Jenny Jones, a Green Party member of the London Assembly and of the Metropolitan Police Authority, today issued a call for demonstrators and any other members of the public who witnessed the student protests in London last Wednesday (24 November 2010) to submit information regarding their experience of the policing at the event.
Jenny is asking people who were present to “provide examples of the policing [they] witnessed, both good and bad”.
“Officers acting aggressively, and senior officers turning a blind eye to this”
Ben Duncan, the Green Party’s home affairs spokesperson, who is also a member of the Sussex Police Authority, commented today:
“Jenny has had letters from parents thanking her for speaking out at the way the police treated young demonstrators. She’s also had enough feedback to indicate that there was a serious problem both with some police officers acting aggressively, and of senior officers turning a blind eye to this. There’s also growing evidence that the kettling tactic is unjustifiable and dangerous.”
Jenny Jones has set a deadline of 12 December for responses which she will present in an open report for the Commissioner and the Metropolitan Police Authority.
Meanwhile leading Greens, including party leader Caroline Lucas MP who yesterday attending a student-led protest in her Brighton Pavilion constituency, continue to encourage students and others to protest non-violently against what Caroline Lucas has called “the government’s attack on the next generation and on the future of education in Britain”.
Jenny Jones’ request for information is reproduced below.
Jenny Jones request for information on the policing of 24th November student protests in London
I am a member of the London Assembly and hold the Mayor to account in areas such as transport, London’s environment and policing.
I was at the student demonstrations against tuition fee increases in Whitehall on the 24th November and have spoken publicly about my experiences of the policing of the protests. In order to speak for a wider group, I'd like to hear from people who were demonstrating that day. If you were there, please send me information about the following:
· Which location(s) were you protesting at?
· Can you provide examples of the policing you witnessed, both good and bad?
· Have you been on protests before or was this your first one? And, would you join a protest again?
I'll gather all the replies I receive and put them into an open letter to the Mayor and the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police. I want to make sure that they hear the voices of people who were there on the day and get a real sense of how those involved experienced the policing of the protests.
I will keep your names and addresses confidential, but will include in the open letter your gender, age and area (for example, male, 22, North London) so please put those facts in your email. If you could send me information by the 12th December it will be included in the letter. If you write after that, I'll include your reply in any later letter.
Please email me on jenny.jones@london.gov.uk by 12 December 2010.
I look forward to hearing from you. Thanks.
Jenny Jones
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