Policing of May Day 2001

Report: 4b
Date: 26 July 2001
By: Commissioner

Summary

This report summarises the policing arrangements that were implemented for the policing of organised and spontaneous protest and other activity that took place on May Day 2001. This report summarises the information given to members at a workshop held on Friday 15 June 2001.

A. Recommendation

Authority members note the contents of this report.

B. Supporting information

Background and intelligence

1. May Day 2001 was the latest in a series of protests that have been held in London (18 June 1999, 30 November 1999, 1 May 2000). These previous demonstrations had all been marked by destruction to property, injuries to police officers and large numbers of arrests.

2. The intelligence picture leading up to May Day 2001 developed over a period of months. The WOMBLES (White Overall Movement Building Libertian Effective Struggle) was formed by a group of British protesters who travelled to Prague in September 2000 to demonstrate against a meeting of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. The events of Prague were typified by violence and disorder that had sufficient impact to force the meeting to be ended a day early. In Prague the British protesters observed the activities of the Italian protest group 'Ya Basta' and took note of their tactics. Ya Basta were typified by the white overalls that they wore and their use of home made body armour and props that they used to break through police lines. The British protesters decided that a similar group could be effective in the UK and hence the WOMBLES were formed – the name initially being intended as a joke. At the end of 2000 the WOMBLES joined forces with the May Day collective (a loose coalition of left wing and anarchist protesters) to begin the preparations for May Day 2001.

3. A theme was decided upon of 'May Day Monopoly' with the intention that demonstrations would be staged at numerous locations across London highlighting left wing, environmental and animal rights causes. 'May Day Monopoly' ultimately had a total of nineteen separate protests around the capital, all of which were identified and assessed. The final and most contentious 'action' of the day was billed as 'Sale of the Century'. The intention was that protesters would demonstrate their hatred of capitalism by using fake money to 'buy' goods from shops at Oxford Circus.

4. The build up of information over the months up to and including the day itself gave rise to the assessment that there was real potential for serious public disorder including the looting and destruction of shops and business premises in the area of the planned convergence around Oxford Circus. Additionally, there was real potential for injury to both members of the public and police.

Strategic intentions

5. The strategic objectives of the policing operation were:

'It is our intention to police this event in a manner compatible with our mission, vision and values, the City of London mission statement and the British Transport police mission statement by endeavouring to:

• provide public reassurance and ensure public safety;
• facilitate and police all legitimate protests;
• prevent public disorder;
• prevent crime, and take all reasonable steps to apprehend offenders if crime is committed;
• protect the Royal Palaces, Palace of Westminster, Downing Street, government and other vulnerable premises;
• provide high visibility policing within the City of London, Metropolitan Police and British Transport Police areas;
• ensure safe passage of persons using the railway;
• minimise disruption to business and community life in the area;
• minimise congestion to vehicle and pedestrian traffic; and
• to provide help and assistance to the public.'

Tactical plan

6. The event was policed under a protocol between the MPS, City of London Police and British Transport Police that provides, in certain circumstances, for a single policing operation across London irrespective of force boundaries.

7. A tactical plan was developed to deliver the strategic objectives outlined at paragraph 5. This tactical plan had a number of strands that included:

• high visibility policing for reassurance and deterrent;
• arrangements to manage and facilitate known and spontaneous lawful activity; and
• a capacity to provide response to incidents.

8. The tactical plan included a number of contingency arrangements in respect of any unlawful behaviour which were based around options of 'isolate, containment or dispersal' of protesters.

