Understanding violence

The Guardian reports that Metropolitan Police Commander Robert Broadhurst, the man in charge of policing last month's Olympic Torch procession through London, has been defending the action taken against protesters by members of the Chinese Red Army:-

Faced with allegations that the Chinese security guards pushed, shoved and punched protesters, Broadhurst said it was "a natural reaction" by people who thought their "hugely significant" torch was in peril, and who were in danger of losing face publicly.

Oh, okay. So, according to the Met, punching people is all right, as long as you've got a reason for it.