I was left incensed upon finishing Adam Trimingham’s column this week (The Argus, April 22).

I am in full agreement with his point about the police being held back from their duties by needless bureaucracy and paperwork but simply cannot concur with the quotes that “it’s a small wonder some officers lash out at people who are in the way” or that “it is bad luck for rogue officers that they are so often in the public eye”. The latter comment especially doesn’t make sense. It is never OK for “rogue officers” to exist, let alone feel down on their luck because they were caught on camera.

Police officers, as public servants and the last bastion of law on the streets, are not there to dish out vigilante-style justice but to protect and serve or, as the police medal promise has it, to “guard my people”.

According to Mr Trimingham, we should be thankful the police use inhumane tactics such as “kettling”, removing police numbers and, most disturbingly, attacking members of the public. Apparently, this sort of behaviour is justified because “many demos turn violent”.

TV news coverage that evening noted that the G20 demonstrations were mostly peaceful. Unfortunately, this kind of coverage doesn’t make good, hard copy.

Mr Trimingham should apologise to the victims of overzealous policing that day.

Maria Barney
New England Road, Brighton