- The Observer, Sunday April 29 2001
As thousands of protesters begin to arrive in the capital, fears have grown that the 'zero tolerance' approach will inflame tensions and spark violent scenes much worse than those of last year, when the Cenotaph was defaced and a statue of Winston Churchill decorated with turf.
Several MPs have criticised police tactics. Labour backbencher Alan Simpson said he believed elements within the police and the Home Office were 'looking for a ruck' with the protesters, made up of anarchists, environmentalists and other fringe groups. "Of course if you look for it you will find it,' Simpson said.
Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Simon Hughes said that there was a danger the police could overreact following last year's disturbances, while the Government was too keen to appear tough on law and order. 'Both the police and Government have something to prove,' he said.
More than 5,000 officers will be on duty in the capital on Tuesday - one policeman for every protester expected to attend. On stand-by are police dog teams, motorbike units and even an armoured JCB to remove barricades.
Experts in crowd behaviour warned that the police operation and media campaign against a small group of pro-violence activists could turn a peaceful protest into a riot. 'In demonising a hardcore minority they give them a huge power over the remainder of the crowd,' said Dr John Drury, a Sussex University psychologist.
Last night police in Kent were watching Channel ports, responding to fears that the protests will be hijacked by extremists from the Continent. Eastern European far-right groups and Basque separatists are known for their interest in the anti-globalisation movement. 'It's a popular body of ideas that some groups want to hijack to increase their profile,' said a police source.
Police are frank about their desire to keep peaceful demonstrators away. 'We have had a great deal of success in discouraging legitimate protesters from attending the event,' said Assistant Commissioner Mike Todd, who heads the operation.
But human rights group Liberty said: 'We are worried that the right to peaceful protest is being harmed.'
