Dayx2 - Timeline of Events

November 30, 2010 22:00 - 153 people were arrested in total today. Most were arrested for breach of the peace in Trafalgar Square, 7 were arrested for violent disorder earlier today and in Trafalgar Square. Some protesters being dearrested away from the location of the protest after being forced to give their details, some on camera to FIT teams. Most are still detained, many have been taken to West End Central police station, friends, family and supporters gathering there.

November 30, 2010 21:20 - No one remains in the kettle in Trafalgar Square, up to 100 people arrested and taken away in vans.

November 30, 2010 21:10 - Four people remain in the Trafalgar square kettle, including two legal observers are being held for breach of peace. Up to one hundred protesters were arrested for failure to comply to a dispersal order.

November 30, 2010 21:00 - Up to 100 people who were kettled in Trafalgar Square have been arrested, and taken in vans to stations including West End Central.
About 20 people are still left in the kettle. Police are handcuffing protesters as they are coming out. Police let a few young people out but it seems are arresting everyone else.

November 30, 2010 20:05 - Legal Update: Nine reported arrests. Seven people have been booked into West End Central. Recent information coming in regarding people currently kettled in Trafalfar Square: No water or toilets have been provided for those detained. Police are citing Section 3 of Criminal Law Act as reasoning for kettle - these give police powers to use force in order to prevent crime or make arrests. Unconfirmed reports 20-30 being taken away and possibly arrested while other reports confirm snatch squads are active in Trafalgar Square. 

November 30, 2010 19:15 - The situation in Trafalgar kettle is worsening for the 1-200 protestors still trapped. [pic] The cordon around the square is still being held strongly by cops. One girl has been witnessed being arrested and pulled out of the crowd by her neck. Police are threatening all protestors in the cordon with arrest. No press seen documenting police abuse!

November 30, 2010 18:45 - Protestors are in Trafalgar Square - there are about 100 or more protesters on the south east corner who are not being allowed to leave and have been completely kettled by police. Also, one more witnessed arrest. Contact GBCLegal if you have more info or need legal support - 07946541511.

November 30, 2010 17:30 - Report from Women Against the Cuts: About 100 people, almost exclusively women, are tightly-packed and protesting outside the Treasury near Parliament Square. Hardly any cops or students present at this time.

November 30, 2010 17:26 - Whitehall is open - and though cops are preventing people (i.e. students and protestors) from going directly down it, they can be circumvented by using side street exits/passages etc. This is advised if you're heading towards the 'Women against the Cuts' demo near Parliament Square. More info on the 'Women...' demo to follow soon.

November 30, 2010 17:20 - A group of between 1-200 people started running down Whitehall, with a line of cops encircling them. There's lots of commotion and the people look like they're trying to get down Whitehall but are being prevented and are essentially being chased in circles by cops.

November 30, 2010 17:12 - A mini-march of 10 people spotted walking down the Strand towards Trafalgar Square shouting familiar slogans of "No ifs! No buts! No education cuts!" and "Tory scum, here we come!" through a loud hailer. Nice to see people still have energy for more!

November 30, 2010 17:00 - Lots of protestors are deciding to leave the square now - clutching placards. From outside the police cordon you can still hear the cheering inside protest crowd/police cordon, so some people are deciding to stick around a little longer.

Meanwhile, the Women Against the Cuts demo is scheduled to begin now outside the Treasury near Parliament Square.

November 30, 2010 16:50 - Arrest reported in Trafalgar Sq as cops clear north of sq. GBClegal is asking witnesses to call 07946541511 with information.

November 30, 2010 16:35 - People have been pushed back to the middle of the square now by advancing cop cordon. There are announcements over police loudhailers telling people they are advised to leave via Duncannon st. or the Strand. There has been reports of one arrest.

November 30, 2010 16:27 - Protestors are getting angrier at the Cockspur Crt. side of the Trafalgar Square cordon - and things are kicking off a bit - there are firecrackers going off inside crowd, and a lot of activity. Twenty cops have come to reinforce the Cockspur Crt. cordon.

November 30, 2010 16:20 - Some demonstrators are chucking debris at the cops at the Cockspur Crt police cordon of Trafalgar Square (debris = plastic bottles, a beer can, fire cracker). The protestors are a bit annoyed  but atmosphere is not really agitated.

November 30, 2010 15:50 - About 200 to 300 protesters still in Trafalgar Square, police are letting people out individually or in small groups on Duncannon street and Strand but not Charing Cross road - which is still blocked. Cops are disallowing any people who look like 'protestors' or 'students' from passing through cordon at Charing Cross Rd. to leave demo.

 A group of around 150 protesters is crossing Waterloo bridge towards Strand with a sound system, protesters are placing metal barriers and traffic cones in the middle of the road to prevent police vans from following them.

