High Court rules kettling of protesters illegal

The High Court has reached a ruling that the Metropolitan Police broke the law in their “kettling” of protesters at G20 demonstrations in 2009, writes Guardian crime correspondent Vikram Dodd.

The ruling criticised police officers, who used punches and shields against the protesters, who repeatedly stated their protest was not a riot and non-violent. The High Court agreed with this, stating that any belief by the police that there were factions determined to cause violence and disorder was entirely unsubstantiated. Evidence supports this claim as Mr. Dodd writes:

“Video shot on the day showed demonstrators trying to avoid being beaten by raising their hands in the air and chanting "this is not a riot" at police clad in helmets and riot gear. Officers on the videos are seen to strike demonstrators, who cannot be seen to be engaged in any violence.”

Following the event, police contained the protestors in a process called kettling, where they kept them there for five hours. The High Court ruled that this was an unlawful police operation. In the article, the solicitor of the protestors was quoted as saying:

"Kettling and the police aggression that accompanies it has become a common feature of demonstrations. This was a lawful assembly by people committed to highlighting the grave dangers of climate change.

The court has roundly condemned the unlawful and oppressive police response, exposing it as unacceptable in a democratic society. To date, there have been few signs of a change in police attitudes and tactics since G20. This judgment could not give a clearer signal that must happen immediately."

To read the full article, click here.