Two peace protesters attend a peaceful political meeting in Walworth. A Police photographer wanted to take their photo. They objected to this as they had done nothing wrong. They were arrested and then found guilty of obstructing a Police officer doing his duty.

Is it really a Police officers duty to take photos of citizens attending lawful peaceful political meetings. Orwell 1984 eat your heart out – even if you didn’t think of this as an oppressive form of state Police behaviour. Putin in Russia would be reticent in authorising Russian Police to do this.

I hope that the Police refrain from continuing this practice. Such heavy handed tactics lose the Police friends, politises the Police, and law abidding citizens need the Police to maximise the number of friends the Police have.