Chronology of events

9. The following is the summary of the main events that occurred on 1 May:

• cyclists gathered at both Marylebone and Liverpool Street Station at 7.30am and commenced a cycle tour coming together around Kings Cross Station at about 9.30am
• at 7.30am the protesters held a demonstration outside Belmarsh Prison
• at 8.30am protesters campaigning against the arms trade held a demonstration in The Mall
• at 9.30am cyclists together with other demonstrators blocked the road outside Kings Cross Station, an unlawful procession was held to Euston Station obstructing the roadway
• at 11am approximately 600 demonstrators gathered taking part in the pre planned and peaceful annual march and rally from Highbury Corner to Clerkenwell Fields. This was organised with the co-operation of the MPS
• at 11am protesters at Speakers Corner took part in an event to build a 'cardboard hotel'
• at midday demonstrators outside Coutts Bank in the Strand took part in a protest against third world debt
• at midday a demonstration was held in Malet Street WC1, on the issue of 'students against fees'
• at midday demonstrators gathered in the Elephant and Castle area, there followed an unlawful march and obstruction of the highway
• at midday a march and rally was held at Hackney Downs
• at 12.30 'picketing' took place of 'Nike' in Oxford Street
• at 1pm demonstrators gathered in and around Eros Statue at Piccadilly Circus, obstructing the traffic and pedestrians
• at 1pm demonstrators gathered in West Cromwell Road to protest against housing of refugees in hotel accommodation
• at 2pm demonstration in Pall Mall/Haymarket area outside World Bank office premises
• at 2pm a demonstration outside Pentonville Prison
• at 2pm a demonstration outside business premises in Conduit Street, London W1
• from 2pm containment of demonstrators at Oxford Circus following unlawful march along Regent Street. Approximately 3,000 people at this location, criminal acts occurred including the throwing of missiles and attempts to burn business premises. Further containment of protesters in Holles Street W1. Serious criminality throughout this period, containment finally ended at 9pm and there followed criminality and violence in and around Tottenham Court Road and Goodge Street area
• at 6pm at Malet Street a march by Young Socialists

Containment at Oxford Circus

10. Several thousand people engaged in the May Day protest were contained in the Oxford Circus area under the powers available and duty incumbent upon the police at common law to prevent a breach of the peace. The reasons for this were that officers in command of the policing operation had reasonable grounds to fear that the public would be subjected to violence and that there would be widespread damage to property if this action had not been taken.

11. The grounds for this belief included:

• previous behaviour of demonstrators at similar protests;
• intelligence gathered prior to and during the event;
• the behaviour of protetesters during the morning prior to gathering at Oxford Circus; and
• the fear of the public demonstrated by the boarding up and other measures taken in and around Oxford Street and elsewhere.

12. This containment was kept under regular review and those held were informed by various methods including PA systems. Throughout the period officers made attempts, where this was possible, to identify and release those who were obviously not engaged in the protest. The action was necessary and proportionate in relation to the likely occurrences of violence and damage and the decision was taken against the background of human rights principles.

13. The subsequent behaviour of some of those released who engaged in serious criminality and violence indicates that the reasonably held belief that the detention was necessary to prevent such breaches of the peace was justified.

Statistical information

14. In connection with the May Day protest there were:

• 96 people arrested
• 23 reported injuries to members of the public
• 2 injuries to police officers
• 66 crimes reported (subsequent reported crime resulted in a total of 151 crimes reported) and
• 10 complaints against police

15. An authority to stop and search persons and vehicles under Section 60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 was given on the grounds that there was a reasonable belief that incidents of violence would take place and that there was a reasonable belief that persons would be carrying dangerous instruments or offensive weapons without good reason. This authority was introduced at 7.20am on the 1 May and lasted until mid night. It was then extended until 7.25am on the 2 May. The authority was in place for the London boroughs of Westminster City, Tower Hamlets, Hackney, Camden, Islington, Southwark and Lambeth. An order was also introduced within the City of London.

16. As a result of this authority a total of 710 stops/searches were carried out by police officers. 622 people provided their personal details and 88 people declined or refused to provide their personal details. 12 people were arrested as a consequence of the searches.

Post event investigation

17. A post event investigation team has been established and continues to investigate crime reported in connection with this event. They are also managing the criminal proceedings arising from the days events. As a result of this enquiry a number of individuals have been identified as wanted in connection with serious offences committed during the course of the day.

C. Financial implications

The MPS finance branch is currently collating the cost of policing May Day 2001 and this will be subject of a separate report to the Finance, Planning and Best Value Committee. On May Day the following personnel were deployed on the policing operation:

D. Background papers

None.

E. Contact details

The author of this report is Chief Superintendent Stephen French, MPS Public Order Branch.

For information contact:

MPA general: 020 7202 0202
Media enquiries: 020 7202 0217/18

Send an e-mail linking to this page

Feedback