Nov9 The final kettle, arrests and dispersal
anon@indymedia.org (total policing) | 11.11.2011 14:55 | London
The little told story of the 20 or so people arrested at the end of the Nov9 student anti-cuts demonstration. They were prevented from dispersing, not allowed to head to the OccupyLSX occupation at St. Paul's, kettled, then all arrested - before being taken to Farringdon tube, where they were all processed filmed and released having been de-arrested and told they could not return to the area for 24 hrs.
There's one set of photos on demotix by Richard Rowland:
http://www.demotix.com/news/918766/student-protesters-kettled-arrested-then-taken-tube-station
Below is an account published as a comment on another article - i'd be interested to see any other pics, films, or accounts of what happened.
The final kettle:
It was infuriating having to move when and where the police decided, because I was "obstructing them" if I stopped. And then having to stop when I really didn't want to, for the same reason.
But the final kettle was unbelievable:
the last of the protesters were leaving Moorgate the same way we'd arrived, again in a mobile cordon and with all the side exits closed. As we reached the Museum, people wanted to walk down to St Paul's, but were prevented from doing so.
Then, somewhere in Newgate St, our herders finally lost it and suddenly very impatient shouts of DISPERSE DISPERSE started coming from all directions.
People were incredulous, because there was nowhere to disperse and we were all trying to keep up with the speedy pace of march imposed by the police. When we reached the General Demolition sign in Holborn Viaduct, there was a small opening in the Snow Hill road blockade and the quickest managed to leave the cordon through there. On seeing that, a livid sweaty commander ran towards it shouting CONTAINMENT and YOU ARE ALL ARRESTED. At first it seemed a joke. Nobody had any idea what law they were meant to have broken.
Turned out the Section 12 was in force, even though the officer asked couldn't quite explain what that meant. He did agree that there had been no threat of serious public disorder.
The contained students, about 20 unlucky ones, were only conspicuous because of being kettled by ridiculous numbers of police.
Then they were marched through the busy Farringdon St, blocking the rush hour traffic and causing unprecendented congestion at Farringdon tube station. Commuters had to be redirected from the main station entrance and some were heard enquiring whether it was safe to use the tube, obviously worried this was about a terrorist attack. Then slowly, in the full view of the perplexed commuters, most of whom had probably never witnessed anything like it, the protesters were photographed one by one inside the station, before being sent away on a train, with a 24-hour ban.
anon@indymedia.org (total policing)
Original article on IMC London:
http://london.indymedia.org/articles/10951