Police tactics during G20 protests criticised in new report
- 00:02:06
- ITN
Police tactics during G20 protests criticised in new report
Police must change the way they manage protests or risk losing public confidence, a report into the G20 demonstrations has warned. Senior officers are too focused on dealing with disorder and not enough on allowing peaceful protest, Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary, Denis O'Connor, has said. His report into the April 1 London protests found public order training and tactics are "inadequate for the modern day". He said officers are too interested in whether protests are lawful or not, instead of focusing on allowing peaceful demonstrations. Mr O'Connor said some officers policing G20 were not sufficiently aware of human rights laws and he criticised police use of containment to pen in demonstrators on the day Ian Tomlinson died, calling it "inconsistent". He called on the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) to carry out a wide-ranging review of tactics and training for officers dealing with protesters. The review should include a medical assessment of the damage done by shields and batons carried by riot police, he said. And in future, containment should be used more flexibly and vulnerable or distressed people should be allowed out. Mr O'Connor said the changes must be made as soon as possible to "meet the challenges of the 21st century", and particularly ahead of the 2012 Olympic Games.
ITN | July 7, 2009
