I agree wholeheartedly with everything Rebecca Omonira-Oyekanmi has written. However, I'm also peeved that the police officers on duty in Downing Street did not consider Mitchel, a cyclist, as a valid road user and thought it appropriate to redirect Mitchell to use the pedestrian exit. No wonder police officers frequently step aside and allow cyclists to ride, unhindered, on the pavement. I never thought I'd see myself defending a Tory, but Mitchell had a point. Cyclists are entitled to ride on and belong on the road, not the footway. Also, cyclists are notorious for not dismounting, so the road is the best place for them!

Secondly, Downing Street was always a useful shortcut for getting to St James' Park. It's about time Thatchergate was dismantled and the public right of way was re-instated.

Lastly I hope this issue of politicians swearing at police officers doesn't, in any way, interfere with our long held tradition of members of the public swearing at politicians. I have sworn at and insulted some of our finest politicians (Labour, LibDem and Tory), without legal recourse, and I would hate to be deprived of repeating that opportunity anytime in the future.

"Swearing at a police officer is the common cause for many young people (as young as 12 in the case of a pint-sized offender arrested and convicted under the Public Order Act because he called an officer "a w*nker"), ending up embroiled in the criminal justice system."

Um, okay, benefit of the doubt and all that, but figures, please? Because that sounds like ballocks to me. Not least because you can't watch a single Cops-with-Cameras show, or traffic cops show, or even C4's rather excellent documentary that went in-depth (called, inventively, 'Coppers') without seeing the boys in blue on the receiving end of the kind of abuse that makes Mitchell's (sweary and ungracious, sure) rant look like a speech from a motivational speaker crossed with oscar wildea. And guess what? they're *not making arrests*.

So this sounds like an argument based on old isolated cases, anecdote, and outdated data to me.

Andrew Mitchell is on state business, as a public authority, not catching the tube. You might as well say the police were interfering in the rule of law by stopping him go about his business.

Of course he wasn't arrested! He isn't a pleb!

"Whether or not he said “plebs” is irrelevant
I tend to disagree. How many times prior to these comments being made to the Police has the word been used in everyday commentry? It's certainly not a word that I've come across before. Andrew Mitchell knew exactly what he was saying and was trying to insult the officer to the best of his ability.
Secondly, he later denied using the word which he must be implying that the officer made the whole scenario up. In other words he's calling this particular officer a liar.
Thirdly his denial was also given to the PM who stands by this vile man.
And finally, we are now at liberty are we not to call every Police officer that we see a pleb having the full knowledge that no action can be taken against us?
Irrelevant, I think not.

well generally they give you 1 warning- then arrest you. they technically can arrest you under the POA 1986 for swearing once, but only either the most anal officers will, or when an example needs to be made in a public order setting like a town centre on friday night

@Rebecca Omonira-Oyekanmi,
"Where is the justice in that."
Good question, who's fault is it?
The MP, or the police?
The police should have arrested him for swearing and using threatening langage.
Now, we will be lucky to see justice being done.
Justice will be done, only if a wittness come forward and back the police's notes.

The allegation that Mitchell used the word 'Pleb', alongside 'know your f****** place,' is important. It shows his contempt for those whom he considers below him in socially. It shows his contempt for the police, his constituents and actually all of us who didn't go to private school. This isn't something that should just be shrugged off, it is equally as important as using this incident to highlight the fact that there is one rule for them and one for everyone else (the plebs if you will). I think what this shows more than anything, is that our class system is ingrained. The police see themselves as better than the hoodies/teenagers/protesters, the MP sees himself as better than the public sector worker. The issue of equality in law and the use of the word 'plebs', are part of the same problem.

There does appear to be an unfair advantage at play here...
All too many koppers are arrogant and insolent as a matter of course. Should any pleb return the 'compliment' - they would probably be arrested - if only to 'bump-up' the figures for the pig in question.
The kops are increasingly loathed by even respectable society - the neanderthals of the Police federation still do not 'get it' - speaks volumes for them ... police 'intelligence' ? !