Tackling protesters

Advice provided to police officers

Police officers are advised to ask protesters four times to move on before taking physical action. The advice is issued by the College of Policing. Officers are advised to make four polite appeals to a person committing an offence at a protest. First, a “simple appeal”, then a “reasoned appeal”, explaining laws being broken. A “personal appeal” then highlights potential personal losses of being arrested. After a “final appeal”, asking if there is anything the police can do to make them co-operate, action can be taken.