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Police boss defends under-fire riot cops
Concern at TSG unit’s impact on community relations
“HEAVY-HANDED” tactics by riot cops drafted in to keep the lid on crime have been called into question by residents after a series of incidents hit the headlines in recent months.
Camden’s top policeman was asked on Thursday why the Territorial Support Group (TSG) units have been called in so regularly in recent months.
Official complaints have been made about the behaviour of riot police at incidents at Hampstead School in West Hampstead and in a quiet Gospel Oak street.
At Camden Community and Police Consultative Group, Hampstead neighbourhood panel chairman Nigel Steward asked borough commander Chief Superintendent Mark Heath: “What is the TSG doing in Camden? Are they called in on your orders?”
A resident added: “My concern is that community relationships with police are being affected. What the community often don’t know is that when they (TSG) go in they are not local officers and do not have local knowledge.”
The TSG, a Scotland Yard unit of specially-trained officers who primarily deal with public order issues, is on call to all London boroughs but since Christmas has been deployed in Camden because of spiralling robbery rates, as revealed in last week’s New Journal.
Each unit is made up of two sergeants and twelve PCs.
Ch Supt Mark Heath, a former TSG inspector, defended the units’ deployment and conduct in recent incidents, including a stand-off between riot police and pupils outside Hampstead School, which sparked an official complaint from the headteacher regarding the behaviour of officers. Ch Supt Heath said: “It would be inappropriate for me to comment on issues which are currently the subject of an investigation.
“I would say that at the event in Barnet (the school) I understand the officers faced significant violence up there.
“In the incident reported (in Lissenden Gardens) I know that two of the officers involved received significant injuries – one a broken arm, I believe.”
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