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23/02/2009
Britain Faces 'Summer of Rage', Police Fear
Police are preparing for a 'summer of rage' as a wave of protests against the economic crisis take place, a senior Metropolitan Police officer has warned.
Superintendent David Hartshorn, who leads the Met police's public order branch told The Guardian newspaper that "known activists" were planning returns to the streets, and he feared there could be "mass protest" at rising unemployment, failing financial institutions and the downturn in the economy.
Supt Hartshorn added that intelligence revealed activists may be able to call on more protestors than normal, due to the current circumstances.
The officer said the established demonstrators "would be good at motivating people, but they haven't had the 'footsoldiers' to actually carry out [protests].
"Obviously the downturn in the economy, unemployment, repossessions, changes that. Suddenly there is the opportunity for people to mass protest."
He continued: "We've got G20 coming and I think that is being advertised on some of the sites as the highlight of what they see as a 'summer of rage'."
The warning comes in the wake of protests in Greece, where farmers blocked roads over decreasing agricultural prices.
Meanwhile, in France one million workers joined protests to demand greater jobs protection and better wages, while in Reykjavick, Iceland, demonstrators clashed with police.
On Saturday in Dublin, around 100,000 people marched in protest of the Irish government's handling of the country's recession.
(JM/BMcC)
Superintendent David Hartshorn, who leads the Met police's public order branch told The Guardian newspaper that "known activists" were planning returns to the streets, and he feared there could be "mass protest" at rising unemployment, failing financial institutions and the downturn in the economy.
Supt Hartshorn added that intelligence revealed activists may be able to call on more protestors than normal, due to the current circumstances.
The officer said the established demonstrators "would be good at motivating people, but they haven't had the 'footsoldiers' to actually carry out [protests].
"Obviously the downturn in the economy, unemployment, repossessions, changes that. Suddenly there is the opportunity for people to mass protest."
He continued: "We've got G20 coming and I think that is being advertised on some of the sites as the highlight of what they see as a 'summer of rage'."
The warning comes in the wake of protests in Greece, where farmers blocked roads over decreasing agricultural prices.
Meanwhile, in France one million workers joined protests to demand greater jobs protection and better wages, while in Reykjavick, Iceland, demonstrators clashed with police.
On Saturday in Dublin, around 100,000 people marched in protest of the Irish government's handling of the country's recession.
(JM/BMcC)
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