The thin blue line…
David Vance SubstackRead More
For most of my life, I have always supported the Police and I still think they have a very hard job to do. I have family in the Police and and when you hear the things they come up against on a daily basis, you wonder how they keep their sanity. I’ve been in a few Police Stations over the years (Not arrested, I hasten to add but rather to make statements on particular things) and as I was sitting waiting I saw some of the worst of humanity. As readers know, I have lived in Northern Ireland for most of my life and experienced the murders of so many young police officers. So I am sympathetic.
However in recent years that sympathy has been tested. Back in 2020, I experiences something I had never gone through before when two police officers came to my house. This was during Covid times when we were being forced to wear face masks. I refused point blank to do so and used the legally legitimate excuse that I was exempt because I said I was exempt. One afternoon I had visited the local garden centre and realised I was the only one without a mask. I took a light hearted selfie and posted it on X. Two hours later the police arrived to have a word.
I was shocked an angry in equal measure. I was polite but firm. I told them I was exempt and they should recognise that as being the law. The younger of the police officers was more aggressive and he suggested that IF I was encouraging other people to NOT wear face masks, that could mean problems for me. I told him that I had made no such call but if other people were exempt they could do as they best pleased. There was tension in the air but I was not going to back down. I could see the older officer shuffling and he looked a bit embarrassed. Clearly, they had been sent to confront me on higher orders. Anyway, the stand off came to an abrupt end when I asked was there anything else I could help them with and they said no and left.
Just as well there is no crime in my area, eh?
I had spoken to Police Officer friends during this time and even the younger ones realised the whole thing was farcical BUT they had to go along with it or they would get in trouble with their superiors. Obviously the political class were pressurising the Police to enforce the semi-legalise Covid “laws”.
I have never forgotten that encounter. I felt that this was the State using the Police to make me conform and quite simply it made me even MORE determined to disobey every single one of their little restrictions. I delighted in flouting EVERY Covid instruction. I couldn’t help but think the Police could find better things to do wit their time than monitor social media for people expressing a desire for freedom.
When I was at the Free Speech Union event the other night, there was a short discussion about the fact that in Great Britain, police forces have said they are now ignoring “Non Crime Hate Crime.” However there is one exception and that is the Police Service of Northern Ireland who insist they will continue to pursue such Orwellian nonsense.
As I said at the beginning, I do support the Police but that is now despite some of the things that they do. It is no longer unconditional support. I wonder if you might fell the same?
