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Big_Bird
Joined: 31 Jan 2003
Location: Sometimes here sometimes there...
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 Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2009 11:15 pm Post subject: British police using kettling to contain protesters |
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Don't like the way things are going. Turning up for a protest and then having to give your name and address (and have your photo taken) when you want to leave. Being forced to remain at a demonstration for hours and hours. The UK's not a 'free' nation any more.
Did the handling of the G20 protests reveal the future of policing?
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This week police used 'kettling' - penning marchers in an area and refusing to let them out - to deal with the G20 demonstrations. Is this really the most sensible way to tackle protests?
hirty years ago this month, a young teacher called Blair Peach was killed during a demonstration against the National Front in Southall, west London. Peach was a member of the Socialist Workers Party and the Anti-Nazi League, which had organised the protest during an upsurge of support for the far right. Peach's death and his funeral, attended by the thousands who accompanied the procession through East London, was memorialised in art, poetry and song.
It was believed that he had been killed by a blow on the head from a police radio but the exact cause was never officially established. A jury returned a verdict of death by misadventure. The policing of the protest, in which the Metropolitan police's Special Patrol Group (SPG) were notably involved, remains a topic of debate to this day.
Another 30 years, another demonstration, another death, albeit one that appears to have no link at all to violence by either police or demonstrators. Once again, however, the policing of the protest is under scrutiny.
Of course police tactics have changed over the years. The outright confrontation, like an old Roman battle, which was common in the 70s and 80s in demonstrations, has been refined. The nightmare scenario, as far as the police are concerned, is a repeat of the poll tax riots of 1990 when control of the centre of London was lost. Everything is now done to try and avoid a repeat. The surveillance techniques offered by closed circuit television, sophisticated long-distance filming, computerised identification and improved riot gear, mean that the old street battles are less common and have been replaced by containment. What the City saw on Wednesday and, to a lesser extent, yesterday, is a distillation of all those new techniques.
When the main body of protesters arrived on Wednesday from four different directions at their planned destination of the Bank of England, they soon found themselves hemmed in from all sides by ranks of police. Requests to leave the area were refused. This is, in police terms, the "kettle". It is best known for having been used in the May Day protests at Oxford Circus in 2001, after which it became the subject of a civil action, brought by one of those contained and only finally resolved by the law lords (in the police's favour) in January this year.
The kettle has also been used often in other, smaller, less publicised protests. Many away football fans, forced to stay behind police lines for long periods of time after a game, will be familiar with it. But what is significant about its use this week is that it is now apparently being applied in a rigid, inflexible way - policing as video-game. Its use was predicted and justified by the former assistant commissioner (special operations) at the Met, Andy Hayman, in an article in the Times earlier this week. "Tactics to herd the crowd into a pen ... have been criticised before, yet the police will not want groups splintering away from the crowd," he wrote.
There were certainly people anxious to smash windows and cause some mayhem in the City on Wednesday. But they were far outnumbered by a playful, peaceful, harmless group of protesters, including rappers, sax-players, jugglers, spliff-rollers, students, CND campaigners, passers-by, and men dressed as police officers and wearing blue lipstick. For many of them the intention had been to come and make a lunchtime April Fool's Day protest against the City and the banking world's self-indulgence, as well as to air concerns about everything from climate change to homelessness. But when many wanted to leave the area, hardly any were allowed to.
"Don't ask us, ask the gaffer," was the response from police officers to people who wanted to leave and were puzzled that they could not. Gaffers seemed in short supply and none had, apparently, been allowed to use their own initiative in allowing who to release from the pen of police in which the protesters were corralled. There's an old police joke in which a constable injured in a riot staggers back through the ranks for treatment. Another officer comes to his aid. "Thanks, sarge," says the constable. "That's OK - but by the way, I'm a superintendent." "Blimey," replies the officer, "I didn't realise I was that far back."
Where were the supers this time, why were the crowd given no instructions as to where they should go or when? The area became a public lavatory as people unable to leave used the entrances to Bank underground station as a urinal. The containment was backed up at the Bank of England, first with mounted police and then with police dogs, ramping up tensions and fuelling further bloody confrontations.
As people were eventually allowed to leave the area, they were funnelled out down a pavement on Princes Street with a police officer grabbing them by the arm as though they were under arrest. One officer, asked why people were not allowed to leave under their own steam, replied: "They might fall over." People were then asked for their name and address and required to have a photo taken. Those who refused were put back in the pen.
