QR CodeQR Code

Islam Times Exclusive:

Police taken to court for mishandling children during protests

6 Jul 2011 20:23

Islam Times - The police have been accused of unlawfully refusing to release children as young as 11 from the detained crowds or as some have called it, a "kettle", during tuition fee protests...


Islam Times: One 11-year-old was held using the tactic after it got dark, two High Court judges were told. Three teenagers are seeking damages for a breach of their human rights after being held without food and with very little water in Whitehall.

Adam Castle, 16, his sister Rosie, 15, and Sam Eaton, 16, all from Tufnell Park, claim they were contained, or kettled, by Metropolitan Police officers during the student anti-fees demonstration on November 24 last year. The group were among 10 friends who gathered with thousands of others in Trafalgar Square to march towards the Houses of Parliament. As young demonstrators, many still in school uniforms, moved down Whitehall, they became trapped in the kettle. Rosie was held for about six hours and the boys, who were in court today, for about seven-and-a-half hours.

Martin Westgate QC, appearing for all three, said: "The simple point here is there should have been a plan in place to release young children within the containment, unless there were good reasons not to do so - for example, there was a reason to suspect they were about to commit a breach of the peace." He told Lord Justice Pitchford and Mr Justice Supperstone there was no suggestion that there was "a significant number of violent children" in the kettle.

Mr Westgate said he accepted the decision to impose the kettle was lawful. But he said the operation became unlawful because of the failure to have a release plan communicated to the frontline officers.

Met commanders also failed to take account of their duties to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.


Story Code: 83420

News Link :
https://www.islamtimes.org/en/news/83420/police-taken-to-court-for-mishandling-children-during-protests

Islam Times
  https://www.islamtimes.org