Why did the Police stand back on day 1?

Claire Trevett writes:

Hindsight is a very effective strategist, but there is one moment police may look back upon as the lost opportunity to nip the anti-mandate protests at Parliament in the bud.

That was on the afternoon of the first day the protesters arrived – Tuesday nearly two weeks ago.

The protest was much, much smaller then, and three or four tents were put up that afternoon.

Parliament asked police to provide protection while Parliament’s security went in to remove them.

The police ruled it out for reasons that remain unclear.

Nothing happened and by the next day more tents were up. More tents have been set up every day since. By Friday, the Beehive was nearly surrounded.

That was the time to take action. It is now too difficult for the Police to remove people, but they could have done so when it was just four tents.

There have been moments that have begged to be lampooned. High among them was Police Commissioner Andrew Coster’s so-called towing crackdown.

Coster did not front publicly until Tuesday – a week after the protesters arrived. He said the protest was now “untenable” and put protesters on notice that if they did not move their cars, the towing would begin the next day. He also admitted they could not find towies to do the job, and the Army didn’t have the right equipment.

The next day the only car that was actually towed was a police car, which had a flat tyre.

Almost funny, except for the disruption being caused to many in Wellington.

National’s Simon Bridges had long ago made it clear what he thought of Coster’s approach to policing, saying he was a “wokester” who was too soft on serious criminals.

Useful to remember the Commissioner is decided upon solely by the Prime Minister. They are not appointed like most government department chief executives. Ardern personally selected Coster.