I welcome the review of public order policing to be carried out by Denis O’Connor, of the Inspectorate of Constabulary, but hope this review will be independent and add-ress the wider issues of the question of policing legal public demonstrations and protests.

I was at the Heathrow climate camp, the Kingsnorth climate camp and the G20 demonstrations and am concerned at the way peaceful protest is increasingly treated.

With regard specifically to the G20 events, I was at both the Bank and the climate camp in Bishopsgate. I att-ended with the Network of Engaged Buddhists to send a message to world leaders that we must seize this oppor-tunity to put the threat of climate change at the heart of a system which would serve people and the planet, and provide, through music and meditation, a calming space.

We have already informed the Independent Police Complaints Commission of our experience and will provide input for the review. Apart from being “kettled” in for hours, being knocked to the floor when a police officer suddenly shoved the person in front of me and seeing riot police advancing on the climate camp, subsequently trashed, the main point we made was that, while we witnessed no violence from demonstrators, those protesting peacefully were treated in some cases with contempt or even violence.

Peaceful protest is an important right in a democratic society and one which must be safeguarded, yet the behaviour of some police officers, rather than safegarding that right, was more likely to hinder peaceful protest and to encourage frustration and aggression. We must defend our civil rights, which is why it is important to have a full review and public debate.

Joyce Edmond-Smith
Bentham Road, Brighton