Mark Andrews: How much 'courtesy or respect' do people who carry knives deserve?
Mark Andrews takes a wry look at the week's news
"The panel found that PC Castle failed to act with self-control, did not treat the boy with courtesy or respect."
Twenty-first century Britain encapsulated in 21 words. They, of course, come from the panel which this week sacked Pc Lorne Castle, a decorated officer of 10 years' standing, for failing to show a mask-wearing, knife-carrying hooligan the respect that he warranted during an arrest.
Wouldn't you love to meet the people who sat on that panel? OK, probably not in a social setting. But I would love to see what they were like.
I'll wager they're probably not fans of The Sweeney. And I bet they wear lanyards.
*****
What is so awful about this case is that if there has been one thing that has touched the hearts of this newspaper's readers over the past few years, it has been our award-winning campaign to tackle knife crime. So many young lives have been wasted as a result of this wicked scourge, so many families destroyed by its consequences.
