BJCC
Please read the following extract from Ryanair's T&Cs.
Ryanair does not provide meal vouchers or hotel accommodation for delayed or cancelled flights at any time.
Therefore the contract betwwen passenger and airline is quite clear, it is not Ryanair's responsibility.
The issue here is quite simple. If the police forces treat people in this way, they will lose their respect and support.
Speed cameras have already impacted the relationshipp between the public and the police and this type of crass behaviour just adds to the problem.
The police are employed
with money from the general public and they should remember this in the way they deal with us.
Obviously, an airborne return and cancellation will be annoying for the pax. It may well be an action well justified, but that in itself is no justification to hold people without food and water for 5 hours - a senior officer should have had the nouse to arrange, at least, supplies of water - five hours is a long time without.
When I was a kid many years ago, our town police walked in the community, knew the players and enjoyed the support of all right minded people.
Today, they ride round in cars, wearing kevlar vests and the only experience most of us "middle englanders" have, when meeting them, is a bad one.
There's a mind set issue here, IMHO, what the rules allow them to do and what common sense says would be a better option.