19,856 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Oct 11, 2024 8:26:51 GMT
The flashing blue light police cordon seemed a little… ostentatious? What purpose was that serving other than drawing people’s attention to her?
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Post by danb on Oct 11, 2024 8:27:19 GMT
The bigger picture is how much Swift pumped into our economy during her concerts here; it should be more than enough to warrant a bit of police protection and some free tickets for the PM. As always it is the how things have been done, not the what that is being infinitely magnified by the right wing press, with the moronic masses being whipped up into a frenzy just because they’re having a slow news day on breakfast telly. Starmer clearly needs a Dominic Cummings-esque character to steer him and tart things up.
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Post by kathryn on Oct 11, 2024 8:35:20 GMT
The flashing blue light police cordon seemed a little… ostentatious? What purpose was that serving other than drawing people’s attention to her? What purpose does it serve for the Royals who get it routinely?. Even the minor Royals who people would struggle to pick out of a line-up, like Sophie - whose escort managed to knock down and kill an old lady. I’ve seen those blue light escorts a lot because my office is not far from the Royal Artillery and we get people being escorted there regularly. It makes sure no other traffic or pedestrian gets near to the car. It prevents any possible interference with the car and its occupants by anyone. It appears to be completely unnecessary to the outside observer, but then the outside observer has no idea who is in the car. |
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Post by Phantom of London on Oct 11, 2024 22:20:28 GMT
The flashing blue light police cordon seemed a little… ostentatious? What purpose was that serving other than drawing people’s attention to her? What purpose does it serve for the Royals who get it routinely?. Even the minor Royals who people would struggle to pick out of a line-up, like Sophie - whose escort managed to knock down and kill an old lady. I’ve seen those blue light escorts a lot because my office is not far from the Royal Artillery and we get people being escorted there regularly. It makes sure no other traffic or pedestrian gets near to the car. It prevents any possible interference with the car and its occupants by anyone. It appears to be completely unnecessary to the outside observer, but then the outside observer has no idea who is in the car. I have a lot of sympathy with this post, I have seen a member of the royal family come past my work with bells and whistles and helicopter, then again the excellent air ambulance has to rely on charity donations to survive. Also we have a 2 tier police service - a armed police service that gives a A+ police service for the Great and good, then we have the other police service that don’t turn up to burglaries and shop lifting, I give them a generous F+. I would also say Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh is perhaps the nicest royal and always comes across as genuine and caring, but there is always a but why should the taxpayer pay for enhanced protection? |
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Post by kathryn on Oct 12, 2024 14:31:44 GMT
If that blue-light service is truly about security, and not about
status and convenience (it sure gets them through traffic quickly)
then it should be available to people who are the object of terrorist plots, whoever they are and whatever they are famous for. Because even a failed terrorist plot has the power to cause a huge amount of disruption to the country, whether civilians get hurt or not.
And it shouldn’t be routinely used by ‘working royals’ when there are no serious security threats.
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Post by cornish on Oct 12, 2024 15:20:50 GMT
The terrorists in Vienna had access to stage construction as well as security etc. The target was her, as much as the concertgoers. It is totally fair to provide further protection given that context, and a potential tendency for copycat attacks or attempts. Absolutely agree And she can pay for it herself too Which she did. Rather than believe all the rubbish posted. Every artist at a London Stadium headline is entitled to Police out riders to the Stadia (which they pay for). Beyoncé did as did Coldplay as did Harry Styles and Sheeran. It’s a non story. |
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Post by oxfordsimon on Oct 12, 2024 15:41:28 GMT
They aren't entitled to anything of the sort. That is not how things work.
No pop star or group has the automatic right to any police protection above that afforded to any regular citizen.
They might ask fit extra and those requests may or may not be granted.
But stars don't get these things as a right.
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Post by nick on Oct 12, 2024 17:26:21 GMT
They aren't entitled to anything of the sort. That is not how things work. No pop star or group has the automatic right to any police protection above that afforded to any regular citizen. They might ask fit extra and those requests may or may not be granted. But stars don't get these things as a right. But is the point whether they pay for it or not? |
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Post by oxfordsimon on Oct 12, 2024 18:28:04 GMT
I would personally prefer celebs pay for their own transport and associated security unless there is a known credible threat which requires assistance/intervention from the state.
I remember many years ago when Michael Jackson was visiting Oxford. I was managing the local Disney Store at the time and we were inundated by fans who had travelled to the city and decided that the store was a place that MJ was going to visit given his passion for Disney.
Of course, he didn't. But he travelled within own protection team. And that is how it should be.
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Post by cornish on Oct 12, 2024 19:22:54 GMT
They aren't entitled to anything of the sort. That is not how things work. No pop star or group has the automatic right to any police protection above that afforded to any regular citizen. They might ask fit extra and those requests may or may not be granted. But stars don't get these things as a right. Ok - so in 2012 the then Mayor signed an agreement which meant that any major (in this case Stadium headliner) - how this was decided I guess was by him and Police; that should they require it they could have police outriders accompany from their hotel or whatever to stadium. The cost would be covered by their production people. It’s taken up quite regularly - particularly Wembley where traffic obviously gets bad! It’s not an automatic right as you randomly say but it’s there should they want it. It doesn’t supercede the artistes own protection team but is a way of navigating traffic safely. This is what Swift had and used. It’s a non story by the Daily Mail. |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Oct 12, 2024 20:22:11 GMT
Wasn’t Prince Harry famously denied the ability to buy police protection?
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Post by oxfordsimon on Oct 12, 2024 20:29:42 GMT
Wasn’t Prince Harry famously denied the ability to buy police protection? Indeed |
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Post by kathryn on Oct 12, 2024 21:41:00 GMT
Wasn’t Prince Harry famously denied the ability to buy police protection? Yes. Which does indicate that VVIP protection is a status marker rather than really being about security, given that we know there are credible threats against him that have led to convictions. And of course that is why there are these complaints about Taylor Swift getting it - it is perceived to be a status perk being traded rather than a security need. |
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Post by cornish on Oct 12, 2024 22:19:06 GMT
Wasn’t Prince Harry famously denied the ability to buy police protection? No - the argument was who would pay for it. Many areas of policing is like a business and can be bought. Look at big events like football matches etc. police charge for attendance etc. Harry could have used RASP but it was the matter of him wanting the Royal Fam to pay (possibly quite rightly). Obviously it’s all in the best interests of the Police etc and you or I couldn’t just pay for random officers but you hopefully get my drift? |
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4,164 posts
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Post by kathryn on Oct 13, 2024 7:13:34 GMT
Wasn’t Prince Harry famously denied the ability to buy police protection? No - the argument was who would pay for it. No, you are wrong - he offered to pay for it and was denied. This has actually gone to court and he has still been denied. |
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5,120 posts
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Post by Phantom of London on Oct 13, 2024 17:30:47 GMT
Any chance the Police actually do what they are paid to do.
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Post by cornish on Oct 14, 2024 6:52:15 GMT
Taylor Swift didn’t recieve police protection - just Police outriders / escort enabling ease of transportation.
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