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Why Didn't Broaster Read The Riot Act?
posted (September 7, 2017)
And, critics say that what should be "natural and normal" is for the police to have read the Riot Act. That's the warning - given in the Queen's name that those unlawfully assembled and resisting the police should immediately disperse or face the use of force. That responsibility would have fallen to ACP Edward Broaster, but he says in his opinion it was not necessary:

Jules Vasquez, reporter
"Should the Riot Act have been read the whole in the name of the Queen thing? Should that have been read before the crowd was forcibly disperse with tear gas?"

ACP Edward Broaster, Operations Commander
"This was not that case Jules. This was a clear obstruction of a major thoroughfare where members of the public were gathering illegally blocking the ordinary citizens from traversing the highway."

Jules Vasquez, reporter
"Were you apprised to where it at all in your mind that perhaps the Riot Act should be read or is it something that you look at and said okay it doesnt meet the threshold for me to read that? Or is it something that was not in your mind at all? You were just moving people off the road."

ACP Edward Broaster, Operations Commander
"It didn't meet the threshold."

Jules Vasquez, reporter
"What would that threshold be?"

ACP Edward Broaster, Operations Commander
"Threshold would have been riotous act where they were throwing missiles and committing other crimes."

We are told the PUP is contemplating a lawsuit on the basis that the riot act was not read before tear gas and brute force were used.

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