A Brief History of Kettling
Freedom Press (Repost) | 29.11.2010 19:14 | Policing | Public sector cuts | Repression | Social Struggles
The police tactic of “kettling” was first used at N30, the anti-WTO summit protest at Euston station, London, November 1999. It was introduced after the disastrous policing efforts during J18 (Carnival Against Capital) some months previously where anti-capitalists and anarchist demonstrators roamed free throughout the city of London causing mayhem as part of the global protests against the G8 summit.
The process of kettling involves lines of police forcefully corralling people together into a space then surrounding the whole group on all sides preventing them from leaving the cordoned-in area. Any attempt by people to leave the cordon would result in physically being attacked by police (usually with batons, often with riot shields, boots and fists) in order to preserve the kettle. Detention in this manner would last several hours. After people have become bored, tired and cold they would be released in a controlled fashion, usually one person at a time, after being searched, photographed and had their names and addresses taken.
The process of kettling involves lines of police forcefully corralling people together into a space then surrounding the whole group on all sides preventing them from leaving the cordoned-in area. Any attempt by people to leave the cordon would result in physically being attacked by police (usually with batons, often with riot shields, boots and fists) in order to preserve the kettle. Detention in this manner would last several hours. After people have become bored, tired and cold they would be released in a controlled fashion, usually one person at a time, after being searched, photographed and had their names and addresses taken.
So successful was the kettling tactic it was implemented at all future potentially inflammatory ‘mass demonstrations’ as a method of controlling, subduing and ultimately criminalising protestors. (Early kettling procedure went hand in hand with the misuse of ’section 60′ order whereby police took the personal details and pictures of all those in the kettle for their database).
Although not defined in law (it still is simply a police tactic) it was given the green light by the High Court after some protestors questioned the legality of their seven hour kettling in Oxford Circus on Mayday 2001. The courts ruled that the police could under certain circumstances detain people against their will for long periods of time to prevent outbreaks of violence and criminal acts – and typically a breach of the peace. The example they gave was the detaining of football supporters in the ground while opposing fans left the area. The question of the fact most of the 2,000 people detained in Oxford Circus were in fact law abiding was described by the judge as “unfortunate”.
In terms of the practicalities of the law it’s an absolute sham and the judges who made the ruling know they got away with a large dose of bullshit. But it also meant the police could continue the tactic along with all the violence and thuggery that goes with it under the protection of the law.
The anarchist group the Wombles developed a strategy (borrowed heavily from the Italian radical left movement Tute Bianche) of wearing padding and protective headgear and using re-enforced banners to break through police lines on demonstrations.
While this proved very effective in the short term – the police had no idea how to handle such a disregard from their authority, it had to rely on everyone else adopting the same strategy of forcefully breaking out of the kettle to be truly successful. In the end it was seen as vanguardist (by the left, without a hint of irony) or too specialised to be universally adopted by everyone.
http://www.wombles.org.uk/article20060318.php
The real purpose of the kettle is to ensure people are dissuaded enough not to attend future protests – the law of diminishing returns – which actually succeeded throughout much of the 2000s. This generation of protestors from what we’ve seen, aren’t going to be that easily put off.
Implications of “kettling” and the contradiction of European human rights legislation:
http://www.criminallawandjustice.co.uk/index.php?/Analysis/public-order-policing-and-the-echr.html
Although not defined in law (it still is simply a police tactic) it was given the green light by the High Court after some protestors questioned the legality of their seven hour kettling in Oxford Circus on Mayday 2001. The courts ruled that the police could under certain circumstances detain people against their will for long periods of time to prevent outbreaks of violence and criminal acts – and typically a breach of the peace. The example they gave was the detaining of football supporters in the ground while opposing fans left the area. The question of the fact most of the 2,000 people detained in Oxford Circus were in fact law abiding was described by the judge as “unfortunate”.
