The Police: The Met tweets and texts in attempt to keep peace
When they were condemned for the "open air imprisonment" of kettling during the student demonstrations last autumn, some in the Metropolitan Police suggested the answer should be a more direct response, such as water cannon.
But yesterday's performance, often in the face of extreme provocation, showed the force had learnt much from those bruising encounters.
The charm offensive began on Tuesday, at a joint press conference with the TUC and the civil rights group Liberty. Assistant Commissioner Lynne Owens said that the force would be "naive" to ignore social networks. She added: "My message is that if anyone intends to cause violence, don't come."
The force's next significant message came at 10am yesterday: "For latest info re coaches parking at Battersea/ Vauxhall please go to..." It was the first of dozens of tweets and texts from the force, ranging from information on the progress of the march to public-service warnings about crime in the area. Officers had decided that new technology plus old-style engagement and communication with marchers was preferable to confrontation.
Finally, two Liberty lawyers observed Met control rooms – together with 100 legal monitors along the route – to ensure the force lived up to its promises.