November 30, 2010 15:35 - Attempted breakout at SE of Trafalgar Square. People pushing against the riot police and vans. On the SW side of the Square, police are putting their riot gear on. It is snowing heavily now.

November 30, 2010 15:10 - Reports coming in stating cops are attempting to kettle people scattered around Embankment. Meanwhile, main demo is still at Trafalgar Square [pic]. Charing Cross Rd. is still blocked by a police cordon and cop vans - traffic has been diverted. Similar cordon seen on Duncannon St. Individuals are still being let out via the Strand. It appears the cops are tighting their kettle bit by bit.

November 30, 2010 14:53 - Demonstration blocked by police cordons to the north (Charing Cross Rd. and Duncannon St.) of Trafalgar Square, and heads south. Protestors are blocked from proceeding southbound. Some in the crowd are dancing to hiphop tunes. Numbers are about 2,000 now. Small groups of protestors are asking cops that they be let out of the area via Charing Cross Rd. and are disallowed by cops. The Strand is still open to human traffic with police letting out protestors individually (one by one, not in groups).

November 30, 2010 14:50 - Large number of riot police arriving at Trafalgar Square and starting to form a cordon.

November 30, 2010 14:47 - There is about 2-300 students in trafalgar square, people are being let out of the kettle individually or in small groups. A group of protesters of about 150 protesters is crossing waterloo bridge with a soundsystem and protesters have placed metal barriers and traffic cones on the bridge to prevent the police vans from following them.

November 30, 2010 14:30 - Main demo is heading west on High Holborn. Looks to be heading towards Trafalgar Square. Meanwhile, 1,500 protestors are reported to be in Trafalgar Square.  Duncannon Street is blocked by police, as is Charing Cross Road. Helicopter is flying overhead.

November 30, 2010 14:20 - Student sub demos regrouping in Trafalgar square.

November 30, 2010 14:15 - Smaller groups of students are also heading back towards Trafalgar Square where there is about a thousand protesters.

November 30, 2010 14:10 - Main demo is North of St Paul's on King's Edward street. Still numbering 4000.

November 30, 2010 14:09 - Students occupy the Slade School of Art building in UCL.

November 30, 2010 14:05 - Protesters break through police lines in Aldwych without much hassle. The front of the biggest group of protesters is now nearing St Paul's.

November 30, 2010 14:01 - The biggest chunk of the protest has now hit Aldwych, police are trying to run to the front of the demonstration.

November 30, 2010 13:52 - The large group of protesters is now heading towards Holborn and the Strand. [video] Police have also surrounded Buckingham Palace and are moving the crowd of students that was there towards Trafalgar Square.

November 30, 2010 13:35 - The large crowd of students now heading towards Tottenham Court Road, around 300 riot police are unable to act to stop the march. Another firework went off. Elsewhere small groups of protesters (around 50 people) are reportedly kettled in Trafalgar Square and Buckingham Palace.

November 30, 2010 13:30 - There are about 2000 protesters now on Regent street, the riot police have put their helmets on as students run to avoid police lines.

November 30, 2010 13:25 - Thousands of students are also marching down the Strand.

There is a heavy police presence on Picadilly now, and as the march moves towards Oxford Circus some riot police have been seen beating people in a side street.

A smoke bomb also went off.

November 30, 2010 13:18 - Over a thousand students defying kettle tactics have taken over the streets and have shut down Picadilly.

November 30, 2010 13:05 - Students are now swarming Marble Arch heading towards Picaddily. Reports of the first snowball thrown at a policeman in Hyde Park missing.

November 30, 2010 13:00 - In addition to the large crowd heading towards Buckingham Palace, a group of more than 500 students are on Victoria Street, a line of riot police is protecting the department of Business and Innovation skills now in charge of higher education.

November 30, 2010 12:50 - A large crowd of a thousand plus, has now past Victoria station and the front of the group has reached Buckingham Palace. The FIT team has been spotted in full riot gear, many of the protesters out today have their face masked.

November 30, 2010 12:45 - A group of 100 students are being kettled near Parliament square on the corner of Little St George street.

November 30, 2010 12:40 - A crowd of about 1000 is heading west towards Rochester Row while small groups of protesters take to the back streets. A group of protesters, including students from the UCL occupation is also being kettled in St James' Park.

November 30, 2010 12:30 - Riot police are attempting to kettle some students who have made it down to Parliament Square, but the protest remains dynamic as students are finding other routes to avoid the kettle, and the march is currently heading west down Victoria street past Scotland Yard. Some protesters are gathering outside Scotland Yard while police is running towards the building to protect it. Different groups of protesters are also heading down other side streets.

King's College London students have gone into occupation, joining tens of other colleges across the country.

November 30, 2010 12:09 - Hundreds of students have gathered in Trafalgar Square. Protesters are starting to march. [video]

November 30, 2010 11:09 - A large number of police are already lining up in Whitehall in preparation for today's protests.