As for the more obvious signs of destruction - the Royal Bank of Scotland had its windows smashed. Why no one had thought to board up a building with the RBS sign on it, as many other outfits had been boarded up, is unclear. As for the violent clashes that led to cracked heads and limbs - how much was inevitable and how much avoidable?
Certainly, the police had to put up with much abuse and missiles, although these were mainly plastic bottles and sprayed beer and cider. Certainly, some demonstrators were bent on aggro but, then again, so were some of the officers on Queen Victoria Street. But how much of the trouble as the day wore on could have been avoided by policing that didn't involve containment? And what does this mean for the future of protesting? Does this mean that anyone wanting to go on a demonstration in the future needs to be prepared to be detained for eight hours, photographed and identified? And how long, if such techniques continue, or are further refined, before the confrontations become bloodier?
The thing about kettles is that they do have a tendency to come to the boil. |
BTW, for those of you monkeys calling me a G20 protester/sympathiser/whathaveyou - where's your evidence? Amusing that you now have a new insult to hurl my way. In fact, this thread is the first time I've even discussed it. And I've no strong opinion on it. But as usual the gibbering little gibbons amongst us are resorting to their own 'finking' on it. Not a good idea to rely too much on that 'finking' little darlings...and it might give you a sore head. Mwah!
Last edited by Big_Bird on Thu Apr 02, 2009 11:34 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Gopher
Joined: 04 Jun 2005
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| Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2009 11:32 pm Post subject: |
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Re: "Is this really the most sensible way to tackle protests?"
Is this (see related videos as well) the most sensible way to protest and articulate one's politics? I do not like the way things are going, either. |
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Big_Bird
Joined: 31 Jan 2003
Location: Sometimes here sometimes there...
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| Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2009 11:44 pm Post subject: |
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| Gopher wrote: |
Re: "Is this really the most sensible way to tackle protests?"
Is this (see related videos as well) the most sensible way to protest and articulate one's politics? I do not like the way things are going, either. |
I've been involved in the odd march before (not related in anyway to G20 - just so you know, you sweet little marmosets). Just a large gathering of peaceful people marching together to make a point or demonstrate their disapproval or support. I see nothing wrong with this. But if these police tactics had been deployed at the rallies I had attended, I would have been hemmed in with the rash, the thoughtless, and the loons. No escape. Not for hours. And having to give your name and address and photo to leave? I never thought things revert in such a way. You scoff at people quoting Orwell's 1984, but in 21st century Britain, its starting to seem rather apt.
And I think these tactics are going to cause at least as many problems as they solve.
Last edited by Big_Bird on Fri Apr 03, 2009 3:14 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Big_Bird
Joined: 31 Jan 2003
Location: Sometimes here sometimes there...
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| Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2009 11:57 pm Post subject: |
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| "On Wednesday I was coralled with 4,000 people for four hours for doing nothing," said Tim Smith, a carpenter from London. "Now I have been stopped and searched twice. I have been made to feel like a criminal for exercising my right to peaceful protest." |
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/apr/03/g20-protests-bankers-met-police |
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rollo
Joined: 10 May 2006
Location: China
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| Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2009 11:59 pm Post subject: |
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| For once I agree with the Big Bird! As long as a demonstration is peacful it is a RIGHT!! DEtaining people withiut trial of charges is unlawful , I hope that this practice is challenged and done away with. |
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bacasper
Joined: 26 Mar 2007
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| Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2009 12:34 am Post subject: |
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This seems to be current policing technique.
It is what they did to us in New York at the peaceful protests against the Iraq war and at the Republican National Convention, except we weren't ID'd nor were our photos taken.
At another point, mounted cops would charge groups in the crowd. It was intimidating, and it was only a matter of luck who got hurt by it.
Eventually we were allowed to leave teh pen, but only a few at a time.
If the cops aimed to have a chilling effect on future protests, I'm sure it worked for many. |
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ManintheMiddle
Joined: 20 Oct 2008
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| Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2009 3:29 am Post subject: |
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Big Bird squawked:
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| Don't like the way things are going. Turning up for a protest and then having to give your name and address (and have your photo taken) when you want to leave. Being forced to remain at a demonstration for hours and hours. The UK's not a 'free' nation any more. |
Ah, yes, but I'm sure you approved of the police not arresting those punks--er--protestors who smashed the windows of the Royal Bank of Scotland downtown, eh?
Half of them are anarchists and the other half are there because they have nothing better to do and love a little confrontation. All of them are likely pampered losers, though.
| Quote: |
| I've been involved in the odd march before |
The best admission you've posted that "goes without saying."
