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Policing of G20 demonstrations raised questions about the right to protest

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Panorama: Whatever Happened to People Power? was broadcast on BBC One at 8.30pm on Monday 6 July 2009.

More about Panorama: Whatever Happened to People Power?

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I was totally outraged at the way our country is becoming a police state. Not only are we living in a country with the most cctv cameras are in the world, we are now being deterred from protesting, which is the key fundamental of a democratic society. This country is slipping further and further down a slippery slope of what used to be one of the leading liberal countries in the world. We are being told want we cant do more and more and so the rope tightens around joe publics neck. A very very sad state of affairs.

- David Clooney

People are always complaining that people are getting away with murder these days, I believe that the police have a tough enough job to do already without people complaining that they are now using too much force. Where is the middle ground?

- Stephanie Clements

Great programme... keep at it !!! spot on... it confirmed my own experience and analysis of the new agenda of social & political control now in force. I went to take photos during the day at the G20 and was contained from 11.55 - until 2.55, but until your programme did not realise this new form of Althusserian "repressive state apparatus" is commonplace. Definately not what I experienced or felt, even in the 1980's, when involved in Anti-nuclear stuff.

- Keith Deacon

People taking part in protests know what they are letting themselves in for. If you squat in someone else's building, you are the law breaker, not the police. and as for democracy, who exactly elected these career protesters?

- John

Through there own misguided importance, the police have now developed a 'them and us' society. Years ago the british public had a good relationship with the police, but now it is run and operated in the whole, by what can only be described as jumped up illiterate thugs. Orwell was right.

- Lin McAlinden

I feel infuriated having just watched this programme. I don't understand what society we live in when protestors break the law by squatting, breaking windows, damaging property, provoking the police and more and then feel they have any right to claim that their human rights have been violated. The police are there to protect the general public and I dread to think what would have happened had they not been there yet I feel their sense of frustration in the vast amounts of criticism they have received in simply doing their job. I think we take for granted what rights we have in this country and need to be more grateful to those who are employed to protect us. Let's put more faith in people who put their neck on the line and give them the respect that they deserve. The police should feel empowered and respected for the authority they should rightfully hold instead of being criticised from every angle.

- Tran

For years now the police have tried to crush anyone who questions the corporations. It is us animal rights activsts who have bourne the brunt of the smears, violence and oppression and it is now clear that regrettably anyone who protests against government policy is fair game. Thank you for reporting on this issue.

- Lynn

Yet again the BBC shows its negative bias towards the police. I noticed that you didn't try to interview any of the so called protestors that were out to cause trouble. Having said that, I do agree that there is a need for peaceful protest to reinforce the democratic society we take for granted, but there will always be sections of these protests that are there to cause trouble. They try to expand it into full blown confrontation to exploit the media, such as the bbc, that will surely pander to them. It would be a welcome change for panorama to paint a positive picture of the police, considering the difficult job they have to do, under the financial constraints being placed on them by this inept government. Maybe that would be an idea for one of your next programmes, just a suggestion!

- Tony

I think to be completely balanced you could also show the level of violence and aggression that is often and gratuitously shown towards officers in situations like the ones you describe. There's hundreds of hours of footage showing horrific examples of this, yet its not newsworthy nor does it fit in with the general intention to undermine the police at any opportunity.

- Brian Hughes

I was at the G8 bush protest, looking at the London Protest it seems that london police are the thugs, the security service is out of control and the government is pushing for more and more power over the citizens. These not very bright people have far too much power and very little accountability.

- Mike Underhil

"Wahwahwahawahwah". That's all I heard during that programme. For unbiased journalism you couldn't have stuck up for the protesters any more than you did. the power plant protest showed the protesters plan was to use rafts to get to the power station but your journalist wanted to point out the fact that they were being filmed...bloody right they should be filmed. What would happen if they made it to the power station and an accident happened? You would be making a documentary why the police didn't use stronger tactics to stop them. Crap journalism down there with the tabloids.

- Steven

I feel the show did not show how the workshy filth that pretend to be protesters have ruined these demos for the genuine protesters. I would like tougher policing on these rioters and I would say that they do not have any human rights the minute they commit any crime so this would allow the police to use any force they required.

- Stewart

How refreshing to find that when police in England take a hard-line approach the BBC decide to make a programme telling us all how awful it is, and I agree. However police in northern Ireland (still part of the UK) have been much tougher and hard-line to the extent that they have killed people at peaceful protests so now people in England suffer a very slight (in comparison) tough approach and the BBC makes a programme about it. Welcome to the real world lets hope you finally open your eyes!

- Sean

I have been watching tonight`s Panorama about Police action in dealing with protesters etc. and frankly I`m disgusted at the totally one sided nature of the programme. It is in the nature of people who are unwilling to act within our very liberal laws to seize any opportunity to malign the Police. It is easy for an organised group to set up a situation where Police are obliged to act and to selectively use mobile phones to try to show "brutality". Panorama can choose which protesters to interview, and blatantly choose the most sensational ones, a balanced programme would use the views of the majority of law abiding people who are often frightened by mobs, whose property is often damaged, who are often placed in situations where Ambulances/ Fire & Rescue services are unable to attend due to disruption. If we all took to the streets every time we disagree with something the country would sink into anarchy, which would suit many of our "peaceful protester" , many who are proud to call themselves "Anarchists". I remember seeing a humorous notice above a Wiltshire Police Station during an often violent Stonehenge "demo" - it read "IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE POLICE, NEXT TIME YOU NEED HELP - CALL A HIPPY". Having travelled very extensively worldwide I would love to see our poor brutalised protesters try acting this way in 99% of other countries. It saddens me that Panorama find it perfectly acceptable for unarmed and often outnumbered Police Officers to be assaulted, petrol bombed, spat at etc, etc. Is it beyond the producers to realise that Police Officers families are easy to target, or that it is policy to "sacrifice" any Officer who appears to have over-reacted whatever the facts, no senior Politician or Police Officer will risk their careers by standing up to the media who need sensationalism to sell their papers/programmes. It is the job of Editors to EDIT news and this immense power is being abused to the detriment of us all. Even your "Disclaimer" reserves the right to EDIT comments - so much for the freedom of speech.

- John Caffrey

I've started watching your program and have become quite disgusted with your view of the police on the g20 summit. The police get enough stick, and if people call the g20 a peaceful demonstration you could have fooled me, the police should be praised for their actions no wonder the country is the state it is with you putting the police down all the time. Good luck to the police and their actions. If you keep disrespecting the police then what are the rest of the country going to think of the police.

- Phil Kimber