In terms of the practicalities of the law it’s an absolute sham and the judges who made the ruling know they got away with a large dose of bullshit. But it also meant the police could continue the tactic along with all the violence and thuggery that goes with it under the protection of the law.
The anarchist group the Wombles developed a strategy (borrowed heavily from the Italian radical left movement Tute Bianche) of wearing padding and protective headgear and using re-enforced banners to break through police lines on demonstrations.
While this proved very effective in the short term – the police had no idea how to handle such a disregard from their authority, it had to rely on everyone else adopting the same strategy of forcefully breaking out of the kettle to be truly successful. In the end it was seen as vanguardist (by the left, without a hint of irony) or too specialised to be universally adopted by everyone.
http://www.wombles.org.uk/article20060318.php The real purpose of the kettle is to ensure people are dissuaded enough not to attend future protests – the law of diminishing returns – which actually succeeded throughout much of the 2000s. This generation of protestors from what we’ve seen, aren’t going to be that easily put off.
Implications of “kettling” and the contradiction of European human rights legislation:
http://www.criminallawandjustice.co.uk/index.php?/Analysis/public-order-policing-and-the-echr.html
Freedom Press (Repost)
Homepage:
http://www.freedompress.org.uk/news/2010/11/27/a-brief-history-of-kettling/
Additions
Tips for staying safe in public order situations
29.11.2010 19:21
(this is by no means a comprehensive guide)
1.Mask up from the beginning of the demo.
2. You do not have to co operate with having your photograph taken on the street and the police have no powers to force you to comply.
3.Don't bring identification, diaries etc., to the protest.
4.If you are stopped and searched, you do not have to give any details. If you are not driving a vehicle, the only times the police have the power to arrest you for not giving details are under Section 50 of the Anti Social Behavior Act or if they want to summons you for an offence/issue a fixed penalty notice.
5.Consider buying a cheap pay-as-you-go phone for demos to prevent the cops seizing your phone and going through your contact lists, text messages etc.
6.Buddy up. Have one or two people who you know are watching your back.
7.Take water and high energy foods with you.
8.Remember there is no such thing as a friendly chat with a cop.
9.Watch police movements and formations. Look out for pens – and if you've done something, take the opportunity to leave while you still can.
10.Watch for FIT teams. If one arrives at a situation, block their shots and let people know.
11.If you are arrested make no comment other than to give your name and a verifiable address. If your solicitor tries to advise you otherwise, tell them you want them to instruct you to give a no comment interview.
For further information see Guide to Public Order Situations ( https://www.earthfirst.org.uk/manchester/porder.htm)
Taken from: http://www.fitwatch.org.uk/2010/11/22/defend-the-dissent/
1.Mask up from the beginning of the demo.
2. You do not have to co operate with having your photograph taken on the street and the police have no powers to force you to comply.
3.Don't bring identification, diaries etc., to the protest.
4.If you are stopped and searched, you do not have to give any details. If you are not driving a vehicle, the only times the police have the power to arrest you for not giving details are under Section 50 of the Anti Social Behavior Act or if they want to summons you for an offence/issue a fixed penalty notice.
5.Consider buying a cheap pay-as-you-go phone for demos to prevent the cops seizing your phone and going through your contact lists, text messages etc.
6.Buddy up. Have one or two people who you know are watching your back.
7.Take water and high energy foods with you.
8.Remember there is no such thing as a friendly chat with a cop.
9.Watch police movements and formations. Look out for pens – and if you've done something, take the opportunity to leave while you still can.
10.Watch for FIT teams. If one arrives at a situation, block their shots and let people know.
11.If you are arrested make no comment other than to give your name and a verifiable address. If your solicitor tries to advise you otherwise, tell them you want them to instruct you to give a no comment interview.
For further information see Guide to Public Order Situations (
https://www.earthfirst.org.uk/manchester/porder.htm) Taken from:
http://www.fitwatch.org.uk/2010/11/22/defend-the-dissent/
Fitwatch (Repost)
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