Met police launch Twitter service for Climate Camp
By Liz Stephens
The Metropolitan police have revealed ‘soft’ tactics for policing next week’s Climate Camp protest in London.
In contrast to the heavily criticised tactics implemented at the G20 demonstrations in April, the Met have promised “community-style” policing.
The police force has also registered an account on Twitter named CO11MetPolice which will be used to send information to protesters.
Environmental activists from Climate Camp will be constructing a huge campsite at an undisclosed location in London next week.
They have been assured that sleep deprivation tactics, used when officers blasted loud music at campers at last year’s Climate Camp at Kingsnorth power station in Kent, will not be implemented this time.
The move has been seen as an attempt to repair the image of the police force which was condemned for its use of the controversial practice of ‘kettling’ protesters at the G20.
Newspaper vendor Ian Tomlinson died after being struck by an officer at the protests in April.
Francis Wright, a Climate Camp legal adviser said: “We’re pleased they have been forthcoming and have been making some of the right noises, but we have to see how they deliver on the day.”
Ms Wright also welcomed the replacement of commander Bob Broadhurst, who led the Met’s G20 operation. Commander Broadhurst will lead the policing of the Notting Hill carnival instead.
He will be replaced by chief superintendant Ian Thomas and superintendent Julia Pendry – who led the understated policing of the Tamil protests in Parliament Square, which was widely held to be successful.
Kevin Smith, who is helping plan the camp, said: “Given the enormous loss of public confidence that the police suffered as a result of the draconian tactics they used at Kingsnorth last year and during the G20, it’s no surprise that they would want to be seen mounting a charm offensive at the Climate Camp.
“But we need to see if the authorities are going to take a more reasonable approach to the policing of protest in years to come when there might not be the massive public spotlight that there will be at the Climate Camp.”
A delegation from Climate Camp will speak to officers at the Met’s public order training centre on Thursday.
Climate Camp organisers say they are aiming to create a summer festival atmosphere, with wind turbines, vegetarian canteens, organic toilets and a TV studio powered by solar panels.
Protesters will gather at 10 undisclosed locations around the capitol at noon on 26th August. They will be told the location by text message alerts.
The Climate Camp will run from 27th August until 3rd September.
