EPPING FOREST: MP criticises 'heavy-handed' police (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

How about the elderly lady who had her door smashed in by the Police recently? Perhaps Mrs Laing doesn’t have much time for the elderly? Or maybe Mrs Laing has a special interest in reptiles!

shame they weren't so heavy handed with her when she was cooking the books at the tax payers expence.

Perhaps Eleanor Laing could lecture police on how to carry out their operations. So now she doesn't think they should wear stab-vests during a raid and should not perform a thorough search of a property for evidence! It's a serious crime and the lucrative smuggling trade (people, animals, drugs, etc) often involves organised crime syndicates who are not known for being pacifists. The woman may well be totally innocent, but she has been charged and therefore the police must believe there is reasonable grounds for suspicion. Why on earth is Laing getting involved in this? It is all about Laing trying desperately to get back in the local press to rescue her reputation. Nothing to do with policing or the rights of her constituents.

Debdenite wrote:
Perhaps Eleanor Laing could lecture police on how to carry out their operations. So now she doesn't think they should wear stab-vests during a raid and should not perform a thorough search of a property for evidence! It's a serious crime and the lucrative smuggling trade (people, animals, drugs, etc) often involves organised crime syndicates who are not known for being pacifists. The woman may well be totally innocent, but she has been charged and therefore the police must believe there is reasonable grounds for suspicion. Why on earth is Laing getting involved in this? It is all about Laing trying desperately to get back in the local press to rescue her reputation. Nothing to do with policing or the rights of her constituents.

I would have thought that a couple of plain-clothed police officers knocking politely on the door, having a look around and then inviting her to the station to have a chat about ehr paperwork over a mug of tea could have achieved quite a lot.

Techno2 wrote:

Debdenite wrote:
Perhaps Eleanor Laing could lecture police on how to carry out their operations. So now she doesn't think they should wear stab-vests during a raid and should not perform a thorough search of a property for evidence! It's a serious crime and the lucrative smuggling trade (people, animals, drugs, etc) often involves organised crime syndicates who are not known for being pacifists. The woman may well be totally innocent, but she has been charged and therefore the police must believe there is reasonable grounds for suspicion. Why on earth is Laing getting involved in this? It is all about Laing trying desperately to get back in the local press to rescue her reputation. Nothing to do with policing or the rights of her constituents.

I would have thought that a couple of plain-clothed police officers knocking politely on the door, having a look around and then inviting her to the station to have a chat about ehr paperwork over a mug of tea could have achieved quite a lot.

Given that none of us know the intelligence the police had and the police have not given their side of the story, it's a bit unfair for anyone to say anything for certain. For an MP to wade in and start dictating how the police should carry out their operations, while an investigation is under way and there is a chance that this will go to trial, is completely out of order. Laing could have raised her concerns privately with the police. The fact that she has run to the local press with this suggests she is seeking publicity having been disgraced in the expenses scandal.

Debdenite wrote:

Techno2 wrote:

Debdenite wrote: Perhaps Eleanor Laing could lecture police on how to carry out their operations. So now she doesn't think they should wear stab-vests during a raid and should not perform a thorough search of a property for evidence! It's a serious crime and the lucrative smuggling trade (people, animals, drugs, etc) often involves organised crime syndicates who are not known for being pacifists. The woman may well be totally innocent, but she has been charged and therefore the police must believe there is reasonable grounds for suspicion. Why on earth is Laing getting involved in this? It is all about Laing trying desperately to get back in the local press to rescue her reputation. Nothing to do with policing or the rights of her constituents.

I would have thought that a couple of plain-clothed police officers knocking politely on the door, having a look around and then inviting her to the station to have a chat about ehr paperwork over a mug of tea could have achieved quite a lot.

Given that none of us know the intelligence the police had and the police have not given their side of the story, it's a bit unfair for anyone to say anything for certain. For an MP to wade in and start dictating how the police should carry out their operations, while an investigation is under way and there is a chance that this will go to trial, is completely out of order. Laing could have raised her concerns privately with the police. The fact that she has run to the local press with this suggests she is seeking publicity having been disgraced in the expenses scandal.

I have no illusions about Laing's possible motives, and tend to agree with you about those: I have long considered she could do with a knock on her own door, but it doesn't mean she might not be correct where this animal sanctuary raid is concerned.

She may well be correct and this animal sanctuary is probably completely innocent. But it is not her place to comment at this point. Was she there? Does she have all the facts? Has she even spoken to the police before making a public statement? Is the animal sanctuary owner, who may never have been arrested before, simply exaggerating the circumstances out of shock and anger. None of us know, none of us were there and none of us are trained police officers. Laing simply saw a bandwagon to jump on.

Is there no populist bandwagon this sad old trout will not hastily clamber aboard in order to give the impression she cares? Well, obviously she cares about her bank account and perks but you all know what I mean.

I don't wish to be cynical - as if - but in my view our Lady Eleanor is trying to deflect our attention away from her having her fingers in the pie during the expenses debacle, by showing an example of what an MP should be doing by getting involved in local issues. I can't comment on the rights or wrongs of the police investigation save that there is a serious trade in endangered species that has to be curtailed, but I believe that by drawing it to all our attention via the local media La Laing is trying to make us overlook the small matter of £155,000 still outstanding. Are we going to do that - I certainly won't!

well said debdenite, couldn't have put it better myself.

The police had to stick their neck out to investigate these possible crimes and Tortoises are protected species as they are slow and just cannot speed off when faced with potential dangers like abductions.

I must say I would sympathise with an innocent who felt they had a rough time as a suspect, but she wasn't beaten up nor did she have her house trashed. Anyway, I'd like to see Eleanor Laing speak up on many local concerns: the atrocious state of the roads, the virtual elimination of local youth services, the massive housing waiting list, the erosion of some local NHS services, etc. There are a lot of big problems that are more important than the police arresting a woman for tortoise copulation. The problem is that this puts her in confrontation with the Conservative-control
led County and District Councils. That's why you won't hear her comment on these issues. It's a taste of what we can expect from our MP if the Conservatives win power. She'll pick and choose 'local causes' that make her look good and don't make her party look bad. She won't rock the boat for her constituents because she has a career to advance. It's all about her ambitions and her defence of her own wealth and nothing about her constituents. These self-serving types can be found in all political parties and that's why I'll be looking at the personal qualities of candidates as much as their policies in the next election.

Has anyone noticed how Mrs Laing has suddenly jumped into action and is uncharacteristically taking up all sorts of causes to prove what a good MP she is