Report launch: Political Protest and the Police

A REPORT ON STUDENT DEMONSTRATIONS IN BRIGHTON, 24 AND 30 NOVEMBER 2010

By Tom Akehurst (University of Sussex), Louise Purbrick (Brighton University) and Lucy Robinson (University of Sussex)

REPORT LAUNCH

5.00pm - 6.00pm,  7 April 2011

G7, 10 - 11 Pavilion Parade, Brighton University, BN2 1RA

"I was walking down the Old Steine, just by St. Peters church at 5:20 and I stopped to tie my shoelace, as I knelt down I was kneed in the head with no warning and told to '' get up and move on'' I got up and I heard the officer who had kneed me's colleague say 'the're getting out of control; surround them'. I then got hit again by the same police officer with his shield, he said 'move faster'. We then got moved onto a little traffic island made to fit about 20 people at a maximum and there were at least 100 people crowded onto it."

– A Year Ten school student

This report examines young people’s participation in the protest held in Brighton on 24 and 30 November 2010 and their experiences of being policed. Many of its findings apply specifically to young people engaged in protest; some are also relevant to protestors of all ages and to the policing of  protests more generally. Our findings question the use of kettling, violence, surveillance, Public Order and ASBO legislation against young people on political protest.

Speakers to include:

• John Drury, Senior Lecturer in Social Psychology, University of Sussex, and expert on the psychology of crowds and protest
• Katherine Craig, Vice Chair, Haldane Society and expert on legal aspects of public protest and the tactic of kettling

With an introduction from Bob Brecher, Professor of Ethics, Director of the Centre of Applied Philosophy Politics and Ethics.

Press release available to view or download here.