Federation response to Home Affairs Committee Report - 'Policing of the G20 Protests'

29 June 2009

Responding to Home Affairs Committee Report the ‘Policing of the G20 Protests’, Paul McKeever, Chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales says;

“It is important for the safety of police officers and the public that we have a wide range of tactics and strategy available to us when dealing with public order and protests. We are the lawfully appointed authority designated to accommodate lawful protests but this must continue to be done whilst balancing the rights and needs of the majority to conduct their daily lives as uninterrupted as possible.

“Containment as a tactic allows for the protection of property, the minimising of disorder, the identification of offenders and the ability of others to go about their lawful business. We accept however that the employment of this tactic may occasionally result in the detainment of some people not involved in the protest, but what has to be considered is the alternative. By choosing a method such as dispersal and allowing groups of demonstrators to roam around areas at will you are allowing, at best, disruption to the lives of non-protestors and at worst serious disorder.

“We support the contention that containment must be proportionate to the circumstances and intelligence gathered. We also believe its use must always be balanced against the need to take measures against the potential for much greater disorder.

The Home Affairs Select Committee is right to make the point that police officers need sufficient and ongoing training to deal with situations when public disorder occurs. That said, whilst training can prepare officers, many of those younger in service were experiencing real widespread disorder for the very first time during G20.”

 

 

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