A motion has been tabled for the agenda of the next public meeting of the Metropolitan Police Authority on the 30th May, 10am at City Hall.
The motion recognizes that policing the G20 demonstration on the 1st April was:
“difficult, but believes that the strategy and tactics adopted by the Metropolitan Police were fundamentally wrong.”
The motion outlines two key criteria which the current review by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) needs to meet in order to restore confidence in the police:
“[it] must take evidence in a public forum from all concerned, including protesters, and closely examine other recent protests to consider the growing concern that police tactics have become more aggressive in recent years.”
The motion outlines six principles which the review of public order policing must be based upon and concludes that:
“If these principles are not fully incorporated into the HMIC review and any recommendations that arise from it, then this Authority will re-examine what further steps need to be taken, including the possibility of instigating a further review.”
Jenny Jones AM, Green Party member of the MPA and the party's home affairs spokesperson, said yesterday evening:
“As more and more stories flood out, the reputation of the police has declined with every slow motion replay of the latest corroborating video footage."
"Repeated failures" by watchdogs and politicians
She continued:
"It would be easy to think that this misbehaviour is a sudden and worrying new development. Yet there is evidence that the G20 policing debacle is the result of repeated failures by police watchdogs, the media and politicians to deal with incidence of violent and repressive behaviour from the police in recent years.”
“As a member of the Met Police Authority for the last nine years, I have been a critical friend of the police, defending them when I see the coverage is unfair, but making it clear when I think they have got it wrong. On 1st April, they got it disastrously wrong. They took away the liberty, the civil liberties and the human rights of hundreds of people who were protesting peacefully. Who had every right to protest and who needed the police’s support. What the police did to the fluffy, happy, musical, picnicking Climate Camp part of the protest was violent and unprovoked.”
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Jenny Jones is available for interview. Call the Green Party press office, 020 7561 0282
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Note to editors:
Motion to the Metropolitan Police Authority meeting, 30th May. Proposed Dee Doocey, seconded by Jenny Jones.
This Authority recognises that the job of policing the G20 demonstrations on 1st April was difficult but believes that the strategy and tactics adopted by the Metropolitan Police were fundamentally wrong. This Authority notes that the Commissioner has asked HMIC to review public order policing, and that the IPCC are investigating a number of specific complaints. In order to begin the process of restoring public confidence the HMIC review must take evidence in a public forum from all concerned, including protesters, and closely examine other recent protests to consider the growing concern that police tactics have become more aggressive in recent years. The HMIC review should make recommendations that would form the basis of long-term policies on the policing of protest in recognition of the following principles:
1. Demonstrations and other peaceful forms of protest are a fundamental democratic right, which all public bodies are under a duty to facilitate and protect.
2. Policing of demonstrations must always be proportionate, and must discriminate between the need to facilitate peaceful protest and prevent criminal acts committed by a minority.
3. The police must use aggressive tactics such as kettling’, baton charges, and attacks with dogs only when they are absolutely necessary and proportionate. The seizure of personal property from demonstrators is not acceptable. The use of aggressive or intimidatory tactics agains peaceful protesters is provocative, inappropriate, and counter-productive, since it increases the tension and likelihood of violence.
4. Any officers not clearly identifying themselves by wearing an identification number are committing a disciplinary offence.
5. The police must exercise due care and attention when making statements to the media since predictions of violence can be self-fulfilling. The police must never exaggerate the likelihood of violence, nor should they dissemble the facts after a demonstration has occurred.
6. The police must consider Britain’s reputation abroad and not commit acts that set a poor example and thus undermine our country’s efforts to promote human rights.
If these principles are not fully incorporated into the HMIC review and any recommendations that arise from it, then this Authority will re-examine what further steps need to be taken, including the possibility of instigating a further review.