HMIC Policing Protest Report Condems Police
Published:
November 25, 2009 11:05
by
ibod
Neighbourhoods:
The long awaited second report by Denis O'Connor, the chief inspector of constabulary, is critical of many aspects of public order policing which alienate the public and infringe the right to protest.
The report "Adapting to Protest - Nurturing the British Model of Policing" looked at the now infamous policing of the G20 protests in london as well as the Climate Camp protest at Kingsnorth and other mass demonstrations.
See Full Report:
http://inspectorates.homeoffice.gov.uk/hmic/special/adapting-to-protest/
In related news, campaigners from Climate Camp have won their legal battle to secure a full hearing for a Judicial Review around the brutal policing of the G20.
Responding to the publication of the report, people from the Climate Camp said:
"The HMIC report shows that there is some movement within the police force for change, but we'll be watching how things happen down on the ground at direct actions in the lead up to the Copenhagen climate talks.
Hundreds of british climate activists are going to be making their way to Copenhagen over the next few weeks - let's hope the police don't use this as an excuse for intimidation and monitoring.
When it came to the G20, the police behaved like violent thugs - and the granting of a Judicial Review to put the senior police officers involved under scrutiny will surely bring more of their mistakes to light. Let's just hope they learn their lessons in time. We're watching you."
Whilst the policing of the Climate Camp protest at Blackheath in London was indeed low key and drew almost no criticism at all, the recent cases of four climate campaigners detained and questioned under anti-terror legislation whilst on their way to a protest meeting in Copenhagen raises further questions about political policing.
MEDIA COVERAGE:
'Aggressive' policing of protests condemned in post-G20 inquiry
Senior inspector discredits heavy-handed approach and calls for return to 19th-century style of minimal force
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/nov/25/police-could-lose-public-consent
British policing's wake-up call
Heavy-handed policing is drifting away from British 'soft' tactics
http://www.politics.co.uk/news/policing-and-crime/british-policing-s-wake-up-call-$1342748.htm
Police methods 'could erode public support'
http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/uk/police+methods+aposcould+erode+public+supportapos/3437497
Police protest training in chaos, report finds
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article6931097.ece
Police tactics 'risking loss of public support'
British police risk losing the support of the public if they confront demonstrators with tactics seen as aggressive and unfair.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8377208.stm
Additions
CiF : A policing report worth backing
Published: November 25, 2009 12:34
by
more
A policing report worth backing
guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 25 November 2009 11.00 GMT
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/libertycentral/2009/nov/25/policing-report-g20-hmic
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Report Precis
The British model of policing must be nurtured. IT is time to reassert the principles of the traditional British model of approachable, impartial and accountable policing based on minimum force for major public order events, Her Majestys Chief Inspector of Constabulary says today.
He warned that public order events have exposed inconsistencies in the training, standards and leadership of public order policing, in particular:
1 An absence of clear standards on the use of force: Some forces train officers in defensive and offensive shield tactics (including the use of the edge of the shield against individuals) which are not nationally recognised.
2 Inappropriate use of public order powers such as stop and search and overt photography: Police use of overt photography and the retention of the images raise human rights issues.
3 Variation between forces in understanding of the law: This was seen at Kingsnorth Climate Camp, particularly in relation to stop and search.
4 Inconsistent equipment and tactics: There is no common standard for public order personal protection uniform and different approaches to training - 19 forces train with intermediate and round shields, 2 with long and round shields and one with all three types.
5 Out dated training and guidance: The current tactics training manual was written in 2004 and has not been revised since.
Mr OConnor added: The world is changing and policing needs to change with it. Public order policing needs to evolve as we move towards the London Olympics in 2012 and beyond. This will protect the rights of protesters and the wider public as well as protecting the integrity of the British policing model.
The report makes a number of other recommendations, including:
1 The adoption of a set of fundamental principles on the use of force which run as a golden thread through all aspects of police business.
2 Codification of public order policing to ensure consistency in public order training and use of equipment, tactics and police powers.
3 Clarification of the legal framework for the use of overt photography by police during public order operations and the collation and retention of photographic images by police forces and other policing bodies.
4 Review of the status of the Association of Chief Police Officers to ensure transparent governance and accountability structures, especially in relation to their quasi-operational role of the commissioning of intelligence and the collation and retention of data.