Police 'kettling' under fire as May refuses to rule out water cannon

[n2doc]

By Michael Savage
Monday, 13 December 2010


Theresa May, the Home Secretary, has refused to rule out the use of water cannon for the first time in Britain if future student demonstrations result in further violence.

There were renewed demands last night for an urgent rethink of the policing of student protests as the Government admitted that even more severe methods of clamping down on demonstrators could be used. Police have been repeatedly criticised for their use of "kettling" to contain protesters. However, the Home Secretary suggested that tougher measures could be used by police following last week's violent clashes.

She refused to rule out the use of water cannon, despite previous Scotland Yard investigations which found they were too cumbersome to use during such chaotic events.

"Kettling" was the tactic deployed during last Thursday's rally outside the Commons against the Government's decision to sanction a tripling of tuition fees. Many peaceful protesters, some under 18, say the tactic meant they were trapped on Westminster Bridge late into the night.
more

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/police-kettling-under-fire-as-may-refuses-to-rule-out-water-cannon-2158673.html

[stray cat]

1. If protests get violent - police don't usually respond by turning the other cheek

Or. By singing kumbaya

[Canuckistanian]

2. Yeah!

Water hoses are EFFECTIVE for pacifying malcontents.

[originalpckelly]

3. Fuck that, in America we use machine guns.

I speak from experience of being surrounded by police officers carrying machine guns. It was a learning experience. We were just chilling eating mexican ice cream, I was with a couple of old ladies. And we were surrounded by tons of guns. Not that we did anything wrong, or that the guns were aimed at us, but the dudes were carrying these things like they were soldiers or something, and they were police men. It was during the DNC, so you could see at some level why they would go all out, but it's not like a couple of old ladies and a wimpy fag were going to do anything to them.

It was like:

"We have guns, big guns, and we'll shoot you. So don't act up, K?"

[n2doc]

4. kick n/t