type of crime) society needed his 'myth/legend', call it what you will, to be defused in the undergrounds popular imagination! It was a stupid act to leave doubts in anyone's mind as to whether the death was 'fair' or not, for that only leaves the door ajar it does not close it!

I do not believe that a line will ever now be able to be drawn under this affair, too many people do not believe the Police versions of events in the general run of life and dealings with them, and this could have been completly televised/recorded so there was no doubt in anyones mind...do not tell me that it would have been too graphic, they televised 9/11 and 7/7 didn't they?

Sanitising death in such circumstances does society no favours!
 
Thanks to Rantin Rab for finding the picture

The end of the Moat saga?

Negotiators are trying to talk Mr Moat into giving himself up....

There are reports that Mr Moat was chased through the village and cornered at the riverbank by the allotment gardens...

as an aside , it is hilarious watching the live news with the presenters, who are on camera, who do not realise they are on air their tie straightening and expression straightening are hilarious!!!

Mr Moat is very alone  within a cordon of Police officers... the Police do appear to be being very careful not to push this situation to the point of Mr Moat committing suicide  or being shot by the Police themselves...

Personally I am amazed at the restraint that is being shown, will this reassure the general public that the Police are better than many believe them to be, it would be good propaganda for them if they managed to achieve a peaceful outcome!

God what a media circus this is ( and I suppose I am apart of it) the reporters are scrambling to find a view point which they can see all from...how much will the house residents charge for the privilege of using the upstairs back bedroom window...

Hopefully this will end with no further loss of life or injury... but ended it appears to be...