Public Order Policing in its Contexts: From the 1980s to the Present Day

1. Public Order Policing in its Contexts:From the 1980s to the Present Day David Waddington Sheffield Hallam University, UK

2. Objectives The objectives of this presentation are to: • Trace the changing nature of public order policing since the 1980s • Explore parallel changes in the prevailing socio-political context • Emphasise the corresponding implications for police legitimacy & possible reform

3. A Preliminary Overview Academics reckon that, since the 1980s, there have been three major styles (or models) of public order policing. These are: • The 1980s: Escalated Force • The 1990s: Negotiated Management • 2000-2009: Strategic Incapacitation • 2010- : Strategic Facilitation?

4. Policing Context: 1980s • The politics of recession (industrial decline, high unemployment, monetarism) • Cultural, industrial and political dissent • 'Strong government predicated on a potent 'Law and order' approach • Ideological vilification of dissenters • Allegations by some of police repression and partisanship ('Maggie Thatcher's Boot Boys')

5. 1980s: Escalated Force Dominant Model: • Protesters' 'rights' de-prioritised • Lowered tolerance of community disruption • Lack of communication and negotiation • Strategic and uncompromising application of the law and use of arrests • Readiness to apply force Loss of legitimacy in some quarters - then Poll Tax

6. Policing Context: 1990s • From 'class'/'ethnic' to 'issue' politics (e.g. ecology/environment, Third World poverty, animal welfare, sexuality) • Middle-class protesters; absence of clear political consensus (threat to police legitimacy) • police public order tactics and legislation seen as increasingly anachronistic

7. 1990s: Negotiated Management Dominant Model: • Greater respect for 'right to protest' • Increased tolerance of disruptive protest • Accent on negotiation and compromise • Greater reluctance to use the law and resort to arrests • Reluctance to apply force • But 'Iron fist in velvet glove' 

8. Policing Context: 2000s • Transnational movement(s) for global justice • 'Transgressive' versus 'contained' protesters • Non-hierarchical, leaderless, unwilling to liaise • Differing protest repertoires • Summit meetings: Internationally Protected Persons

9. 2000s: Strategic Incapacitation Dominant Model: • use of no-protest zones (e.g. concrete or metal barriers and curfews) • Interception and obstruction of protesters • disruption of assembly or convergence centres • use of 'less lethal' weapons (pepper spray, tear gas, concussion grenades) to retake spaces of contention • use of intelligence and surveillance to predict or monitor demonstrators' behaviour and assign perceived levels of risk or danger • pre-emptive arrests (e.g. to take out ringleaders)

10. From 2010: Strategic Facilitation? Prevailing Context: • Controversy and litigation around 'kettling' • Media outcry and opprobrium re policing of the G20 • The 'Adapting to Protest' reports Implications Re Legitimacy & Reform: • ACPO response: commitment to facilitating 'the right to protest' • ACPO Code of Practice (incorporating O'Connor recommendations)