Tuition Fees Protests | On November 10th 2010, around 50'000 students, lectures and anarchists marched through Central London protesting against the governments plan to rise tuition fees. Unprepared and not expecting trouble the police only deployed around 250 officers to cover the march, but as the march moved passed Tory HQ at Millbank Tower trouble quickly erupted. The reception area was stormed, smoke bombs were set off, windows were smashed and the ratio between police and protesters meant the police were powerless to prevent the hours rioting that followed.
On November 24th 2010 the students held their second, and this time unofficial, Demonstration. Organized using social media, the students planned to march to LibDem HQ but were blocked down Whitehall and the police used their controversial tactic of containment, also known as 'Kettling', to prevent the crowd from moving any further. The crowd was kettled for almost ten hours and once again there were Violent clashes, windows were smashed, fires were lit, the students danced to dubstep and a police van left in the middle of Whitehall was vandalized and looted. Rumours quickly circulated of it being left deliberately as a police set-up. Several attempts were made by protesters to break through police lines however they were beaten back with Shields and Batons. Later in the evening the remaining crowd was also charged with horses.
Transport for London reported that buses had been attacked by protesters throwing missiles and smashing windows, causing many routes to be diverted away from the Whitehall and Trafalgar Square area.
="yui_3_3_0_2_1300649749109262">On the 9th November 2011 thousands of Students took to the streets for a fresh wave of protests against the Tuition Fees. However after the violence during the 2010 Protests police were out in force with 4'000 officers on duty. For the first time in mainland England police were given the Go-Ahead in advance to use Baton Rounds and Water Canons if needed, but despite minor clashes the demonstration passed off peacefully.
On November 24th 2010 the students held their second, and this time unofficial, Demonstration. Organized using social media, the students planned to march to LibDem HQ but were blocked down Whitehall and the police used their controversial tactic of containment, also known as 'Kettling', to prevent the crowd from moving any further. The crowd was kettled for almost ten hours and once again there were Violent clashes, windows were smashed, fires were lit, the students danced to dubstep and a police van left in the middle of Whitehall was vandalized and looted. Rumours quickly circulated of it being left deliberately as a police set-up. Several attempts were made by protesters to break through police lines however they were beaten back with Shields and Batons. Later in the evening the remaining crowd was also charged with horses.
Transport for London reported that buses had been attacked by protesters throwing missiles and smashing windows, causing many routes to be diverted away from the Whitehall and Trafalgar Square area.
="yui_3_3_0_2_1300649749109262">On the 9th November 2011 thousands of Students took to the streets for a fresh wave of protests against the Tuition Fees. However after the violence during the 2010 Protests police were out in force with 4'000 officers on duty. For the first time in mainland England police were given the Go-Ahead in advance to use Baton Rounds and Water Canons if needed, but despite minor clashes the demonstration passed off peacefully.
