A brief history of protesting

Protest has a long history in the UK. In 1381, Wat Tyler led the original poll tax protestors, pre-empting the 1991 poll tax riots by several hundred years. Fast-forwarding a couple of centuries or so, the Tolpuddle Martyrs were shipped off to Australia for protesting about rich landowners in 1830, while the Suffragettes campaigned to get women the vote in the early 1900s. A little more recently, in 1995, anti-road protesters including Daniel Hooper (AKA Swampy) set up camp on the site of the proposed Newbury bypass, taking activism to the mainstream by attracting major media coverage.

In 1997, protesters in Seattle rose up against the WTO (World Trade Organisation), launching a new generation of street protests with a broadly anti-globalisation, anti-capitalist message. Conflict between police and protestors often flared. 

There's long been debate in the protest movement over whether politicians take any notice of marches, or whether more hardline civil disobedience works better. In 2003, nearly two million people marched from Trafalgar square to Hyde Park in the UK's biggest ever demonstration. But their bid to prevent the UK from sending troops to the second Iraq war failed, leaving many disillusioned.

From around the turn of the century onwards, the threat of climate change has inspired many young activists use non-violent direct action to get their message across, with stunts including clambering onto the houses of parliament, shutting down runways and one man's attempt to superglue himself to Gordon Brown.  

Protest today - no justice, no peace?

In December 2010 the Government voted to raise tuition fees to £9,000 a year, provoking students to take to the streets. Ongoing cuts to public services, education and the NHS mean more protests are likely. Property destruction by protestors has played a small role, but gained a lot of media attention, with who is to blame hotly debated. Generally, small groups of people smash property and throw missiles while the police respond by using batons, horse charges, and containment or 'kettling' (surrounding anyone in the area at the time and keeping them confined, often for hours). There is also a question over whether police 'agent provocateurs' could be responsible for some of the trouble.

Protesters have also used direct action techniques, such as attempting to blockade companies they believe are tax-dodging. 

Staying safe at a protest

When the mood gets heated, it can sometimes be hard to avoid the tiny minority of aggressive nutters - on both sides - who want to hurt people. So if you're planning on taking part in a protest - or starting your own - here's what you need to know.

You have a right to peacefully protest

Unlike US citizens, you can't invoke The Constitution which enshrines, in law, the right to peacefully assemble. Because we don't have one. But we do have the Human Rights Act. In 2000, the UK adopted the European Convention on Human Rights. Article 11 (the right to freedom of assembly) and article 10 (the right to freedom of expression and thought) are your friends. Public bodies are forbidden to act in any way which conflict with these principles.

Don't go it alone

Protesting can be tiring and scary. Make sure you take a mate - someone you trust, who'll look after you. Bring water, warm clothes if it's cold and snacks - getting kettled for hours can be a hungry business. 

Use your camera wisely

Sometimes it can seem like there are more cameras than protesters, but remember some people might not want to end up on Facebook or YouTube. Ask before you pap a fellow protestor. The police can stop you taking a picture if they have reason to suspect you might be involved in terrorism.  

Use Twitter to stay out of trouble

New protest, new media: use Twitter to keep in touch and find out what's happening in real time. Protesters usually decide on a hashtag to keep each other updated. Watch out for rumours though - not every tweet is true.

What happens if the police stop me?

Even if you're protesting peacefully, if you're in a public place, the police can stop you and ask what you're doing there (called a 'stop and account'). You are not required to give your name or address, but the officer responsible (who must provide a receipt recording the encounter) will probably be unhappy if you don't co-operate. If they suspect you're carrying a weapon or engaging in terrorist activity, the police can search you, called a 'stop and search'. They're legally allowed to use force if you refuse to be searched.

Stop and account and stop and search are sometimes used by police at demonstrations, especially when letting people out of a kettle. The police also use Forward Intelligence Teams (FIT) to photograph protesters - something people have protested about.

What if I get arrested?

No one leaves the house hoping to end the day at a police station, but arrest is possible at any demonstration, especially if the atmosphere is tense. If something happens to you or a friend, track down a legal observer - volunteers who try to ensure arrested protesters are treated correctly - and try to take the badge number of the officers involved in the arrest.

Updated: 21/01/2011

Emma Rubach