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| Brixton Calls for Return of Paddick |
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Posted by FoM on March 21, 2002 at 09:59:22 PT By Dan Bridgett and Martin Delgado Source: London Evening Standard 
An unprecedented campaign has been started at street level in Brixton to have Brian Paddick reinstated as the borough's police commander. Commander Paddick, 43, was moved from his frontline role as Lambeth's most senior policeman this week following allegations that he smoked cannabis and allowed the drug to be used in his home.But flyposters are going up advertising public meetings in his support - the first today at Romney House, the Marsham Street headquarters of the Greater London Authority. One features a photograph of Mr Paddick underneath the slogan "Wanted - Fellow Brixtonian". It urges people to phone Scotland Yard and the Met Police "in his defence". Another demands: "Reinstate Paddick". Both posters are anonymous but the latter advertises a town hall meeting next week organised by the Community-Police Consultative Group for Lambeth. Its new chairman Lee Jasper, the Mayor's adviser on policing, this week he described Mr Paddick as "head and shoulders above many other officers". One of the places where the flyposters appeared was the Dogstar pub in Coldharbour Lane. Neil Kindness, 36, the co-owner, said: "Brian Paddick has managed to pull the community together and gain their trust. "Prior to Brian Paddick coming to Lambeth you never saw the borough commander on the streets. He'd actually walk up and down the streets. If someone wanted to talk to him, they could." Source: London Evening Standard (UK) Related Articles: Cannabis Scheme Saves Police Time Blunkett Defends 'Liberal' Drugs Policy Scotland Yard Investigates Marijuana Complaint Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help |
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| Comment #3 posted by Jose Melendez on March 27, 2002 at 08:21:57 PT |
| from: http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/this_britain/story.jsp?story=278954 Police chief Paddick cheered by residentsBy Terri Judd27 March 2002Commander Brian Paddick was greeted by a standing ovation from Lambeth residents last night when he arrived unexpectedly at a meeting calling for his reinstatement. The Metropolitan Police's most senior openly gay officer, who has been credited with cutting street crime and boosting drug arrests in a notoriously difficult area after deciding not to arrest cannabis users, appeared for five minutes at an extraordinary meeting of the Lambeth Community Police Consultative Group. Arriving on stage an hour and a half into the meeting to be met by cheers, Mr Paddick said: "I just wanted to come along to thank all of you here and to the literally hundreds of people who have sent me e-mails," he said. Mr Paddick, 43, who was moved from his job pending an inquiry after tabloid allegations that he had smoked cannabis, has received overwhelming support from those in the area. He said last night: "All I want to do is to come back and serve the people of Lambeth. I hope I am going to be allowed to do so very soon." [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #2 posted by mayan on March 21, 2002 at 17:16:43 PT |
| These antis have really screwed up by going after Paddick! The public will see that it is just an attempt to stifle his views on cannabis-law reform. This will backfire bigtime! [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #1 posted by null on March 21, 2002 at 11:40:31 PT |
| wow! how nice for Paddick. I hope he is reinstated. Remember when police were perceived as friends of the community. The War on Some Drugs and the erosion of the rights of the citizens has done immense damage to that relationship. Isn't it time to mend it? [ Post Comment ] |
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