Street protest steps up a gear

Groups are taught the art of abseiling

Street protests are becoming a more common occurrence with demonstrators seemingly better organised.

A report by BBC Breakfast News' Fergal Parkinson looks at a group which claims to train protesters in the art of effective non-violent demonstrations.

In June 1999 a peaceful demonstration in the City Of London organised by Reclaim the Streets and other campaign groups quickly became the worst example of violence seen in the UK for many years.

The police were taken by surprise and hugely outnumbered as millions of pounds worth of damage was caused to buildings.

But alongside law-abiding demonstrators, the police identified a hard core, well-organised violent element.

That is a pretty well planned, well co-ordinated form of direct action

James Hart
City of London Police

Assistant Commissioner of the City of London Police James Hart said they had seen protesters handing out coloured masks with instructions on them on how to cause the most problems.

"You don't dream that up in the pub the night before, that is a pretty well planned, well co-ordinated form of direct action," he said.

This level of organisation at demonstrations is becoming more common.

Thousands of miles away at a location in the hills of southern California, a society has set up camp teaching campaigners how to organise effective non-violent protests.

The Ruckus Society, founded by the former head of campaigns at Greenpeace, trains people in the art of organising and taking part in demonstrations.

John Sellers, the group's director, said: "The Ruckus Society is a unique community of activists with significant experience in the use of non-violent civil disobedience.

These people here are the ones who are going to be hanging off buildings, blockading BP offices and directly confronting BP executives holding them directly accountable

John Hocevar
Students for a Free Tibet

"We are willing to share our skills, strategies with activists working on human rights, environmental issues, social justice, just causes which need to get into the public's minds eye and achieve success."

The camp's main training area is dominated by a huge scaffold where dozens of protesters learn the art of abseiling into buildings and hanging banners.

All the trainers are seasoned campaigners.

British groups trained

British campaign groups such as Reclaim the Streets have sent activists to train there.

A group called "Students for a Free Tibet" were being trained to launch a global day of action against the London headquarters of British Petroleum.

According to them, BP are continuing to support a Chinese oil pipeline through Tibet.

Jon Hocevar, director of Students for a Free Tibet, said: "These people here are the ones who are going to be hanging off buildings, blockading BP offices and directly confronting BP executives holding them directly accountable.

"I don't think BP realises quite what they are in for yet but if they fail to use their influence to stop this pipeline, these people here will very quickly make them realise the folly of that policy "