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"It was quite clear criminal acts took place during the demonstrations" - Sir Paul Stephenson Commissioner Metropolitan Police City Hall Desk
Sir Paul Stephenson faced the Metropolitan Police Authority panel at City Hall today to respond to criticism that police charged student protestors on horseback, and were heavy handed during student protests in Westminster yesterday.
Sir Paul Stephenson said that there was "no reference at debriefing or record" of charging by any officers on horseback.
Sir Paul Stephenson in his briefing at City Hall described the actions of the students protestors as "quite shocking" and the scenes were "very violent scene, and very difficult".
The policing methods deployed following the G-20 demonstrations according to the Commissioner have been changed.
School police support officers are likely to be used far more in a campaign to warn children at secondary school to avoid demonstrations:
Sir Paul Stephenson said:
"The way in which we engage with school support officers, to warn children of risks of going on demonstrations". We need to try and educate kids on the risks of going on demonstrations."
"Kettling" of protestors are now subject to human rights laws and the Commissioner was quick to state that "the basic test are of proportionality when you consider human rights".
With dwindling resources available to the police the Commissioner said:
"The police must have the right number of people in reserve, right number of people and assets used to police events".
"We have reduced the number of resources we have to police demonstrations".
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