Our police state?

Just where on the planet does the chief executive of Shetland Islands Council think he is?

These days the public are just expected to tolerate a display of disrespect from a senior council official at public meetings; such are the low standards of some public servants. But why did the chief executive think it necessary to invite into the public gallery of a council meeting two large policemen, in full uniform, with hats on and wearing their full outdoor kit of yellow reflective jackets etc?

Was it because he knew that the majority of those in the public gallery would be against the windfarm?  Was it because he and the convener knew the result of the vote beforehand and expected a violent reaction from them? As far as I know, never in the history of Shetland Islands Council meetings has the police been asked to attend in a crowd control capacity.

The chief executive should apologise for his unprecedented actions to those who were at the meeting and to the police for wasting their time. On reflection, perhaps the police presence wasn’t entirely wasted for they were witnesses to crimes.  A crime against local democracy and crimes against Shetland’s environment committed by the Viking Energy windfarm developers sat round the table.

Allen Fraser
Meal,
Hamnavoe,
Burra.