Get In Touch
Falsely Accused of Crime

Kettling: What Does The Law Say?

Raj Chada
Partner
Caroline Liggins
Caroline Liggins
Partner
Chloe Hartnell
Chloe Hartnell
Partner
Darrell Ennis-Gayle
Darrell Ennis-Gayle
Partner
Graem Hydari
Graeme Hydari
Partner
Jessica Davis
Jessica Davis
Partner
Kerry Spence
Kerry Spence
Partner
Laura O'Brien
Laura O’Brien
Partner
Mike Schwarz
Mike Schwarz
Partner
Ruth Harris
Ruth Harris
Partner
Sean Caulfield
Sean Caulfield
Partner
Image coming soon - Help
Freya Colvin
Senior Associate
Image coming soon - Justice
Anna Jemmison
Associate
Casey Jenkins
Casey Jenkins
Associate
Maxine Barker
Maxine Barker
Associate
Michael Ackah
Michael Ackah
Associate
Aneka Thirurajah
Aneka Thirurajah
Solicitor
Francesca Cociani
Francesca Cociani
Solicitor
Ghislaine Sandoval
Ghislaine Sandoval
Solicitor
Image coming soon - Help
Jessica Murray
Solicitor
Katie McFadden
Katie McFadden
Solicitor
Sania Shah
Sania Shah
Solicitor
Image coming soon - Help
Shyan MacTavish
Solicitor
Justin Stuart-Mills
Consultant Solicitor
Emily McNally
Emily McNally
Trainee
Kiran Mehta
Kiran Mehta
Consultant
Annie Bell
Annie Bell
Paralegal
Image coming soon - Justice
Christelle Chungong
Support/Paralegal
Donjeta Canolli
Donjeta Canolli
Paralegal
Image coming soon - Justice
Ella Ferriter
Paralegal
James Thorne
James Thorne
Support/Paralegal
Marina Afzal-Khan
Marina Afzal-Khan
Paralegal
Rabiah Farooq
Rabiah Farooq
Paralegal
Shelby Keppel
Shelby Keppel
Paralegal
Siri Beck-Friis
Siri Beck-Friis
Support / Paralegal
Image coming soon - Justice
Sinéad Vaughan
Paralegal
Image coming soon - Justice
Somaya Yassine
Paralegal
Ailsa McNeil
Ailsa McNeil
Trainee
Amy Coulter
Amy Coulter
Trainee

If you are arrested contact us for free 24 hours a day on 0808 274 8226 or ask for Hodge Jones & Allen.

What is a Kettle?

A kettle is where the police surround protestors to keep them in a particular place. Kettles are legal, but they are a form of detention so their use is controlled by law.

Hodge Jones & Allen_Chambers 2023_png“There is no question that they’re among the best in the country. The strength and depth of their expertise is second to none.” Chambers, 2023

Legal 500 UK -Top-Tier-Rirm-2023

“HJA’s criminal solicitors are amongst the leading criminal solicitors in the country. They have been involved in countless landmark cases but also in hundreds if not thousands of important protest cases in the magistrates courts.” Legal 500, 2023

When can the police kettle me?

  • If the police believe that it is a proportionate way of protecting people from injury or property from damage, or preventing serious public disorder or violence.
  • It should not be used as a tactic to stifle or discourage protest.

If you are in a kettle, you have a right to:

  • Essential utilities such as toilets and water, if these are necessary and if the police are physically able to provide them.
  • A release plan allowing vulnerable or distressed people, or those inadvertently caught up in the kettle, to leave.
  • Be held no longer than is reasonably necessary to prevent a breach of the peace.

How are people released from kettles?

  • Police may release everybody at the same time, or by ‘controlled dispersal’ where people leave in pairs or small groups by one or more exit points.

 

"The Solicitor who represented me was very supportive towards my case. He communicated with me throughout the case several times per day. He was patient offering me the most accurate advice needed. I would like to thank you for your support."

Back to top

What can the police do during kettling?

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.

Can the police take my photograph?

  • The police, like anyone else, can take photographs in a public place.
  • The police are not allowed to force you to have your photo taken unless you have been arrested for a recordable offence. As long as you have not been arrested, you can cover your face to prevent your face showing in a photograph

If you are arrested in a kettle

Police may have grounds to arrest those held in a kettle if it is necessary to prevent further breaches of the peace, or if there is reasonable suspicion that a person has committed a criminal offence. Anyone arrested during or after being held in a kettle is strongly advised to get legal advice.

DO NOT answer any questions about the offence from the police until you have spoken to a lawyer from our firm. Call 0808 274 8226 or asked for Hodge Jones & Allen. 

Download our ‘Kettling: What Does The Law Say?’ guide here.

Back to top
Further Reading
View all