HMP Britain

Today the Met has announced Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary is to investigate the tactics it uses in policing major protests. To quote its press release, one of the issues this report will focus on is the tactic of ‘containment’:

“It is also the case that a number of complaints have been raised in relation to the tactic of containment and as to whether this achieves that balance. I want to be reassured that the use of this tactic remains appropriate and proportionate.”

The tactic being refered to here is known as ‘the kettle’ to the police. Let us look at this tactic and its history.

What is it?

The kettle is a crowd pen. People are trapped inside a pen of riot police and not permitted to leave. The crowd is then dispersed slowly from the pen. The crowd can vary in size from tens through to thousands.

How did it evolve?
The kettle as a means of crowd control begins with the worldwide anti-capitalist anti-globalisation movement and its protests in London in 1999, 2000 and 2001. In both the J18 protests of 1999 and May Day protests of 2000, huge amounts of damage was done to the capital by protesters.

At these protests it is important to note that there was no coherent police response to the tactic used by the protesters. People intent on causing damage would break from the main procession of protesters and cause damage. The police response would be to react to criminal damage with riot police and move the troublemakers on.

Perhaps most significant of all—and certainly where most public and press anger was directed—was the defacing of wartime-leader Winston Churchill at the 2000 May Day protesters. The authoritarian Home Secretary, David Blunkett, wanted something done.

By 2001, the anti-globalisation movement had gained huge momentum and May Day 2001 was set to be big. However, the police were ready with their kettles.

The protesters snaked through the capital as had happened before. As the march passed through Oxford Circus, the snake was cut in half. The front half of the snake carried on as before unaware of the cut, but those towards the back of the procession found their way blocked by riot police at Oxford Circus. Riot police then blocked all exits to Oxford Circus leaving the protesters kettled in (see left).

The head of the snake was dispatched with an equal amount of ease. Protesters moved along Holles Street towards the junction with Oxford Street. As they walked down this road, a line of riot police appeared and blocked their way onto Oxford Street. When all protesters were in Holles Street penned against the police line, riot police blocked the entrance they had taken: the protesters were now trapped inside the kettle.
Protesters were kept in the kettles for up to 8 hours without food, water, toilet facilities etc., and slowly let out—one by one—after having their photograph taken. This has become known as the kettle.

How is it used?
The use of the kettle is now routine in the policing of larger protests around the country. It was most recently used in the G20 protests. Ian Tomlinson died in a kettle.

Is it lawful?
Various claims against the police for false imprisonment and breach of the right to liberty under the European Convention have been made in court and not upheld.

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