More power please, and a framework to use it. That’s the summary of the Independent Police Complaints Authority’s (IPCA) review of how the thin blue line acted during the Let Women Speak event at Albert Park two years ago.

You may remember the stoush. British activist Posie Parker was escorted from the park by police after counter-protesters surged forward, with one person pouring liquid on her.

This occurred after thousands gathered to prevent her from addressing a crowd of hundreds—and they succeeded. It’s laudable that police protected her physically; they didn’t exactly protect her freedom to speak.

Parker believes that a woman is an “adult human female,” a stance the counter-protesters insisted was transphobic. While this debate is important, let’s focus on some key takeaways. Numbers win; there were too few police on hand. Violence ensued: a 71-year-old woman was punched in the face by a 20-year-old male LGBTQ activist.

Fast forward to Destiny Church’s recent attempt to invade a drag king event in Auckland. A group numbering about 50 caused the 30 or so fearful attendees (including children) to barricade themselves inside the Te Atatu Library. Police came, but Destiny’s mob shut the event down.

Thug’s veto won the day, and everyone else lost.

Again, putting aside the rights and wrongs of the debate, the outcome was the same—thug’s veto won the day, and everyone else lost. Thug’s veto occurs when protesters, through sheer numbers or threat of violence, silence a smaller, often more peaceful group’s right to free speech.

Such reactions are clearly intensifying, and thuggishness shouldn’t win. Russell Kirk notes, “Men cannot improve a society by setting fire to it; they must seek out its old virtues, and bring them back into the light.” There’s this old Kiwi virtue called politeness.

Realistically, police also recognise they need better responses. The IPCA assessed two other cases regarding people arrested for counter-protesting at pro-Palestinian events. Both arrests were later found to be unlawful. Police also arrested a pro-life advocate for engaging in a debate with strangers on Lambton Quay. The charges were withdrawn last November after the Free Speech Union took up the case.

In the UK, police were given broad powers two years ago to “move on” protesters; some states in Australia also have similar strictures. The IPCA is asking for a Public Assembly Act requiring notification of assemblies and extended police powers. Wisely, they’re not seeking anything like the UK measures. But what’s to prevent politicians thinking these would be a good idea anyway?

Interestingly, those criticising the UK laws that stifle protest come from both the political left (supporters of pro-Palestine protests) as well as the right (arrested for praying outside abortion clinics). Surveying the cases involving Posie Parker, the pro-Israel and life protests and Destiny, the same could be argued here.

The danger in all such instances is that police become the ones deciding who’s allowed to speak and what speech is permitted. That’s one thing they should never police. Let’s resource them to protect free speech, not the thug’s veto.