Well, here is what my dd, who is a student, has to say. Any high up police out there reading this - please think about it; I suspect that, like Cameron, you are so far away from ordinary folk, in your own bubble, that you can't see the damage you are doing.
We do live in a democracy and the people of this country, the young ones as well as the rest of us - deserve consideration.
(From a letter dated 2nd February, 2011)
'I asked ( name ) about the Manchester protest when I saw her on Monday. ( dd had been unable to attend this one. )
There was kettling - everybody ran, but ( name ) was the only ( her university ) person who got away. She put it down to wearing sturdy shoes.
'The kettle was 'only' two hours (as opposed to my nine-hour, or your four-hour epic) but the police photographed everyone before they let them go.
Only a handful of ( her university ) people had experienced the police in London, so for most Manchester-goers their treatment at the hands of the Central Manchester police was the worst thing that has ever happened to them. I know, relatively speaking, it was minor - but I'm very very glad that more people have had their eyes opened about police tactics.
Some of the right-wingers in the Students' Union got kettled and came out seething, their trust in the police completely shattered.
I wish every student (every student? Actually, everyone ) could get kettled, just so that by the end of it we would all be on the same page. That would stop the Tory idiots from throwing the word 'thug' around, at least in relation to the protestors.'
Anyone who disagrees with dd's views - please can I ask that you post courteously. dd is young and not anything like as hard bitten as we old boots (present company excepted, possibly?) - on Mumsnet. Thanks.