It’s time to ban kettling

Published: 11th March, 2011

• I PLAN to go to the community rally against the cuts in Highbury Fields and the TUC demonstration on March  26, but I wonder how the “chilling effect” of kettling will put off older people, young children and the disabled from taking part in the event. 

As cuts affect everybody, the whole family should be able to register their protest at a demonstration and not just the fit and healthy. The authorities, if they have forgotten, should be made aware that freedom of assembly is a human right and part of our democracy.

It is not sufficient for the police to say they have appointed a “containment manager” to oversee the kettling of protesters. It is time the practice of kettling was banned – there have always been more humane ways of defusing conflict.  

In the meantime who will safeguard our right to protest?
Dr Daphne Skillen
Grosvenor Avenue, N5