Confronting the riot police… no place for schoolchildren

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• I WAS surprised that your report (Kettle cops… July 8) made no mention of whether parents should have allowed their children to become involved in a confrontation with the riot squad.

I can’t comment on the protest against tuition fees because I was not there. 

However, I did visit the “anti-cuts” march as a spectator to witness the riot police tactics. 

I had seen the riot squad training and, while their methods often court controversy, they are preferable to the tear gas and indiscriminate beatings seen in other countries.

Regent Street had a mass of police officers. Anyone who did not want to be caught up in the disturbance had left the area.

I was fully expecting to be kettled in and, armed with a flask of tea and some sandwiches, made my way as close as possible to the Fortnum and Mason sit-in.

At one point the riot squad marched into the crowd. 

I was on the phone to my wife giving her some ambience and ended the call… “Have to go darling, being charged by the riot squad, must run.”

Shortly afterwards I was watching a group of people – with their heads covered with balaclavas – hurling missiles and flares at the riot squad.

This was no place for schoolchildren.

Cllr Jonny Bucknell Conservative, Belsize ward Camden Council

Published: 15 July 2011