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Of course there is the issue that nobody seems to have addressed so far...and that is that the local community who have had their neighbourhood invaded by a large group of protestors has a right to have their interests and safety protected. This role falls upon the police as public servants of the majority, which I am sure they will do professionally in the face of much provocation and media scrutiny.

- Mark, London, 27/08/2009 20:51
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Completely agree with Jan.These "climate" people cause a disproportionate amount of disruption, diverting police resources from their role of protecting the law abiding majority.In addition the costs involved in policing are borne by the taxpayers.

- Robin, Solihull. UK, 26/08/2009 16:48
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Why would anyone tell the old bill with their record of policing recently. Keep the thugs out. There is no requirement to as the camp is a fixed thing, not mobile as a march etc and the aim is to educate. Keep the TSG well away!

- Joe, london uk, 24/08/2009 13:40
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Protest organisers have an obligation to try and stop trouble makers from attending their events. By not informing Scotland Yard they may have prevented the biggest single biggest group of trouble makers from attending.

Next we should consider travel bans on the TSG.

- Barry, woking, surrey, UK, 23/08/2009 13:21
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Jan, romford - is it you or your other half who is a cop? i don't think there is a single member of the public, no matter how middle class that still believes what you are saying.

- Barry, woking, surrey, UK, 23/08/2009 13:17
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Only marches require police notification, a static camp you do not, and should not have to tell the authorities about. Given the police past behaviour at these peaceful camps in the past 3 years (not just G20) I think it is quite reasonable not to tell the police the location, although I understand that the camp has been negotiating with the police about other issues.

- B, London, 22/08/2009 13:08
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After the police's behaviour at the G20 meeting this tactic will hopefully reduce the risk of the police running amok again and killing someone

- John Lowe, London, 21/08/2009 14:16
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I think it is very worrying that our supposed top level police force hasn't got the intelligence to infiltrate or monitor members of this group with enough skill to be able to gain inside knowledge of the next protest. Whilst i agree that the police have been like a bunch of scared children with baseball bats and too much sunny D, it doesn't make very comforting reading when the head of scotland yard is relying on the organisers to tell him where they will be protesting. This is the same police force that is meant to be protecting us from terrorists. i hope their intelligence services operate a bit more effectively for that or we are all doomed...

- Mr Opinion, london, 21/08/2009 13:23
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The public have recovered from the weird idea that the police are friendly bobbies working for the public. Thanks to more than a decade of rampant police violence against demonstrators, a majority now views the police as out-of-control thugs. The police can do something about this. First, they must stop beating people up, full stop. Secondly, they must respect our right to protest - this is supposed to be a democracy. Thirdly, they must acknowledge and *honestly* investigate the more-than 900 deaths in police custody over the last twenty years. Fourthly, they must stop lying to secure convictions. Fifthly, they must de-emphasise their attention on non-violent drug users - this is the single most important step; one chief reason we don't trust police is because of their focus on prohibition - there is almost nobody left who believes the 'war on drugs' does more good than harm. More than half of us have taken drugs (I don't mean those legal taxed ones) which means more than half of us are criminals - for what? Our human appetite for moderating our thoughts. Instead, the 'drug war' turns the police against the public and the public against the police.

Good for the climate campers- somebody has to stand up and tell it like it is.

- Ed, London UK, 21/08/2009 13:22
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All the police have to do is follow the smell and that will lead them to the climate camp. get the air freshners out.....

- Jonny, London, 21/08/2009 12:52
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@Mr S. Port, London: "They have cameras on every street in the capital, how much more information do the police want?"

The way things are heading in the EUSSR do not be surprised if ALL demonstrations/gatherings of more than two peeps on the streets are totally banned.

Welcome to reality.

WELCOME TO THIRD WORLD BANANA REPUBLIC POLICE STATE UK.

- Reuben Camara, Principality of Morecambe, EUSSR, 21/08/2009 12:16
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Jan,

Do you not watch the television? The images of (un-identified) police officers using aggravating techniques including kettle-ing and hitting with batons?

What about the poor chap who was killed who wasn't even a protester? i think this is a fair response to poor policing practices, and yes legal demonstrations have to notify authorities, then again legally police officers should be identifiable, you will be safer without the police there just ask Ian Tomlinson's family.

- Jeff, London, 21/08/2009 12:04
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They have cameras on every street in the capital , how much more information do the police want.

- Mr S.Port, London, 21/08/2009 11:40
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Of course the protesters do not cause trouble at all! The police are there to peace keep. I don't believe for one minute that the protesters are there to have a peaceful protest. I thought all legal demonstrations had to notify authorities of their route.

- Jan, Romford, 21/08/2009 09:58
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