Mara's Musings

Back in the good old 1980s I was extremely active in the Anti Poll Tax campaign and I attended a large number of peaceful protests including the large demonstrations is Glasgow and London, which unfortunately ended in the Trafalgar Square riots.  The riot on Trafalgar Square kicked off basically because people were trapped within a small area (possibly kettled before it got called kettling!) people got scared, a small minority  kicked off and before you knew it you had mounted police rampaging all over the place. Until that moment the march had been good natured.

This was a legitimate political protest, which eventually god rid of both the Poll Tax and Thatcher.  During the same period I was practically thrown down a flight of stairs by a police officer whilst trying to escape a skirmish between a group of "anarchist revolutionaries" and the police who had been called to empty the viewing gallery of the council chamber.  Myself and rather a lot of other people who had no interest in violent confrontation were prevented from leaving and were caught up in the middle. Being hurled at speed towards a flight of stone steps is likely to upset anyone's equilibrium. Possibly he was trying to get me out of the way rather than kill me however, it was a bloody scary situation.

In the light of my own experiences I think that we should all consider that bringing in the army, water cannon, baton rounds or CS gas is the option of last resort.  Even the police (who have had access to baton rounds throughout) are not willing to cross that particular line.Whilst understanding why people want these things to bring a speedy conclusion to the disturbances it will set a dangerous precedent and effect the handling of legitimate peaceful protests that sometimes get out of hand.  During the student loans protest it occured  because the police used the same sort of  ridiculous crowd management techniques they used at Trafalgar Square.

CS gas was last used in mainland Britain in Toxteth in 1981 during the riots there. Fortunately it has never been used since, but because we have already crossed that particular line I am expecting that if things do degenerate it will be the next port of call.

I am not talking about being soft on the rioters, I certainly dont consider that looting local businesses, burning people's homes and causing widespread distruction for no apparent reason a legitimate "cause".

However, it is true to say that the rioters are a product of our society and we have to look at that, from state level government policies, the policing tactics that are used,  right down to the parenting skills of people who let children as young as 10 years old literally run riot on the streets at midnight.  The individuals doing this have made their bed and now they will hopefully face the consequences, but if we dont look to change the deep rooted lack of caring and respect for other people that seems to becoming characteristic of the UK today, we are in for more of the same.

Written in response to Ross Hemsworth's Blog