PHYSICAL SECURITY
With the Extinction Rebellion protests dominating headlines recently, Iain Moran discusses how physical security solutions can protect non-violent protestors without unduly draining public resources
PHYSICAL SECURITY SOLUTIONS AND NON-VIOLENT PROTESTS N
on-violent protests have been a prominent feature of 2019, with demonstrators calling for the declaration of a climate emergency, the delivery of Brexit and even expressing their displeasure at the arrival of President Trump. While preserving freedom of speech and legitimate protest is of course imperative, attention must be paid to how both policing and protecting protests impacts increasingly-stretched police budgets. Indeed, it was recently revealed that Extinction Rebellion protests have cost the Metropolitan Police ÂŁ37 million so far in 2019; more than double what is spent each year trying to reduce violent crime in London. This has highlighted the need for alternative security solutions that local authorities can implement to protect non-violent protests, while also preserving valuable police resources.
WHAT ARE THE CURRENT SECURITY RISKS? Crowd management is the primary focus of policing at large-scale national and regional events, whether it’s a protest or a football match for example. This is because crowded events present a wide range of potential hazards, including people being crushed (against both fixed structures and one another), people falling and being trampled on, and risky behaviour such as people climbing onto structures or throwing objects. There is also a high likelihood of illegal behaviour, including criminal damage and the obstruction of highways, along with the possibility of fights breaking out. This is a particular issue with protests, as there can be clashes between protesters and the general public. Large groups of people are also unfortunately a potential target for terrorist activity, including hostile vehicle attacks. E
ISSUE 39 | COUNTER TERROR BUSINESS MAGAZINE
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