Protest policing tactics fundamentally wrong - Howarth
September 24, 2009 2:31 PM
Liberal Democrat Autumn Conference criticised tactics used by police forces during protests.
Conference passed a motion calling for an end to the increasingly aggressive tactics used by police at a number of protests, including the Kingsnorth power station protest in August 2008 and the G20 demonstrations in London this April.
Commenting, Liberal Democrat Shadow Justice Secretary, David Howarth said:
"The ugly scenes of police aggression and intimidation witnessed at the G20 protests and the Kingsnorth demonstrations were a national disgrace.
"Tactics like baton charges, the seizure of personal property and the kettling of protesters for hours on end are fundamentally wrong. They are a threat to democratic rights, they cause distress and injury, increase tension, provoke reaction and damage the reputation of the police.
"These tactics must change. The police must recognise the democratic right to protest and put the protection of the public first at all times."
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