PC Sean McDonald's views of the two recent marches in Brighton would appear to suggest a situation which could easily be resolved by demonstrators simply informing the police of their intentions (Letters, September 3).
I have chatted to PC McDonald, a very amiable man, at many demos and he has often made these views clear.
I personally try to cooperate with the police wherever possible but I think occasionally they need to put themselves in the place of those who resort to demonstrations.
We are socially responsible people who feel ignored, have lost faith in the democratic process and so feel the need to speak out against the State.
The police work for the State and the very idea of a "State-approved demonstration" is not one which sits comfortably in a supposedly mature democracy - although we have seen many such demonstrations in the past in totalitarian states.
At a time of diminishing democratic, civil and human rights in the UK, this point is especially moot.
Some, including myself, believe so strongly in speaking out for our beliefs that we are fully prepared to be criminalised but this does not make us criminals nor pre-dispose us to potential criminal acts.
I was a legal observer at the Smash EDO demo but also helped organise the Unity March the following week.
For the Unity March the decision was made - quite rightly in my view - that we would negotiate as we wanted people who might attend (especially Muslim groups) not to fear they would be filmed by the police or that there was any chance of conflict.
This involved loads of extra work in the form of negotiations with Brighton and Hove City Council, risk assessments, letters to residents and traders, insurance, organising litter collections, finding first aiders, finding marshals, etc.
After so much work, only about 100 people turned up and there was no media interest.
I should also point out that had it all gone horribly wrong, named organisers would have been held personally accountable.
Following subsequent discussions, I can say with confidence that this will be the last such pre-organised march and to me proves, more than ever, that we must secure our right to spontaneous but respectful, lawful protest.
Yes, it can make life slightly difficult for the police but this is what they are paid and trained for. Confrontation is not difficult to avoid and on most occasions the choice between brute force and brains is theirs alone.
If they want to teach protesters a lesson in a show of strength, they have the manpower and full force of the law to back them up but that is not efficient, effective, credible or desirable policing.
It diminishes democracy and ultimately will never be effective.
A few calm, intelligent officers, with back-up if needed, beats a large mob of police on most occasions.
There is always a degree of unpredictability and tension on both sides at demonstrations, but a tolerant police approach without the assumption that those who choose to protest without approval are simply a criminal element might surprise us all.
-Glenn Williams, Brighton
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