THE legality of police using riot shields to land blows on protesters during street demonstrations was called into question at the High Court today.
A QC argued so-called shield strikes were “not a recognised form of reasonable force at all”, or an approved police defensive technique found in manuals.
The accusation was made as protesters who complained of beatings and being unlawfully restrained by police during G20 demonstrations in April 2009 applied for judicial review.
The applicants – student Hannah McClure and Josh Moos, a campaigner for Plane Stupid – were at the Camp for Climate Action outside the Carbon Exchange in London’s Bishopsgate.
They are seeking a High Court declaration that the Metropolitan Police decision to “kettle” them –preventing them from leaving the area –with the use of violent force was unlawful. The hearing continues tomorrow.
