Without wanting to denigrate police tactics in the Martin Place event it would be fair to say the security operation was a failure. Two innocent people died.
Mr Tori Johnson heroically precipitated the rescue effort by apparently attacking the criminal terrorist and trying to wrest a weapon from him. The security forces did not dictate terms.
The security forces will learn from the incident, but it is patently obvious we need to toughen up and take opportunities to end such events early. The channel 7 camera captured images of the terrorist many times and a no risk policy should have been enacted immediately to end the siege before it got started.
A no mercy, clinical maintenance of law and order must be enacted if not only to save lives but send a message to the many other freaks out there that force will be met by force and under no circumstances will the criminals be allowed to dictate terms.
The police did an admirable job of closing streets and directing traffic but that is not how you fight terrorism.