I feel cheated, however. I really expected you to cluck that "some of my best friends are career protesters" or "I've known a few anarchists in my time," or "I miss the mindless chanting and taunting of blue collar workers (re: police) just trying to do their job."
But, alas, it was not to be. |
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Big_Bird
Joined: 31 Jan 2003
Location: Sometimes here sometimes there...
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ED209
Joined: 17 Oct 2006
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| Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2009 6:20 am Post subject: |
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| ManintheMiddle wrote: |
Ah, yes, but I'm sure you approved of the police not arresting those punks--er--protestors who smashed the windows of the Royal Bank of Scotland downtown, eh?
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| "I miss the mindless chanting and taunting of blue collar workers (re: police) just trying to do their job." |
Yes, please allow the police to not do their jobs!(actually they've arrested three so far for the attack on RBS) |
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rollo
Joined: 10 May 2006
Location: China
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| Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2009 3:14 pm Post subject: |
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Hey Man in the middle. Guess what? It is legal to be an anarchist, a luddite, a mason, even a Republican. You can even have a sex crazed moron as an avatar. It's called freedom It's great. What is not or shouldnt be legal is for the police to detain you, wothout charges or trial. I kknow that this is a stretch for you but a long time ago , people were willing to die for the right to assembly, free speech, to petition or protest. Why one country , the U.S. A. even list those freedoms in something called the bill of rights
these rights were such a good idea, that even the U.K has adopted most of them.
You know that in four years that the Repulican party will hold a large meeting, where speakers will denounce the current party in power, stir people to action, cause unrest. harmless you say? Well the truth is that some of the people who attend this protest, will consume too much alcohol, hire prostitutes, drive drunk. they should be rounded up held for a few days, this will teach those hooligans a lesson. |
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Pluto
Joined: 19 Dec 2006
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| Posted: Sun Apr 05, 2009 10:06 am Post subject: |
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| Why do pols insist of having these summits in larger urban areas? They know the type of attention they are attracting. If they were really serious about protecting life and property, they would have these summits on a Mediterranean or Caribbean Island, or high up in the mountains somewhere. |
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rollo
Joined: 10 May 2006
Location: China
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| Posted: Sun Apr 05, 2009 2:13 pm Post subject: |
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This should be an issue that conservatives would be all over, restraining government, standing up for civil rights. the are supposedly conservative issuees.
Pluto makes a good point. Holding these summits in urban areas is asking for trouble.
I find myself agreeing with BA CAspar and Big Bird , which is troubling. But they are adopting the conservative view of this.
Which is more important broken windows at a bank or freedom/ |
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TheUrbanMyth
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Location: Retired
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| Posted: Sun Apr 05, 2009 8:16 pm Post subject: Re: British police using kettling to contain protesters |
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| Quote: |
. Is this really the most sensible way to tackle protests?
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I prefer tasers myself. |
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BS.Dos.
Joined: 29 Mar 2007
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| Posted: Sun Apr 05, 2009 8:58 pm Post subject: |
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Spectrum of Political Activism:
Political Participation - voting, responding to surveys/questionnaries etc
Passive Lobbying - Letter writing, signing petitions, joining pressure groups, making dontations
Active Support - Attend meetings, rallies and demonstrations, distribution of leaflets, collecting donations, boycotting of goods, comapnies, institutions etc
Activism - Organising events, boycotts etc, doing research, writing, organising campaigns, fund raising, lobbying, public speaking etc
Direct Action - Picketing and committing acts of obstruction, engaging in ethical shoplifting (nice)
Revolutionary Action - Engaging in complete civil disobedience, sabotage, terrorism
Source: O'Riordan, T (1995) Frameworks for choice: core beliefs and the environment
I think the only one that people may have a problem with is the last one; revolutionary action, but this can take many forms. Think of Greenpeace and their action against Japanese and Norwegian whaling ships etc, anti-fur groups etc. Why is it, that to many, this kind of behaviour is acceptable, while other forms of civil disobedience aren't? |
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ontheway
Joined: 24 Aug 2005
Location: Somewhere under the rainbow...
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| Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2009 7:59 am Post subject: |
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| rollo wrote: |
| For once I agree with the Big Bird! As long as a demonstration is peacful it is a RIGHT!! DEtaining people withiut trial of charges is unlawful , I hope that this practice is challenged and done away with. |
Agreed.
When the cops interfere in any way with the peaceful exercise of liberty by the citizens, the cops become evil, fascist-socialist criminals.
The cops at this "fine kettle of fish" should have been identified, photographed and then arrested and prosecuted.
The penalty for the cops at this event should be a minimum sentence of 5 years in prison. |
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