Lessons learnt over G20 policing must now lead to real changes - Dee Doocey

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 7th Jul 2009

Dee Doocey, the Liberal Democrat London Assembly policing spokesperson, commenting on today's report by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) on the policing of the G20 protests said:

"This report clearly highlights a number of failings over the policing of the G20 demonstrations, not just in the actions of some individuals but most importantly in the whole strategy adopted by the police towards largely peaceful demonstrators.

"I do not share this report's faith in the use of containment ('kettling') to deal with demonstrations. Despite the safeguards recommended in the report, I doubt that this tactic can be used without causing more problems than it solves."

"I also feel that the more sophisticated approach to policing advocated in this report will require more sophisticated training and management if it is to be implemented effectively.

"This report is absolutely right when it clearly states that the correct starting point for the police is the presumption in favour of facilitating peaceful assembly. The Metropolitan Police, from top to bottom, now need to adopt policies to ensure this happens, and this will require a major cultural change within the police.

"My main concern is that the report's many recommendations are fully implemented. In the past valid criticism over policing of protests have been quietly ignored by the Met.1 Never again should this happen."

ENDS

Notes to editors:

1. Following the Countryside Alliance pro-hunting demonstration in Parliament Square in 2004 there was specific criticism of some police officers concealing their identification numbers by the Independent Police Complaints Commission. Five years on, one of the key recommendations from today's HMIC report is that police officers should wear clear identification at all times.