NUS student Fees demonstration London 24/11/2010 { 75 images } Created 26 Nov 2010
A protest by students which started out as a legitimate concern against the significant increase in fees proposed by the Coalition government, descended into more street violence and damage to property.
As the main student demonstration entered Whitehall it was prevented from proceeding into Parliament Square. The Police had correctly established that the main target this week was the Lib Dem HQ. A strong line of riot police, confronted by the hardcore element within the population, kept a firm line. Together with police at other exits meant that the "kettling" operation was in progress.
A police van, which was considered to be a decoy vehicle, was the subject of much attention by the violent contingent who did not seem to be from the original student population. There were a number of the organisers ( or at least responsible students) who were trying to hold them back without much success. As the day continued there were violent clashes at all of the possible exits; the full might of the riot police prevented any excursions.
The kettling continued for several hours - all parties were prevented from access to toilets, food and water. Whilst toilets and water were made available through the police lines - this was not widely known. The male population began to use one of the door ways as a urinal, the women were more discrete. As night fell, fires were lit in order to keep warm, and as boredom increased, then more street furniture was destroyed and burned.
Whilst the main student population kept good spirit, and a sense of responsibility, the violence and damage was caused by a hardcore group who seemed not to have much affiliation with the mainstream event - but their actions gained the most public attention.
As the main student demonstration entered Whitehall it was prevented from proceeding into Parliament Square. The Police had correctly established that the main target this week was the Lib Dem HQ. A strong line of riot police, confronted by the hardcore element within the population, kept a firm line. Together with police at other exits meant that the "kettling" operation was in progress.
A police van, which was considered to be a decoy vehicle, was the subject of much attention by the violent contingent who did not seem to be from the original student population. There were a number of the organisers ( or at least responsible students) who were trying to hold them back without much success. As the day continued there were violent clashes at all of the possible exits; the full might of the riot police prevented any excursions.
The kettling continued for several hours - all parties were prevented from access to toilets, food and water. Whilst toilets and water were made available through the police lines - this was not widely known. The male population began to use one of the door ways as a urinal, the women were more discrete. As night fell, fires were lit in order to keep warm, and as boredom increased, then more street furniture was destroyed and burned.
Whilst the main student population kept good spirit, and a sense of responsibility, the violence and damage was caused by a hardcore group who seemed not to have much affiliation with the mainstream event - but their actions gained the most public attention.
