Looters stole police riot gear worth thousands of pounds when officers left their van unlocked during the G20 protests Updated 24 April 2009: This is one of those stories that gets funnier each time you read it. Ten bags holding batons, CS spray, helmets, shields and body armour went missing after officers left their vehicle to handle crowds at the G20 protest in London 1 April 2009. To quote: "If these kits fall into the wrong hands, ten demonstrators could turn up at the next protest and cause mayhem with batons and Mace." Just like the police, perhaps? Or is it a way of explaining the next time the pigs beat the fuck out of everyone, ie "It must have been anarchists dressed as riot pigs beating people up". ++++ from policeoracle.com, 20 April 2009:
G20 Riot Kit Stolen From Police Van Ten £1,200 bags holding batons, CS spray, helmets, shields and body armour went missing after officers leapt from the vehicle to handle crowd trouble... Now it is feared the equipment, not on sale to the public, could be used by criminals in attacks or robberies. A police source said: “This is highly embarrassing and has huge security implications. “If these kits fall into the wrong hands, ten demonstrators could turn up at the next protest and cause mayhem with batons and Mace.” The blunder came as City of London officers piled out of their transporter wearing their standard uniforms at the height of the April 1 demos outside the Bank of England. With the cops gone, looters ransacked the van — taking the bags from racks at the back. The thieves then escaped into the crowd undetected, clutching the precious gear. The source said: “The officers came back to the van to find it cleared out. They were shocked. “It’s been a running joke in the police canteens with everyone talking about what idiots they were. “But it’s a very serious issue. Anyone using this gear in future riots could run amok, with real police unable to tell them apart.” A City of London Police spokeswoman said: “We have no comment to make at the moment.” The slip was revealed as a video emerged showing protester Alex Kinnane, 24, being hit by a cop’s shield. Fresh complaints followed over police handling of the demo as the Independent Police Complaints Commission launched a probe. The body is already examining events surrounding the death of newspaper seller Ian Tomlinson, 47, on April 1, and an allegation of assault on Nicola Fisher at a vigil for Mr Tomlinson the next day. IPCC chairman Nick Hardwick said cops should not have removed ID numbers or covered their faces. He said: “This raises serious concerns about frontline supervision. Why did the supervisor not stop it? I think that’s unacceptable. “The police are there as public servants.” An IPCC spokesman said more than 185 complaints had been received relating to G20.
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