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• Rev. Andrew Pakula commented  ·  April 19, 2011 9:03 a.m.  ·  Flag as inappropriateFlag as inappropriate  ·  Delete

  Kettling is punishment of protesters. It clearly and unjustifiably abridges the right to free speech.

• Anonymous commented  ·  April 18, 2011 11:21 p.m.  ·  Flag as inappropriateFlag as inappropriate  ·  Delete

  Excellent post by Dave H below. I couldn't agree more. Kettling has an entirely different purpose than to enforce the law. The arguments to sustain it are threadbare and increasingly indefensible.

• Dave H commented  ·  April 18, 2011 2:39 p.m.  ·  Flag as inappropriateFlag as inappropriate  ·  Delete

  Detention without due legal process is "arbitrary detention" -- a tool most often used by repressive regimes to silence, punish or intimidate the opponents of the state. It undermines the most fundamental civil liberties and human rights, and has no place in a democratic society.

  Police have, and have always had, the power of arrest. They have always had this option to apprehend lawbreakers, in-line with correct legal process. They have no 'need' to use the arbitrary-detention/false-imprisonment technique of 'kettling' to enforce the law -- their power of arrest is more than sufficient.

  But 'kettling' is not used to enforce the law, despite the claims of its proponents. It is used to discourage dissent, to punish the act of protest, and to distract from the police force's inadequacies in enforcing the law fairly.

  The widespread use of 'kettling' is a huge step backwards in a civilised society.

• Jen commented  ·  April 18, 2011 12:23 p.m.  ·  Flag as inappropriateFlag as inappropriate  ·  Delete

  ban it

• derek amory commented  ·  April 18, 2011 8:50 a.m.  ·  Flag as inappropriateFlag as inappropriate  ·  Delete

  kettling is establishment intimidation taqctic to deter political demonstrations against the existing order. simple really

• Justin commented  ·  April 18, 2011 6:55 a.m.  ·  Flag as inappropriateFlag as inappropriate  ·  Delete

  Proven to be a pointless tactic time and time again, and holding people against their will and without charge is actually a crime; our police committing crime is not a good thing (end sarcasm).

• Anonymous commented  ·  April 18, 2011 6:12 a.m.  ·  Flag as inappropriateFlag as inappropriate  ·  Delete

  Kettling unnecessary in a society committed to democracy and freedom of speech.

• Julian commented  ·  April 18, 2011 5:32 a.m.  ·  Flag as inappropriateFlag as inappropriate  ·  Delete

  Kettling is pointless - use it on an angry mob and inflame them further; use it on a carefree group and watch them become an angry mob - and abusive. In particular it should never be used as punishment for attending a demonstration as it seemed to be on the student protests last year.

• Bexy commented  ·  April 18, 2011 3:03 a.m.  ·  Flag as inappropriateFlag as inappropriate  ·  Delete

  Kettling is inhuman and against human rights. My sweet sweet niece was kettled tightly in the London Protest for hours without access to basics of the toilet, water or the ability to rest. Police horses running towards her without reason. Who the hell do the police think they are to do this to good citizens who have a legal right to protest.

• Jane Phillips commented  ·  April 18, 2011 2:35 a.m.  ·  Flag as inappropriateFlag as inappropriate  ·  Delete

  Ban the kettles!!

• steve mullins commented  ·  April 18, 2011 2:17 a.m.  ·  Flag as inappropriateFlag as inappropriate  ·  Delete

  Following the G20 ruling, it has to go

• Nando Sigona commented  ·  April 17, 2011 5:06 p.m.  ·  Flag as inappropriateFlag as inappropriate  ·  Delete

  I fully support the 'don't put the kettle on' campaign.

• Tim Martin commented  ·  April 17, 2011 2:05 p.m.  ·  Flag as inappropriateFlag as inappropriate  ·  Delete

  Seems like kettling is generly used on the people who least deserve it ....

• John commented  ·  April 17, 2011 2:03 p.m.  ·  Flag as inappropriateFlag as inappropriate  ·  Delete

  Ban it, a kettle has to vent steam or problems will happen.

• Steve Lawless commented  ·  April 17, 2011 1:02 p.m.  ·  Flag as inappropriateFlag as inappropriate  ·  Delete

  Time the police were made to uphold the law, not break it, on demonstrations.

• John Wadsworth commented  ·  April 17, 2011 12:52 p.m.  ·  Flag as inappropriateFlag as inappropriate  ·  Delete

  Deliberately designed to create an explosive situation. Should be banned.

• Joseph Cronshaw commented  ·  April 17, 2011 11:18 a.m.  ·  Flag as inappropriateFlag as inappropriate  ·  Delete

  It's false imprisonment. Clear and simple.

• Frank J commented  ·  April 17, 2011 9:07 a.m.  ·  Flag as inappropriateFlag as inappropriate  ·  Delete

  I would actually rather the police used water cannons than kettling! At least with water cannons if your not committing violence/don't want to get involved you can move out of the area. If you are kettled you have no choice but to remain.

• Mark Cantrell commented  ·  April 17, 2011 8:32 a.m.  ·  Flag as inappropriateFlag as inappropriate  ·  Delete

  "Is not the point of a kettle, that it brings things to the boil?" Funny how they kettle the peaceful protestors while the violent ones are running amok -- so is it policing or provocation? Either way, it's the deliberate detention of people without charge -- and in inhumanly crowded conditions. It isn't right.

• Sasha Garwood commented  ·  April 17, 2011 5:12 a.m.  ·  Flag as inappropriateFlag as inappropriate  ·  Delete

  Kettling is dehumanising and fundamentally counterproductive. Ban it.