Bindmans, a London law firm, is preparing to launch a legal challenge against the UK police’s use of kettling:
Bindmans is … preparing to launch a legal challenge against the use of “kettling”, the police tactic used to pen in 5,000 people during the G20 protests and a strategy which led to protesters suffering asthma and panic attacks. John Halford, a partner in Bindmans, said that the firm had held talks with Climate Camp legal advisers on Friday to prepare to launch a judicial review against the containment of protesters.
Halford said that “kettling” is legally justifiable only when there is no alternative to address actual or imminent violence. He said: “There is much to suggest that ‘kettling’ was the first thing resorted to as a response to a peaceful demonstration that was considered a nuisance by the police. Worse, many protesters have reported unprovoked baton charges and other forms of intimidation while they were penned in. We plan to ensure all of this is examined by the courts.”
I’ve experienced kettling before as part of a peaceful demonstration in 2003 against the world’s largest arms trade fair, DSEi, held every other year at East London’s ExCeL Centre. I spent most of my time in the kettle trying to explain participatory economics to the police. An engaging lot to be sure.