As the report into policing at Kingsnorth climate camp is published, I welcome the recognition that using tactics such as stop and search were wholly disproportionate. The report concludes that in fact some of the police’s decisions were counter productive in the context of the overall aim of enabling peaceful protest. Despite asserting support for the right to protest, however, this report is yet another attempt to undermine that right. It endorses the police’s decision to confiscate items that might be used for illegal activity - and lists the items taken from climate campers including, bike inner tubes, water bottles, crayons and board games. To justify so called ‘preventative’ policing of this nature is deeply damaging, because it assumes guilt from the outset - taking away the presumption of innocence and the right to a fair hearing. Legitimate protest was severely curtailed at Kingsnorth climate camp and, as plans for this summer’s camp gather apace, I call on both the government and the police authorities to do much more to ensure this basic right is upheld in future.
