Protests and public order
Part of: Large-scale policing Policing on the beat Specific reviews
Protests and public order inspections
Getting the balance right? An inspection of how effectively the police deal with protests – March 2021
In October 2020, the Home Secretary commissioned HMICFRS to inspect how effectively the police manage protests.
Following the Home Secretary’s commission, we inspected ten police forces with recent experience of policing protests and consulted a wide range of other bodies, including protest groups and – through a survey of over 2,000 people – the general public.
We offer our qualified support for five Home Office proposals for changes in the law. And we make two recommendations for further changes in the law.
Read the terms of reference for the 2020 inspection.
The rules of engagement: A review of the August 2011 disorders – December 2011
August 2011 saw a new departure in major public disturbances in England: widespread, fast-moving and opportunistic riots and criminal attacks on property, loosely organised using social media, and sometimes involving alliances between normally rival gangs.
Following the riots, the Home Secretary, Theresa May, wrote to HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary, stating her desire to ensure “the public order policing response is as effective as it can be.” She also requested that:
“you conduct further work to support clearer guidance to forces on the size of deployments, the need for mutual aid, pre-emptive action, public order tactics, the number of officers (including commanders) trained in public order policing and an appropriate arrests policy.”
HMIC found police need to be better prepared, trained and ready to protect the public if they are to improve upon their response to public disorder.
Read the public order policing review’s terms of reference.
Get the research findings
To see the research findings that contributed to our report please visit our data section.
Policing Public Order report: An overview and review of progress against the recommendations of Adapting to Protest and Nurturing the British Model of Policing – February 2011 (updated March 2011)
HMIC’s review of the developments in public order policing since its two reports – ‘Adapting to Protest’ and ‘Nurturing the British Model’ – found that progress had been made, and that forces and command teams had built on their experience and adapted to the new challenges and realities presented by the G20 protests and by the Defence League protests and counter protests.
We found that the police needed to adopt a consistent approach to the use of force, improve their ability to mobilise, their access to specialist officers and their ability to collaborate with other forces.
Adapting to Protest – Nurturing the British Model of Policing – November 2009
This report asked the question: “How best should the police as a service adapt to the modern day demands of public order policing while retaining the core values of the British model of policing?”
This review built on the recommendations of ‘Adapting to Protest’ and developed a practical framework for police decision-making to facilitate peaceful protest.
Three flow diagrams were developed as a way to provide clear, practical guidance for public order practitioners. These diagrams aimed to help devise appropriate command and control frameworks for large-scale public order operations.
- Facilitating Peaceful Protest flow diagram
- Use of Public Highway flow diagram
- Protests on Private Land flow diagram (revised June 2010)
An External reference group provided critical oversight and scrutiny for the duration of the second part of the HMIC Review.
Read the Terms of Reference of the HMIC Review of the Policing of Public Protest.
Adapting to protest – July 2009 (revised June 2010)
Conducted at the request of the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service, this review looked at the policing methods used on 1 April 2009 during the G20 summits in London.
The report recommended that the police should:
- facilitate peaceful protest;
- improve dialogue with protest groups and the public;
- wear clear identification at all times; and
- work with the Association of Police Officers to create new national guidance on policing protests.