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UCU condemns use of metal cordons at protests

12 December 2011

UCU has condemned the use of metal walls to cordon off areas during protests

The union's further education committee (FEC) passed a motion on Friday (9 December) condemning the use of metal cordons and promising to work with other pressure groups to resist these kinds of tactics.
 
The motion was prompted by the use of metal cordons at Trafalgar Square during the protests on 30 November. UCU said the right to protest was an important political and democratic right and that the traditional places of protest should be preserved and recognised.
 
The full motion is below:

The FEC notes the use of metal wall cordons at Trafalgar Square on 30 November and agrees that UCU should oppose any such tactics of police control which cordons off demonstrators and hides them behind large metal walls. UCU believes that the right to protest is an important political and democratic right and that the traditional places of protest should be preserved and recognised. Such tactics are designed to intimidate protestors, silence their protest and de-humanise protesters in the minds of the general public. We will work with the TUC to highlight the issue and put pressure on the police and government to change their tactics against legitimate protestors. We will also work with Liberty, The Right to Protest and other pressure groups to resist these tactics.

Last updated: 11 December 2015

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