Kettling: What Does The Law Say?

Can the police take down my personal details?

• The police are not allowed to use the controlled dispersal process as an opportunity to take down the names and addresses of people who have been kettled.

The police can search you whilst in a kettle if:

• They reasonably suspect you are carrying something unlawful (like a weapon or drugs).

• There is a section 60 authorisation in place. This allows police to search anyone if the police think there is a likelihood of serious violence, or if they suspect you are carrying weapons or ‘dangerous instruments’. Section 60 authorisations are often put in place for large scale protests.

• The police do have the power to take down names and addresses if they ‘reasonably believe’ a person has been engaging in anti-social behaviour, under s.50 of the Police Reform Act. Anti-social behaviour is causing harassment, alarm or distress to someone. However this power should not be used in relation to peaceful protest.