This book examines protest policing and the toolbox of options available
to police commanders in response. The right to peacefully protest is
intrinsic to democracy and embedded in British history and tradition.
The police are responsible for managing public order and facilitating
peaceful protest and this has not been without criticism. On occasions,
the police have found themselves in opposition to protest groups and
there have been incidents of disorder as a result. In response, the
development of Police Liaison Teams in the UK has presented the police
with a gateway for dialogue between themselves and those involved in
protest.
Drawing on two contrasting case studies, the policing of the badger cull
in South West England and an English Defence League (EDL) march in
Liverpool, this book explores the experiences of police commanders,
police liaison officers, protesters, counterdemonstrators, members of
local businesses and other interested parties. It explores how a
dialogical approach with all those engaged in or affected by a protest
has assisted the police in balancing human rights and reducing conflict
for all.
An accessible and compelling read, this book will appeal to students,
scholars and practitioners of policing, politics, criminology,
sociology, human rights and all those interested in how protests are
policed.
