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The Independent
27-05-2025
- General
- The Independent
The Liverpool parade crash has brought out the best in our police
As a police officer of more than 25 years – and a Liverpool FC supporter my entire life – the events of Water Street on Monday evening were impossible to watch with anything other than a sense of abject horror. An occasion of joyous celebration turned, in just a handful of moments, into one of unspeakable trauma. Whenever I see footage of police officers running in the opposite direction to a fleeing crowd, I remember my years in blue. The painful privilege of policing is to venture repeatedly into the hurting places: at the scenes of crimes, and of every kind of catastrophe. And, in those places, to see things that you can never unsee. In my two and a half decades spent policing in London, I worked with endless vast crowds: at Premier League and Champions League football matches; at the Notting Hill Carnival; on New Year's Eve in Trafalgar Square; at central London demonstrations. It is a challenge at the best of times, keeping tens of thousands of innocent people safe as they sing and protest and dance and march. I remember watching on helplessly as good-natured crowds at Carnival surged expectedly into streets too narrow to accommodate them. It was only the swift and skilful intervention of my colleagues from the Mounted Branch that prevented a tragedy. And that was on a day when nobody meant any harm. I have been there on the other days, too: with Chelsea and Manchester United supporters intent on fighting one another outside Stamford Bridge; when violent protesters tried to storm the Houses of Parliament; when criminals tried to use the cover of crowds to commit unspeakable acts; when packed pubs emptied out onto night-time streets in a flail of fists and feet. And, on each occasion, it was police officers who stood in the places in between, and who picked up the pieces when the dust had finally settled and everyone else had left the scene. The morning after the horrors of Liverpool's victory parade, they were there again, on the other side of the blue and white cordon tape, attempting to make sense of it all; seeking answers and explanations for victims and their families; trying to shut out the speculation and the noise, to get to the truth of it all; and keeping an eye out for their colleagues in the process. Because it would be impossible to do the job of a police officer for any length of time and to remain untouched – unaffected – by the things that you see and the things that you do. I was reminded once again of that famous old Fred Rogers quote: 'When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, 'Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.'' On Monday night in Liverpool, that is what police officers were doing. And not just them of course, but their colleagues from the other emergency services, alongside countless ordinary Liverpudlians. The Merseyside Police response has been criticised in some quarters, not least its decision to release details of the suspect's ethnicity and nationality, in an attempt to quash online disinformation. This was in direct contrast – a 'complete step change', as some have described it – to the response to the Southport knife attack last summer. It was the right call to make, and a sign of the times we live in. Once again, in Liverpool, we have seen the very best of humanity – and of the police service in particular – in the very worst of times.
BBC News
14-05-2025
- BBC News
Lancashire Constabulary horse named in honour of police chief Peter Lawson
A Lancashire Police horse has been named in honour of an assistant chief constable who died suddenly at the age of Horse Lawson is named after Peter Lawson, who served with the force for more than 20 years, leading the investigation into the disappearance of Nicola Bulley in 2023 and also playing a key role in the county's response to the coronavirus Lawson's family were among those attending the naming ceremony at the force's mounted branch in Chief Constable Richard Robertshaw said: "We've been thinking about how we could recognise his memory and today was an opportunity to do that." He said Mr Lawson was "very passionate about policing and keeping the public of Lancashire safe" and he was "a very warm and caring individual" who was much Lawson also had responsibility for the mounted Lawson, a five-year-old Clydesdale horse, will be ridden by PC Cassie said: "He is going to carry the name of Lawson with great pride in memory of Pete Lawson." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
The Guardian
01-05-2025
- The Guardian
Bystanders apprehend bulldog after it attempts to assault Met police horses
Members of the public captured a bulldog which was trying to bite the legs of two police horses while they were out on patrol in London. Metropolitan police horses Yvonne and Snaffles were being ridden by officers when the out-of-control canine began nipping at their legs. The incident in Shepherd's Bush Green, west London, on Monday morning was captured on the body-worn camera of one of the police riders. The footage shows 13-year-old Yvonne moving in circles to escape the dog, which ran back and forth between the horses as the owner struggled to get it under control. The bystanders eventually stepped in to seize the dog, which was then returned to its owner. Investigations are under way and no arrests have been made. Sergeant Leon Astley, who was riding with PC Grace Miller-McCormack when they were attacked last Monday, said: 'What should have been a routine patrol turned out to be unexpectedly eventful, where our hard-working police horses were sadly injured in the course of their duty. 'Fortunately Yvonne and Snaffles are recovering well and being looked after in their stables. 'We know horses are not a common sight in the capital but we urge all owners to keep their dogs under control to prevent this happening again.' The Met is appealing for any witnesses to come forward. Yvonne, 13, recognisable by her big ears, has been a police horse since October 2020. Snaffles, 15, has previously starred in Activity Ride, the Mounted Branch's performance at Olympia, and has been involved in public order policing in central London. A person can receive an unlimited fine and be sent to prison for up to six months for having a dog seriously out of control, the Met said. If the dog injuries someone this can increase to up to five years in prison.
Daily Mail
01-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Moment police patrol horses are attacked by out-of-control dog in park
An out-of-control dog attempted to viciously attack two police horses as they patrolled through a park. Yvonne and Snaffles, ridden by Met Police officers Sergeant Leon Astley and PC Grace Miller-McCormack, from the force's Mounted Branch, were taken by surprise during the attack in west London on Monday morning. The diminutive dog was caught on body cam footage leaving its owner and sprinting across the park to reach the animals, during the incident in Shepherd's Bush Green at around 11.30am. Amid shouts from the owner to 'come here', one police officer can be heard fearing for the dog's welfare in the face of the larger animals and saying: 'It's going to get kicked'. Police horse Snaffles then begins to jolt forward as the dog attempts to bite the horse's legs, with the female officer heard saying: 'He's literally on the leg'. The owner can be heard shouting more desperately at their pet, saying 'come here, fast,' but to no avail. As Snaffles tries to trot away from the dog, the animal can then be seen making its way towards Yvonne. PC Miller-McCormack can be heard saying 'get away', before the dog ran off in the opposite direction and attempted to bite Snaffles again. 'You need to grab it, you need to get hold of it,' the police officer can be heard urging the owner. Eventually members of the public stepped in to help regain control of the dog. In a statement released today, Met Police said Yvonne and Snaffles are recovering well at their stables with minor injuries, while the officers were unharmed. Sergeant Astley, from the Met Police's Mounted Branch, said: 'What should have been a routine patrol turned out to be unexpectedly eventful, where our hardworking police horses were sadly injured in the course of their duty. 'Fortunately Yvonne and Snaffles are recovering well and being looked after in their stables. 'We know horses are not a common sight in the capital, but we urge all owners to keep their dogs under control to prevent this happening again.' Investigations are ongoing and no arrests have been made. The dog was seized and later returned to its owner. A person can receive an unlimited fine or be sent to prison for up to six months (or both) for having a dog seriously out of control. If the dog injuries someone this can increase to up to five years in prison. Met Police said it is advisable for owners to keep their dogs on the lead if they don't have sufficient recall, to ensure the safety of the animal and others around them. Yvonne is 13 years old and has been a police horse since October 2020. Snaffles, aged 15, has previously starred in Activity Ride, the Mounted Branch's performance at Olympia, and been involved in public order policing in central London.
