‘Spontaneous’ protest group meets Kingston MPS officers near New Scotland Yard. Image: @MPS Kingston.
Note: There is no suggestion anyone depicted in this image has been in any way involved in unlawful activity.
‘Anti-austerity’ protest groups have challenged the Met Police with unannounced and ‘spontaneous’ street protests after the Queen’s speech.
The tactics adopted make it difficult for the police to deploy the tactic of ‘containment’ which demonstrators describe as ‘kettling.’
A neutral attempt to explain the police technique is the surrounding of a group of protesters by police officers when there is suspicion of past, actual or potential criminal offences.
There’ve been five arrests some relating to yesterday’s events but three concerning recent protests in Whitehall and Brixton.
The most dramatic incident involved the only UKIP MP, Douglas Carswell, who represents Clacton.
He says he feared being lynched when surrounded by a group of demonstrators after leaving the House of Commons.
The incident developed in and around St James’s Park underground station directly opposite New Scotland Yard, the headquarters of the Metropolitan Police.
Wow. Chatting with @DouglasCarswell at St James. And some friends turned up... http://t.co/POVjAwu6Cu
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Harry Cole (@MrHarryCole) May 27, 2015—
Harry Cole (@MrHarryCole) May 27, 2015
Mr Carswell was protected by police officers based in the Kingston Borough Command who were liaising with the National Police Air Service London helicopter hovering above.
The dramatic smartphone video footage that’s available in the public domain is as a result of Mr Carswell using the Twitter app Periscope for the first time during Queen’s speech events in Parliament.
Footage of mob available on my periscope account
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Douglas Carswell MP (@DouglasCarswell) May 27, 2015.@lapswood8 it was very frightening. It was a violent mob.
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Douglas Carswell MP (@DouglasCarswell) May 27, 2015Like I keep saying, I'm very proud that UKIP helped ensure Clacton got its first Muslim councillor
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Douglas Carswell MP (@DouglasCarswell) May 27, 2015The independent use of social media by protagonists in news events means that they now have independent power and control in publication.
Mr Carswell was thus able to use his own photography to record and comment in relation to his own experience.
What is left of the left http://t.co/FAhpSgGzbY
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Douglas Carswell MP (@DouglasCarswell) May 28, 2015The Met Police said:
A 17-year-old youth was arrested on suspicion of assault on police during today’s demonstrations. (27th May 2015)
A man was arrested on suspicion of violent disorder and possession of an offensive weapon during today’s demonstrations.
Nothing has been announced to link these arrests to the incident involving Mr Carswell.
In their media release the Met Police combined news of yesterday’s arrests with that of further arrests of three people for recent protests in Whitehall and Brixton.
A 45-year-old man and a second man were arrested on suspicion of violent disorder on 9 May in Whitehall.
A man was arrested on suspicion of violent disorder at Brixton Town Hall on 25 April.
All were taken to central London police stations where they remain in custody.
Ukip MP @DouglasCarswell says he feared for his life after being surrounded by "lynch mob": bit.ly/1FOWiz3 http://t.co/KVINmrs1Jp
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Press Association (@pressassoc) May 27, 2015Demonstrators remain in the Westminster Area and are now reassembling on Whitehall, moving n/bound twrds Trafalgar Square. Q's on approach.
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TfL Traffic News (@TfLTrafficNews) May 27, 2015Ukip MP @DouglasCarswell escorted away for his safety as gets caught up in anti-austerity protest. Picture: @yuimok http://t.co/jmVAXvdm0W
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Press Association (@pressassoc) May 27, 2015Some of PA's images from the anti-austerity protests in London. Pictures: @yuimok @hannahmckay88 and John Stillwell http://t.co/riqDLeQBYj
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Press Association (@pressassoc) May 27, 2015Kingston's public order team have just been dismissed after a challenging day, more than 12 hours on duty... http://t.co/fLIVuOIe3D
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Kingston MPS (@MPSKingston) May 27, 2015@MPSKingston nice to see ex colleague PS Hobbis leading from the front http://t.co/XHD0o29Eob
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ian bishop (@bish1964) May 28, 2015
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