http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2013 ... ce-injured

Surely Mr Baggott has a right to stop any parade if it's likely to bring that much disorder? And there's an entire commission for this sort of thing too.

Maybe he had other concerns? I wonder how many of those 56 officers were actually injured and not suffering heat stroke or wasp bites.

The figures are always slightly inflated, if you like, but we're talking actual injuries here

I am sure that the injuries are certainly more genuine than many that the Met have announced after past protests. I would know what they should have done, but was he warned by his officers?

It's worth remembering that the PSNI has always had a slightly more militaristic outlook by necessity.

I understand that, but why did they go ahead anyway? Obviously as someone on the mainland I am as nowhere as au fait with the local politics as you are. He must have had advice from his senior officers about how to proceed and what steps to take.

I'm guessing part of it will be 'Can't be seen to be denying dissident republicans their say', but that doesn't mean you couldn't restrict their route. It's certainly good enough for the loyalists.

You are probably right.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-23663857

All they have to do is put restrictions on, same as any other country. It just shows how badly thought out the Patton 'reforms' (a big PR exercise to enable the green to come in from the cold) were; there's nowhere near enough officers.