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14th Jun 2021

Greater Manchester’s new police chief “absolutely would not” take the knee

Kieran Galpin

Police Chief calls for ‘Less-woke’ and more work

If there is one thing that the British public is craving, it’s for more police officers that can’t (nor want to) relate to social movements and broader societal issues. Well, lucky Manchester, because their new Chief Constable Stephen Watson is on the job.

Watson would “absolutely would not” take the knee, and has stated that ‘woke’ policing is running rampant in our streets. He reiterates how policing has passed a ‘high watermark.’

By the sounds of it, this was the ‘woke’ police we had been experiencing? Well, Watson will end that, as he is categorically ‘fed up’ of the virtue signalling. Things on Watson’s no-go list include taking the knee, wearing pins, badges and rainbow shoelaces.

“I would probably kneel before the Queen, God, and Mrs Watson, that’s it,” he told the Daily Telegraph.

“Impartiality is in danger of being upset in our urge and desire to demonstrate that we would like to make common cause from time to time with people whose agenda is very difficult to disagree with.

“I do not think that things like taking the knee, demonstrating that you have a commonality of view with the protesters that you’re policing is compatible with the standards of service that people require of their police.

“Officers could put themselves in a difficult place because if you demonstrate you’re not impartial, and you then have to make an arrest, how on earth do you assist the courts to come to just judgement as to you having executed your powers of arrest in an appropriately impartial professional manner?”

Though Watson’s words undoubtedly resonate with certain members of the public, it does highlight a concerning facet of the police force. Surely, given their jobs as public servants, we are in need of more so-called ‘woke’ police officers? Surely, a police officer who can empathise with someone’s situation is a good thing? Well, not according to Mr Watson.