Suppressing protest at the coronation is not the only example of the Metropolitan police becoming increasingly politicised in their actions (“Met accused of siding with rightwing group in anti-drag act protest”, News).
The argument that officers sporting “thin blue line” badges are merely demonstrating camaraderie ignores criticisms of the content of that camaraderie. Even if the Met’s leadership wants to bury its head in the sand over the white nationalism connotations of the thin blue line in the US, it should ask itself whether the symbol is aligned with a police service for Londoners. For the whole point of the thin blue line avatar is it encapsulates the idea that police are society’s last defence against anarchy. It denotes force, not service.
Liz Fekete, director, Institute of Race Relations
London WC1
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