The police’s use of kettling to police protest has come under fire from human rights campaign group Liberty, who argue that it undermines trust between protesters and police and has a “chilling effect” on people’s right to freedom of expression and assembly.
A review by 120 legal observers from Liberty, who attended the March 26 TUC-organised anti-cuts protest, argued that the containment tactic appeared to “undermine the relationship of trust and confidence between peaceful protesters and the police,” reported the BBC. “The possibility of mass containment of peaceful protesters has undoubtedly had a chilling effect on many people’s rights to freedom of expression and assembly,” added the Liberty report, which concluded that the policing of the protest was “on the whole proportionate.”
The March for the Alternative rally, which drew over 250,000 protesters, was largely peaceful but marred by roving breakaway groups of black bloc anarchists who attacked shops and banks in Piccadilly and elsewhere.
Dangerous, heavy-handed and short-sighted. At The Guardian, Dan Hancox, who has experienced being kettled, argued that the practise is dangerous collective punishment which serves only to radicalise protest: “Beyond the physical danger, kettling is collective punishment, in violation of the Geneva conventions: a response to the brick-throwing of a handful of protesters that affects the peaceful ones, too, no matter how old or young, how sick or well. More than that, it is de facto imprisonment without trial … It is often observed that kettling is designed to dissuade people from coming out to protest: if anything, it has the reverse effect on those who’ve experienced it … Freshly radicalised by these experiences, it is little surprise that on 26 March, so many young people chose to reject the police-approved TUC march and masked up, seeking freedom and solidarity in the anonymity of the black bloc. I say this to the police: why should protesters engage on your terms, when these are your terms?”
Others in the media suggested that the criticism of kettling is more bad news for the Metropolitan Police, who seem worrying unsettled on the eve of the Royal Wedding, a massive policing operation by anyone’s estimation.
The Met feel the heat. Adam Fresco, crime correspondent, The Times (£), said the Liberty report’s damning verdict on kettling is just the latest in a string of criticisms for the controversial practise, which has unsettled the Met: “The High Court ruled last week that the kettling, or containment, of climate change campaigners by police during the violent G20 protests two years ago was unlawful and could not be justified … The two attacks against what the Met sees as a ‘vital public order policing tactic’ come as Sir Paul Stephenson, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, is expected to return to work this week four months after having had a tumour removed from his femur. It is hoped that his return will ease some of the pressures and infighting among senior officers at Scotland Yard that has been taking place in his absence.”
Politician’s confidence in police is low. The Guardian’s Crime Correspondent Sandra Laville revealed that “political sources” informed her “that confidence in the ability of the Met to police public order events was low, after violence during the student anti-fees march last year and millions of pounds in damage caused by anarchists and activists during the recent TUC march.” “Stephenson, who is all too aware of the criticism Scotland Yard has come under, is understood to want to stamp his authority on the force to ensure the policing of the royal wedding goes smoothly,” said Laville.
Source: http://www.periscopepost.com
A review by 120 legal observers from Liberty, who attended the March 26 TUC-organised anti-cuts protest, argued that the containment tactic appeared to “undermine the relationship of trust and confidence between peaceful protesters and the police,” reported the BBC. “The possibility of mass containment of peaceful protesters has undoubtedly had a chilling effect on many people’s rights to freedom of expression and assembly,” added the Liberty report, which concluded that the policing of the protest was “on the whole proportionate.”
The March for the Alternative rally, which drew over 250,000 protesters, was largely peaceful but marred by roving breakaway groups of black bloc anarchists who attacked shops and banks in Piccadilly and elsewhere.
Dangerous, heavy-handed and short-sighted. At The Guardian, Dan Hancox, who has experienced being kettled, argued that the practise is dangerous collective punishment which serves only to radicalise protest: “Beyond the physical danger, kettling is collective punishment, in violation of the Geneva conventions: a response to the brick-throwing of a handful of protesters that affects the peaceful ones, too, no matter how old or young, how sick or well. More than that, it is de facto imprisonment without trial … It is often observed that kettling is designed to dissuade people from coming out to protest: if anything, it has the reverse effect on those who’ve experienced it … Freshly radicalised by these experiences, it is little surprise that on 26 March, so many young people chose to reject the police-approved TUC march and masked up, seeking freedom and solidarity in the anonymity of the black bloc. I say this to the police: why should protesters engage on your terms, when these are your terms?”
Others in the media suggested that the criticism of kettling is more bad news for the Metropolitan Police, who seem worrying unsettled on the eve of the Royal Wedding, a massive policing operation by anyone’s estimation.
The Met feel the heat. Adam Fresco, crime correspondent, The Times (£), said the Liberty report’s damning verdict on kettling is just the latest in a string of criticisms for the controversial practise, which has unsettled the Met: “The High Court ruled last week that the kettling, or containment, of climate change campaigners by police during the violent G20 protests two years ago was unlawful and could not be justified … The two attacks against what the Met sees as a ‘vital public order policing tactic’ come as Sir Paul Stephenson, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, is expected to return to work this week four months after having had a tumour removed from his femur. It is hoped that his return will ease some of the pressures and infighting among senior officers at Scotland Yard that has been taking place in his absence.”
Politician’s confidence in police is low. The Guardian’s Crime Correspondent Sandra Laville revealed that “political sources” informed her “that confidence in the ability of the Met to police public order events was low, after violence during the student anti-fees march last year and millions of pounds in damage caused by anarchists and activists during the recent TUC march.” “Stephenson, who is all too aware of the criticism Scotland Yard has come under, is understood to want to stamp his authority on the force to ensure the policing of the royal wedding goes smoothly,” said Laville.
Source: http://www.periscopepost.com
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